But now, he broke that rule—
and right in front of me.
Even as I tried to hold it in, my eyes still reddened.
“I’m going to the restroom,” I muttered.
Without caring about their reactions, I got up and walked out.
Behind me, I heard Lily’s worried whisper:
“Ethan, do you think your girlfriend is jealous?”
Then her exaggerated sigh:
“Women are such trouble. I won’t dare hang out with you guys again.”
Ethan clicked his tongue impatiently:
“You guys keep playing. I’ll check on her.”
Ten minutes later, after I had calmed down in the restroom, Ethan was still waiting outside.
He looked at my red eyes and sighed helplessly.
From behind his back, he produced a large box and placed it in front of me.
“Here—your birthday present. Don’t cry anymore.”
“I saw you had it sitting in your online shopping cart but couldn’t bring yourself to buy it. I just got my scholarship money, so I ordered it for you.”
It was a La Mer set worth nearly a thousand dollars.
He freed one hand to pinch my cheek lightly, speaking in a deliberately cheerful tone:
“My little yellow-faced girl—time to use this and turn into a swan!”
“That way it won’t feel like a waste that I’ll be living on cup noodles for the next two months.”
He used to praise my fair skin, saying I could play Snow White.
He used to call me his little princess.
Now, he called me “yellow-faced.”
It sounded like affection, but I still caught that faint hint of disdain.
Bitterness spread in my chest.
I noticed the package had already been tampered with. My face blank, I opened it.
The smallest—and most expensive—serum was missing.
When he saw my gaze fall on the empty slot, Ethan said carelessly:
“Must’ve been Lily. She wanted to check it out. I thought she just wanted to look.”
Watching my reaction closely, he added with a laugh:
“It’s just one tiny bottle. So what if she took it? You’re not mad, are you?”
My voice was flat:
“If she likes it, let her have it.”
Ethan’s smile faded. He rubbed his temples wearily:
“Emma Brooks, if you’re upset, just say it. Don’t give me this passive-aggressive attitude.”
I wanted to say I wasn’t mad—but the moment he let Lily give him a hickey earlier, something inside me had already gone numb.
But Ethan didn’t give me the chance. He lashed out, venting his frustration:
“Studying for grad school is exhausting. The last thing I want is to come home and guess if you’re angry.”
“We came out tonight to relax, but you’ve been sulking at the table all evening. You’re making it really hard for me.”
He looked into my eyes for three long seconds, then sighed and softened his voice:
“I know I owe you a lot. I shouldn’t have snapped. It’s my fault. Don’t be mad, okay?”
I didn’t know what to say.
These past three years, every time we fought, Ethan would apologize afterward, reminding me of how I dropped out to support him, lowering himself to make peace.
I used to think that showed loyalty and gratitude.
But now, it only left me cold.
“Do you not love me anymore?” I asked.
Because if he loved me, he wouldn’t keep bringing up debts.
Ethan’s eyes flickered with confusion before he quickly said:
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I love you.”
He shoved the gift box back into my hands and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
