When Ashley and I were first together, we
couldn’t afford it.
Later, when he became famous, he had no
time.
On rare vacations, he preferred to travel
alone.
Ethan looked at me, his brown eyes sparkling
like gems in the restaurant’s light.
“So, Ms. Summer, when will you agree to be
my girlfriend?”
“I’ve been wanting to make things official.”
He sounded almost pleading, and my heart
melted.
The atmosphere was perfect.
Just as I was about to say yes, a familiar
voice interrupted.
“…Summer.”
Ashley was sitting nearby, watching us, a
flicker of hurt in his eyes.
<
Annoyed, I said curtly, “How long are you
going to follow me around?”
Every night after work, I’d see Ashley’s van
parked outside my hotel.
He wouldn’t approach, just sit there. I’d
ignored it.
But here, in a restaurant, I didn’t want a
scene.
I turned to Ethan.
“Sorry, I have something to deal with. I’ll call
you later.”
Ethan pursed his lips, finally nodding.
“Okay, call me anytime if you need anything.”
I didn’t want to argue with Ashley in public, so
I took him back to the hotel.
As soon as we entered the room, he pinned
me against the wall.
“Summer, are you done with this charade?”
“I can overlook you being jealous and running
away.”
く
“But you know I hate Ethan. Why are you with
him?”
His grip on my wrist tightened.
I winced, trying to pull away. “Let go! We’re
broken up!”
My reaction triggered his anger.
“We’re not broken up! I don’t agree to break
up!”
“I admit I was wrong before, I apologize!”
“I can break things off with Emily. You want
the role? I’ll give you anything! Just come
back!”
His eyes glistened with tears.
Looking at Ashley’s pained face, I felt a
strange amusement.
In ten years, he’d rarely cried. His privileged
upbringing had made him always composed.
But now, his eyes were red, giving him a
vulnerable look.
He looked incredibly handsome.
く
Just like when we first met.
But my heart was still.
“Ashley, we can’t go back.”
“Why?”
“Does Ethan please you more than I did?”
Slap.
Ashley’s head jerked to the side, his cheek
reddening.
“Asshole!”
Tears streamed down my face.
How could he say that?!
Seeing me cry, Ashley’s eyes softened. He
frantically wiped my tears.
“Summer, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, I
apologize.”
“Please don’t cry. It breaks my heart to see
you cry!”
“I saw the ultrasound, I just didn’t believe you
were pregnant. Emily lied to me!”
“Baby, please give me another chance. I’ll
<
make it up to you!”
His voice was pleading.
So he knew all along, yet he still…
I pushed him away, shaking my head. “But I
don’t want to be with you anymore.”
“Ashley, I don’t want to see you again.”
The light in Ashley’s eyes died.
When he looked up, his face was resolute.
“Summer, I’ll show you how sincere I am.”
He left.
I barely slept that night, replaying memories.
Ashley defending me when I first arrived.
Ashley walking away with Emily, right in front
of me.
The next morning, I went downstairs for
breakfast, still exhausted.
I saw Ethan’s car.
He was leaning against it, smoking, wearing
yesterday’s clothes, looking worn out.
Seeing me, he forced a smile. “Morning.”
く
I stared at him. “Were you here all night?“.
Ethan nodded.
“Yeah, Ashley was drinking. I was afraid he’d
do something to hurt you.”
Looking at his shadowed jaw, I felt a surge of
warmth.
I hugged him.
“Thank you.”
The day of the movie premiere, Ethan and I
returned from Alta.
He accompanied me to the event.
Standing on stage in a silver gown, looking at
fans holding banners with my name, it felt
surreal.
After all those years revolving around Ashley,
I’d almost forgotten I had my own world.
During the Q&A, a girl with a bun asked:
“Ms. Summer, if you were in the movie’s
situation, would you give up your career for
the one you love?”
く
“No, because before loving him, I should be
myself first.”
The girl scoffed. “That just means you don’t
love him that much.”
“Excuse me, I’d like to interject.”
Ethan, in a casual hoodie, took a microphone
from an assistant.
“I think that’s an unfair question.”
“If a man truly loves someone, why would he
make her sacrifice her career, to stay home
and do chores for him?”
Fans recognized his voice and started taking
pictures.
But Ethan’s eyes stayed on me.
In the dim light, I saw him mouth the words:
“I’ll always support you.”
Fans posted the video, and the internet went
wild, shipping us.
They even noticed Ethan had made an effort
to dress up for the premiere.
く
Ethan replied to a comment using his official
account:
【Shhh, don’t disturb me, I’m simping.]
I playfully hit him. “What nonsense are you
talking about?”
Ethan cheekily kissed me, clinging to me like
a puppy.
“What’s wrong with dressing up for my wife?
