Chapter 4The Big Buyout

He seemed startled; it took him ages to reply.

"Are you, sure?"

"Of course."

"This is too sudden. I'm not ready."

"Never mind then. If you won't go, I'll go by myself."

"Wait!"

"I'll go."

Hook, line, and sinker.

I told Ethan I was stepping away.

Just as I was about to get up, the door to the private room swung open.

Looking up, I saw a woman in maternity clothes standing in the doorway.

She was looking around, clearly searching for someone.

Looks like some irresponsible rich kid knocked someone up.

I was just wondering which scumbag was the culprit.

But the next second, the woman walked right up to Ethan, crying and making a scene, demanding he take responsibility.

Getting a closer look, I realized that body-wise, she was exactly Ethan's type.

Although I had lost all feelings for Ethan.

It was impossible not to be angry.

After all, I was currently in the process of cheating on him.

If anyone was going to hand out green hats, it was going to be me.

I thought Ethan was just getting thirsty online; I didn't realize he was already expecting a child.

Dying of shock in my sickbed, the clown was me all along.

In our social circle, saving face is more important than life itself.

Without giving Ethan a chance to explain, I slapped him hard across the face and left without looking back.

I completely forgot about my restroom rendezvous with the mystery man.

On the way home, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got, so I just told the driver to turn around and head straight to a club.

Going through a breakup, plus failing to cheat and getting cheated on instead—I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't have a good drink.

I went to Ethan's regular club and told the bartender to bring out all the top-shelf liquor he had stored there.

I invited everyone around to drink with me.

I didn't start feeling slightly better until Ethan's entire stash was gone.

After downing several glasses of hard liquor.

My head started spinning.

I glanced at the guy sitting next to me.

He looked a lot like Julian Thorne.

Was he here to drink too?

No way.

I remember Ethan saying Julian wasn't into places like this.

Even though I seemed to spot him every time I came here with Ethan.

"Are you okay?"

He looked at me with concern and asked.

It seems I really drank too much; I was already hallucinating.

I shook my head vigorously.

But I lost my balance, and my whole body started falling backward...

Before I could even scream.

I fell into a solid embrace.

The hug didn't last long.

He very politely helped me back into my chair.

His fingers flashed past my eyes like a blur.

For some reason.

That image slowly merged with the distinct, long fingers from the ab photo etched in my memory.

I thought I must be going crazy.

To sober myself up, I ordered a glass of ice water.

As I reached for it, I accidentally bumped the phone sitting next to it, lighting up the screen.

It wasn't my phone.

But the lock screen wallpaper was a picture of me.

Judging by the angle, it was clearly taken secretly...