“If you don’t like this birthday present, I’ll get you another one.”
Expressionless, I stared at Ethan.
“I don’t need it.”
Out of nowhere, Lily popped up, shoving the missing serum into my hands.
“It was just a freebie—what’s the big deal?”
Ethan stayed silent, making no move to stop her. Clearly, he thought I was overreacting too.
His friends frowned at me, siding with Lily.
I placed the skincare set back into Ethan’s hands.
“This has nothing to do with it.”
Lily grabbed me dramatically, covering her mouth with mock shock:
“Wait, sis-in-law, you’re not fighting with Ethan because of me, are you?”
Ryan Cooper swatted her on the head.
“Stop acting like such a tomboy. No way she’s jealous of you.”
Another girl might have laughed it off.
But I met Lily’s eyes and said firmly, word by word:
“Then stop doing it on purpose.”
“Even if you’re carefree, you should at least have boundaries. Respect yourself a little.”
From the moment Ethan introduced me to the group, this so-called “beloved little sister” had treated me with subtle hostility.
I could tolerate her crossing lines in private—because Ethan didn’t reject her.
But when she pushed it right in front of me, I wouldn’t stay silent.
Ethan frowned and cut me off:
“Emma! You don’t need to be so harsh—we’re all girls here.”
Eyes brimming with tears, Lily suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and tiptoed to kiss him right in front of me.
Ethan froze in shock.
Then she bit his lip on purpose, spun to glare at me, and snapped:
“Now this is what crossing boundaries looks like!”
Finally realizing, Ethan pushed her away, his face darkening.
“Lily Evans!”
Lily looked at him pitifully, as though heartbroken:
“Your girlfriend smeared me. If I’m going to be accused unfairly, I might as well make it true.”
Her desperate act might have fooled someone who didn’t know better.
But all I wanted was for her to keep her distance.
Ethan grabbed my wrist, scowling:
“Apologize!”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“What did I do wrong?”
He looked at me deeply and said:
“Do you really want me to spell it out? You’re letting jealousy get the better of you. That’s why you’re lashing out at her.”
I was stunned, unable to argue back.
Before I could refuse, Lily lifted her chin, still teary-eyed but arrogant:
“I don’t want her apology. If she stays out of our hangouts from now on, that’s enough. Saves us the trouble.”
Her words made it clear: I was the problem, not her.
Sharp-minded, socially smooth Ethan—yet in this moment, he saw nothing. He only sighed and said helplessly:
“You’re so soft-hearted. You already forgave her but can’t admit it. Fine, fine. I promise I won’t bring her to our gatherings again.”
Lily pouted and punched his chest playfully:
“You’re my boy. I can’t let you stay single forever, can I?”
A heavy ache filled my chest.
With just a single sentence, Lily had banished me from Ethan’s circle.
Bitterness rose in my throat and blurred my eyes.
So, nothing in this world was truly permanent.
Ethan and I had grown up together in a foster home, depending only on each other.
