Chapter 3
Ethan didn’t respond right away.
The vendor grinned at them knowingly.
“Couples who participate can win a free plushie!” he announced.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
It must’ve been their body language, the vendor obviously thought they were a couple.
I waited for Ethan to correct him, to set the record straight.
But he didn’t.
Instead, without so much as a glance in my direction, he grabbed Lila’s hand and led her into the game booth.
I stood there, frozen, watching Ethan lift Lila in a princess carry as he effortlessly completed the
challenge.
The onlookers began to cheer and tease them.
“They look so perfect together.”
Hearing that, I felt a lump form in my throat.
My nose stung, and my eyes threatened to water.
We’d been together for three years, but Ethan had never carried me like that.
Never even wasted his time on something as trivial as a plushie for me.
The day’s activities finally wrapped up, but Lila insisted on thanking Ethan for winning her the plushie by taking us all out to dinner.
Ethan knew I’d spent the whole morning picking out ingredients to make a special Valentine’s Day
dinner for us.
But without even asking me, he agreed to her plan and followed her to the restaurant.
08:59
My Ex Won’t Stop Chasing Me!
13.3%
Chapter 3
I wanted to storm off right then and there, but I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving the two of them
alone.
So I swallowed my feelings, pushing down the ache in my chest, and did my best to pretend Lila
didn’t exist.
It wasn’t like this was the first time Ethan had ignored how I felt.
Later that night, both of them ended up drunk.
After we dropped Lila off, we didn’t get back to the apartment until 10 p.m.
Ethan collapsed onto the couch, completely out of it.
I couldn’t just leave him like that, so I decided to make him some hangover soup.
Just as I got up, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down, pinning me beneath him.
His lips trailed from the tip of my nose downward, warm and laced with the scent of alcohol.
I pushed him away.
“Ethan, am I your girlfriend?”
He blinked at me, confused.
“The vendor mistook you and Lila for a couple today. Why didn’t you explain?”
The question had been gnawing at me all day, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“She wanted the plushie,” he said, as if that explained everything.
“Then why couldn’t we play the game together?” I pressed.
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
He stared at me, his gaze sharp and impatient.
I sighed deeply.
“Ethan, do you just assume I’ll always love you? That I’ll never leave?”
He didn’t answer.
08:59
My Ex Won’t Stop Chasing Me!
15.6%
Maybe, in his mind, that was exactly how it was supposed to be.
Everything revolved around him.
Because being adored makes people fearless,
Loving Ethan felt like climbing a mountain without any gear.
I had no preparation, no safety net.
