Chapter 3

Joe’s messages came in one after another:

“Autumn, I know your wedding is the day after tomorrow, but I really can’t keep this to myself anymore.

“Ethan called all of us out tonight, said he argued with you and wasn’t in a great mood.

“But the moment we got here, he called Rose.

“Those two… they’ve always been like this, all these years.

“We’ve all seen it, but none of us dared to tell you.

“The address is Room 302 at NightSun Bar. I think you should see it for yourself.”

I stared at the photo.

Rose was looking at Ethan with a mix of worry and unmistakable affection.

And Ethan… he wasn’t resisting her at all.

I took a deep breath and rose from the sofa, grabbing my car keys.

Following the address Joe had sent, I found my way to Room 302 at the NightSun Bar.

The door was slightly ajar, and familiar laughter floated out from inside.

I stopped in my tracks, hesitating instead of pushing the door open.

“Ethan, don’t be mad. Autumn’s just got a bit of that spoiled-rich-girl temper. A little coaxing and she’ll be fine. You're getting married in two days anyway,” a man spoke up, trying to smooth things over.

Another voice chimed in right away.

“Exactly, what’s there to fuss over with Autumn’s little spoiled-girl temper?”

“If you ask me, Rose is so much better—gentle, thoughtful, never makes Ethan angry.”

“Right? If it weren’t for back then…”

“Ah, never mind. Ethan, you’re marrying Autumn, and we all feel it’s a pity for Rose.”

“A pity for what? Just look at who Ethan really cares about. He and Autumn are about to get married, but when they argue, the first person he thinks of is still Rose.”

Laughter erupted in the room.

I leaned against the wall, feeling my blood almost freeze.

These voices—I recognized every single one.

Ethan’s closest friends. Friends I had known for ten years.

I had even delivered their wedding invitations myself.

And in their eyes, I was nothing but a spoiled, high-maintenance girl, while Rose was the considerate first love.

And Ethan?

I pressed my eyes against the crack of the door.

Their gestures were so intimate, like a couple madly in love.

He didn’t deny anything. He didn’t say a word for me.

He just sat there, letting their teasing roll off him, while basking in Rose’s tenderness.

At that moment, I finally understood why, for ten years, I had always felt like an outsider in his circle.

Because in that group, I was the one who didn’t belong.

And Rose, she was the one they all naturally treated as Ethan's true love.

I didn’t have the courage to push the door open.

I recorded a short video through the crack and turned to leave.

Just as I rounded the hallway corner, I ran right into Joe.

He glanced at my red eyes, sighed softly, and handed me a tissue.

“You saw everything?”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Joe rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I just feel it’s unfair to you. Ethan, he… Forget it. Just don’t take it too hard.”

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Really.”

How could I be fine?

Ten years of love, shattered in an instant.

The man I loved deeply had been deceiving me for a decade.

The friends I trusted were laughing at my foolishness behind my back.