Ethan Gray told me he loves me.
But when I was most seriously injured, he embraced his so-called good friend Sophia instead of me.
I didn't think much of it at the time. I was willing to warm his cold heart with my courageous love.
Until he said, "If Sophia doesn't marry me, she'll die, so you must be willing to help me take care of her, right?"
"That way, the three of us can live together forever!"
I raised my hand and slapped myself hard.
Even dogs know to take shelter when it rains.
But how foolish I was, to let my love be hurt to such an extent and still not realize I needed to hold back my feelings.
...
Sophia and I had an explosive stunt scene together.
She suddenly drew close to me. "Do you want to know who Ethan really has in his heart - you or me?"
I hadn't even had time to react to what she was saying when - Boom!
A ringing filled my ears, immediately followed by an intense dizzy spell.
In my dizziness, I saw Ethan running towards me with a worried expression.
"Are you alright?"
He passed by me, picking up Sophia behind me.
"Sophia, wake up!"
It was as if he hadn't seen me at all; he carried Sophia away, even bumping into my shoulder as he passed by.
"Quick, send us to the hospital by helicopter!"
This was the last thing I heard before losing consciousness.
How thoughtful of him - the filming location was on a mountaintop with winding roads, so flying would be more efficient than driving.
When I opened my eyes again, the doctor was examining my condition.
Seeing me awake, he frowned. "Your situation is not optimistic. You need to be hospitalized for observation for a few days. We need to notify your family."
I was dazed. From what the doctor said, it seemed Ethan hadn't come to visit even once in the past two days.
Since going against my parents' wishes to get engaged to him, he was all the family I had left.
"Is it very serious? Can I sign for myself?"
The doctor said I had a moderate concussion and multiple soft tissue contusions, and needed to stay hospitalized for further careful observation.
After my insistence, the doctor ultimately agreed to let me sign for myself.
After the doctor left, I walked the hallway with my IV drip, needing some fresh air.
"That Sophia is really lucky, Gray Group's Ethan is always by her side."
"No kidding, it was just a minor skin injury, but who would have thought Ethan would be so anxious, even calling the president of the hospital to come personally."
Two nurses walking by were gossiping, full of envy.
But my heart felt like it had a stone weighing it down, my chest feeling stuffy.
Years ago, he had held my hand and promised me under the fireworks, "I will definitely protect and cherish you for life."
But when danger happened, he embraced his good friend and left me alone on the filming set.
He could have taken us both to the hospital, but it felt like I had completely disappeared from his gaze.
Ethan came when I was preparing to be discharged.
Sophia came with him.
"You can be discharged so soon?"
Ethan asked this.
I didn't answer, silently packing my things.
"Look, Nancy is angry at you. You better go appease her."
Sophia cast a reproachful look at Ethan, then continued, "I was also wrong in this matter. I really got scared and fainted at the time, so Ethan took me here. I scolded him later when I heard he left you alone on the filming set. But it's good that you're fine now and can be discharged. Nancy, I'm really sorry!"
"You don't need to apologize, the one who should apologize is me." Ethan looked at Sophia with tenderness, then walked over to me, solemnly saying, "Nancy, that day it happened suddenly, I was negligent for a moment, I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to do it that way."
I laughed bitterly. "Negligent for a moment? If there weren't other people on the filming set, I might already be dead now, right?"
"It's not that serious, Nancy. Look, you're fine now, so don't make a big deal out of it." Ethan's attitude towards me was clearly a bit uncomfortable.
"I'm leaving."
I couldn't be bothered to keep arguing with him, taking my few belongings and leaving the ward.
As soon as I walked out, I heard Sophia complaining inside, "Nancy is really angry this time. What am I going to do? How can I face her in the future?"
Ethan comforted her softly, "Don't worry about her. This isn't your fault. She'll be fine in a few days."
I laughed wryly.
Ever since Sophia returned, Ethan has been hanging out with her three or four days a week, staying with her all day long.
Most of the time it was under the guise of work, and a few times I didn't even see Ethan in the office until the next morning.
They explained that they were just long-lost best friends, good friends, pure friendship.
Then they blatantly put their arms around each other.
I don't know when Ethan's "good friend" became so ambiguously intimate like a couple.
Walking alone in this strange city, the snow fell on the tip of my nose, chilling my nose.
In my heart, it suddenly became clear. Winter is too cold, all things know to hibernate.
Only I, with my courageous love, facing his so obvious attitude, didn't know to restrain my love.
He doesn't love me, just as I want to pray for a trace of warm sunshine in this heavy snow.
It's so laughable.
I returned to the villa, the photos on the wall recording our beautiful past together.
In the photos, there were mountains we climbed together, seas we played in, sunrises we watched.
He once said he would cherish me like a treasure for life, spoil me, and give me a grand wedding.
Now looking at these photos, my heart no longer has expectations, only bitterness.
Ethan came back around midnight.
When he entered the room, he had a strong smell of alcohol mixed with a smoky wood scent, the kind of cigarette Sophia usually smokes.
The smell choked me, making my throat a bit itchy, and I coughed a few times.
"Did I wake you up?"
Ethan just casually asked this, then turned and went into the bathroom.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, I felt the bed clearly sinking down.
Ethan's unique scent enveloped my side.
I pulled the thin blanket closer around me, unconsciously shifting towards the edge of the bed.
"Are you still angry? Sophia is my best friend."
He said this in a flat tone.
"Is she really just a friend?" I asked.
"Nonsense, go to sleep." He sounded impatient.
The next day, when I arrived at the company, I couldn't reach my makeup artist no matter what.
There was a variety show scheduled for that morning, which had been arranged months in advance.
The makeup and accessories needed for the show were entrusted to that makeup artist for safekeeping.
Now, I couldn't get in touch with her, and the costumes and accessories were not at the company either.
"Where is the makeup artist?"
I asked around, but no one in the company could provide an answer.
Just as I was feeling anxious, Ethan rushed over.
I explained the situation to him, and with less than half an hour left before the show started, the stakes were high.
If I missed it, it would mean a breach of contract, and I would face a penalty.
Three minutes before the show was set to air, the makeup artist finally returned, accompanied by Sophia, who was dressed in my exact outfit.
She claimed she had taken my makeup artist out for a photoshoot to update her social media.
This excuse was something only Ethan would believe. What a coincidence that she decided to borrow my outfit at such a critical time!
Ethan, trying to downplay the situation, said, "Since you're back, let's get Nancy ready."
"It's too late; I'd rather just accept the penalty," I replied bluntly.
It would take at least fifteen minutes to get from the company to the filming location, and the show was only thirty minutes long.
Given that the program featured big-name stars, it was unlikely they would reshoot just for my minor role.
Ethan knew this as well.
In the past, I would have braved any storm for the company's sake, enduring the doubts and criticisms of others, and apologizing to minimize losses.
But now, I didn't want to do that anymore.
"I'll drive you there; no one will say anything," Ethan urged.
"Go entertain yourself," I replied coldly.
Then I turned to Sophia, "Since you love to steal the spotlight, why not take the ride?"
With that, I walked out of the company.
The moment I stepped outside, I felt an immense sense of relief.
In the past, I had always prioritized Ethan's career as if it were my own, often sacrificing my own needs to maximize profits for the company.
After Sophia's arrival, my resources had shifted to her, leaving me with only the leftovers of her choices.
Even when the roles weren't suitable for me, I forced myself to accept them.
But now, I saw things clearly.
From now on, whoever wanted to be a fool could do so; if they wanted those undesirable gigs, they could take them.
The explosion incident was classified as an accident, and the insurance company compensated for it.
However, I knew Sophia's words at that time were not just empty talk; there had to be something suspicious behind it.
But now that the matter was settled, investigating it would be complicated.
I tried to find the demolition expert privately, but he was nowhere to be found.
Ethan received the compensation and organized a team-building event, claiming it was to help me and Sophia unwind.
When I arrived, I realized it was at a restaurant we used to frequent during our dates.
"I didn't know the decor hadn't changed!"
Sophia exclaimed, covering her mouth, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Sophia, have you been here before?" her assistant asked.
"Every time we had a family gathering, Ethan's grandfather and my grandfather brought us here to eat. Before I went abroad, Ethan would take me here for my birthday every year."
This was the restaurant where Ethan first took me on a date, revealing his sentimental side.
During the meal, when the server brought out a plate, Ethan was focused on his phone, smiling slightly.
He sat at the head of the table, while Sophia and I sat opposite him.
My phone quickly buzzed with a message, [How's the taste? It's your favorite Lobster Roll. I ordered it just for you.]
I was momentarily taken aback as Ethan waved his phone at me.
But the next second, Sophia exclaimed joyfully, " Lobster Roll! I missed this flavor! Ethan, you really know my taste!"
I looked at the plate in front of me, feeling it was tasteless, much like my feelings for him.
His greedy demeanor made me feel disgusted.
I simply passed my portion to Sophia's assistant.
Ethan's gaze darkened, filled with coldness as he stared at me.
"Ethan, would you accompany me to the kitchen? I want to see Jim and find out if he still remembers me," Sophia said, wrapping her arm around Ethan's.
Ethan brushed a grain of rice from Sophia's lips, a faint smile on his face. "You always get food on your lips."
The employees exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
After the team-building event, Ethan didn't return that night or the next day.
In the past, I would have searched everywhere for him.
But now, I didn't care; he could go wherever he wanted.
A week later, he announced his marriage to Sophia, sharing their wedding photos on social media with the caption, [Holding hands with you, growing old together.]