9
The day Ethan returned from his business trip, Jake and I were making dumplings.
In the kitchen, white flour covered my face and his clothes.
He was unusually patient, following my example, clumsily pinching dumpling wrappers, breaking one for
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every one he made.
“Nicole, teach me.”
He leaned in from behind, holding my hands, his warm breath on my neck.
Before I could move away, the sound of keys unlocking came from the entrance.
Ethan was back.
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He stood with his suitcase, travel-worn, his gaze falling on our clasped hands for just a second before expr
essionlessly looking away.
“Jake, come to my study.”
Jake never did get to eat those dumplings.
The heavy wooden door of the study wasn’t completely closed, leaving a crack through which the interio
was visible.
I pressed my ear against the cool door panel.
nside the study was a deathly silence.
After a while, I finally heard Ethan’s usual voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
‘Dad wants you to take over the new project at the overseas branch.”
Jake scoffed, his laugh sharp and rebellious.
Sending me to the frontier again? Brother, it’s always the same. The one the Wilson family can’t accommo
date is always me.”
Fine, I’ll go, but I’m taking Nicole with me. Brother, that thing with Emma is over, your task is complete, it’s
ime to give me back my wife.”
What if I disagree?”
Ethan’s voice was soft but ice-cold.
The air stagnated.
‘Brother, what do you mean? Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for her! Don’t forget she’s your brother’s wife!
A muffled sound of a glass being slammed onto the desk came from inside.
It was Ethan.
‘Brother’s wife?”
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“Jake, did you think of her as your wife when you pushed her to me?”
“Stop acting like a saint!”
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Jake was completely enraged, years of suppression and jealousy bursting forth in this moment.
“Ethan! Can you deny you never had feelings for her? From the first day you returned, your eyes never left he
His voice trembled with excitement, his eyes red-rimmed.
“Since childhood, my toys, our parents’ attention-you took everything! Now you want to take my wife toc You just want to see me with nothing, don’t you!”
Faced with these hysterical accusations, Ethan just stood there coldly.
‘If that’s how you want to see it, then yes, I took her. After all, anything in your hands never stays there, inclu ding Nicole.”
‘Ethan, do you think our parents will agree? The Wilson family heir marrying a woman who can’t be presente
n public? You’ll only make her the laughingstock of the entire city!”
‘You can’t protect her! Brother, you’re the same as me-we’re both just pawns of the Wilson family!”
The moment those words fell, the study door was suddenly pulled open from my side.
They saw me standing outside, face pale, body trembling slightly.
Time seemed frozen in that moment.
The anger on Jake’s face instantly faded, replaced by extreme panic and pallor. He opened his mouth bu
couldn’t make a sound.
As for Ethan, those perpetually cold eyes finally showed a crack.
My body went limp, falling straight back toward the stairs.
In the last second before consciousness plunged into darkness, I heard both of them cry out in heart-wrenc
ning alarm.
‘Nicole!”
