Chapter 9: Parting Ways

After the gathering, my driver came to pick me up.

Ethan suddenly appeared at the car window.

“I’ve sent you the colleges you can get into with your scores.”

“Take a look—they’re all in the university district.”

I looked at him, puzzled, then glanced at Melissa, who was waiting quietly not far away.

Ethan followed my gaze and frowned.

“I ran into her being bullied on the road recently. Since we live nearby, she’s been going back with me.”

“Don’t overthink it.”

When we looked over, Melissa ducked her head the way kids do when they’re caught between pride and wanting to disappear, practically burying herself.

Completely different from the person she’d become ten years later.

She would get drunk, throw up everywhere, then wear Ethan’s shirt in my bedroom.

“Anna, you can’t help him at all. But I’m different.”

She’d play the victim in front of Ethan, crying until her face was streaked with tears, even kneeling on the ground.

“I’m different from you. I fought for all of this. Please, don’t ruin me.”

And Ethan, with a dark expression, would pull her up and shield her behind him.

He’d frown at me as if I were a stranger.

“You really disappoint me.”

So, they’d already been in contact long ago.

Snapping back to reality, I replied lightly—

“I already have a college I want to attend.”

I turned down his offer, thinking he’d understand what I meant.

But apparently, he didn’t.

He stared at me for a long moment, like he was waiting for a sign or a loophole, then just pressed his lips together and nodded, backing away into the shadow of the parking lot lights.