I held the phone, my stomach aching again.
I didn't want to go, not to that hypocritical world of fame and fortune, pretending to be a loving couple.
But I had no choice but to accept.
That afternoon, Ethan's assistant brought over a dress.
It was a long, beautiful dress, exactly my style.
I put it on, but it was so tight I could barely breathe.
It was a size too small.
As I was about to take it off, Ethan came in.
He looked me up and down.
"Take this one."
"It's too small," I whispered.
"Really?"
He stepped closer and squeezed my waist.
"I think it fits just right. It also fits Amber."
So, this was Amber's dress again.
A wave of nausea rose in my stomach, but I suppressed it. At the annual meeting, I numbly held onto Ethan's arm, a stiff smile plastered on my face.
He led me to the main table and then turned and left.
Amber was attending as a special guest tonight.
She was dressed in a fiery red dress, like a blazing flame, instantly capturing the attention of the entire audience.
And Ethan was the reckless moth.
He stayed by Amber's side all night, introducing her to business leaders.
He shielded her from ill-intentioned toasts, meticulously attentive.
I sat alone in a corner, watching them.
People around me pointed and talked, their gazes, both sympathetic and contemptuous, piercing me like knives.
The cramps in my stomach grew more frequent and intense.
Cold sweat soaked my back.
Finally, I couldn't hold it any longer and rushed to the bathroom, clutching my mouth.
I knelt on the floor, vomiting violently.
A large amount of blood stained the sink. Holding onto the wall, I walked out of the bathroom when I ran into Amber.
She sauntered towards me in her high heels, a triumphant smile on her face.
"Why are you hiding here? Ethan's been looking for you everywhere."
"Does he really love me?"
She leaned in closer, her voice low, a hint of boasting in her tone.
"He said he'd give up the entire Cole Family if I wanted."
My body swayed, almost tottering.
"Look at you, you look so pale, like a ghost."
The red wine glass in her hand "accidentally" tilted, spilling the entire glass onto my dress.
"Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to."
Just then, Ethan rushed in.
He saw us, the messy red wine stain on my chest and Amber's frightened expression.
He walked right up to me without asking any questions. "Natalie, what are you doing?"
"Amber was just being kind and concerned about you. Why did you push her?"
I looked at him, feeling wronged, angry and desperate. All these emotions surged through my heart, finally fading into a dead silence.
He didn't even glance at me. He turned and supported Amber, softly soothing her.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
He pulled me and pushed me down.
"Get out! You're not welcome here!"
Ethan roughly dragged me out of the banquet hall.
He stuffed me into his car and said nothing the whole way.
He left me in the villa room and said coldly, "From today on, you will stay home and reflect on your actions. You're not allowed to go anywhere."
He threw those words out, then slammed the door shut.
I heard the lock click from outside.
