Chapter 2The Midnight Intrusion: No Longer Yours

A chilling sensation started in my chest and instantly swept through my entire body. My fingertips trembled as I violently shoved him away.

Ethan snapped out of his daze and shifted his gaze back to me.

I saw my own pathetic, disheveled reflection in his pupils and lowered my head. "Go wait outside. I need to get dressed."

A complex look crossed his face, but he didn't say anything. He left the room in silence.

When I finished getting ready and walked out of the bedroom, I saw Ethan standing by the front door. He held an umbrella in one hand and his phone in the other, dialing a number over and over.

As the automated voice repeatedly informed him that the other party's phone was turned off, the anxiety and agitation on his face grew undeniable.

I stared at him, numb. I took a step, didn't notice what was in front of me, and tripped. My knee smashed brutally against the sharp corner of the coffee table. The bone-deep pain made me gasp.

Not wanting Ethan to notice, I swallowed the pain and quickly sat down on the sofa nearby.

Hearing the commotion, Ethan turned his head hesitantly. When he saw me, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. It took him a long time to finally speak.

"The rain is too heavy. Her mental state wasn't great when she left. I can't let anything happen to her."

A piercing pain radiated from my knee. I bit my lip, a plea almost slipping past my teeth: Can you just not go?

"I'm sorry, Chloe." He didn't hesitate for a second.

The last few strings holding my sanity together completely snapped.

The last shred of pride in my heart crumbled. I forced myself to stand up and limped toward him, tears instantly blurring my vision.

"Ethan, you really do owe me an apology."

I took a deep breath, haphazardly wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. "If you never let her go, why did you even get together with me?"

"Am I just a convenience? A rebound to pass the time?"

When I said the word "rebound," my voice choked up.

But I still looked up at him, stubbornly wanting an answer I already knew. Suddenly, my balance gave out, and I swayed to the side.

Ethan caught me by the waist with quick reflexes. "What happened to your leg?"

I looked at him and said nothing.

Ethan’s eyes darkened. Without a word, he scooped me up into his arms and set me down on the sofa.

After grabbing the first-aid kit, he slowly rolled up my pant leg. The careful, gentle way he did it made me freeze for a moment.

My right knee was completely swollen, and a large patch of skin was scraped raw. Bright red blood was trailing down the curve of my calf. It looked gruesome.

Even I didn't realize it was this bad.

Ethan’s frown deepened. He took out some antiseptic to clean the wound, his voice raspy. "Bear with it."

The next second, a stinging cold hit my knee. The pain was so sharp that I instantly clamped down on his arm, my nails digging deep into his skin.

Ethan didn't make a sound, just let me grip him.

When he finally finished cleaning the wound, he pulled out a tube of ointment, but it was clearly empty.

"I'll go downstairs and buy some." He stood up.

I fiercely grabbed his arm, my eyes turning red.

He paused, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his eyes, looking almost tender. "There's a pharmacy right downstairs. Ten minutes, max. I'll be right back."