The second day after I returned to the States, I was dragged to a college reunion by my old classmates. There, I met my first love, Ethan Cole, whom I hadn't seen in five years. In front of everyone, he pulled out a diamond ring and proposed. The private room erupted in cheers. Everyone assumed I would immediately say yes with gratitude. After all, I was the one who chased Ethan shamelessly back in the day. Everyone seemed to have forgotten. At our graduation ceremony, Ethan publicly accused me of plagiarizing my thesis for another woman. He even used fake evidence to accuse me of cheating on exams and bullying classmates. In the end, the university revoked my diploma, and I was kicked out of the ceremony under the watchful eyes of the entire school. After that day, I left the country alone. Now that I'm back, his best friend tells me: "After you left, Ethan used his family connections to get your diploma back for you." "Even though you did so many wrong things, he never forgot you. He's been waiting for you. He said as long as you're willing, you'll always be his wife." 1 "Chloe, I'm talking to you! Are you listening?" "You know better than anyone how much Ethan hates relying on the Cole family. He didn't use a cent of their money when he started his business. But for your diploma, he bowed to his father!" As soon as I appeared, Ethan's best friend, Mark, sat next to me and bombarded me with words. He looked impatient, yet somewhat urgent. The eyes of the other classmates in the room were all on me—some curious, some mocking. Honestly, hearing the name "Ethan Cole" again after five years felt strange. My once passionate love for him had long been drowned in the torrent of time. Five years ago, I left the country without a word. So very few people back home knew I was already married. I didn't know if Mark was saying these things on his own accord or if someone put him up to it. But it didn't matter anymore. I pursed my lips and spoke slowly: "Ethan and I are ancient history. What you're saying to me today has no meaning." Not just Mark, but everyone present looked at me in shock, as if they hadn't expected this answer. After all, I had chased Ethan passionately and crazily for three whole years. The commotion almost alerted the school board. Rain or shine, I delivered hot breakfast to Ethan every day. When his stomach acted up, I ran through a snowstorm to every pharmacy in the city just to buy him medicine. Whenever a girl confessed to Ethan, I was the first to appear and declare sovereignty. When he wanted to start a business but lacked funds, I not only gave him all my savings but also sold the 18th birthday gift my parents gave me—a vintage Cartier watch. Where no one could see, I, who had never suffered a day in my life, ate instant ramen for a whole semester. Finally, under my relentless efforts, Ethan agreed to date me. He was like every thoughtful boyfriend. He brought me hot chocolate and heating pads when I had cramps. He carried me on his back when I was tired of walking. When people called me a "simp" or "desperate," he stood up to defend me. Even when he signed his first contract, he envisioned a future with me. I once truly believed he was my destiny, that we would grow old together. Until senior year, when Lily suddenly appeared. She was Ethan's childhood friend who had just returned from abroad and transferred to my class. At first, I didn't care, and even tried to get along with her. But slowly, Ethan stopped coming to see me whenever he was free. Sometimes, even when I asked him out, he would find excuses to decline. On my birthday, he stood me up again. He told me something came up and he had to go to a neighboring city for business. Suspicious, I quietly went to his company. And there I saw Lily. She was surrounded by employees in the center of the office. Some even loudly called her "Sister-in-law." But they all knew I was Ethan's girlfriend. What made me angriest was that Ethan, who told me he was on a business trip, was right there in the office. Hearing everyone call Lily "Sister-in-law," he didn't correct them. Instead, he watched with a smile. My heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. 2 Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. When Ethan saw my red eyes, there was no shame or guilt on his face. He just frowned and asked indifferently: "Why are you here?" I had been pampered by my parents since childhood and never let myself be wronged. I pointed directly at Lily and questioned him: "Is your so-called business trip just partying in the office with her?" I wasn't angry or blaming, just asking calmly. Ethan suddenly frowned and said impatiently: "Lily is coming to intern at the company. I'm just throwing a welcome party for her." "Can you stop being jealous over nothing? You're really suffocating me!" I froze on the spot. I never thought the person who called me "baby" a few days ago would criticize me so ruthlessly in front of so many people. Perhaps my expression was too shocked, because Ethan quickly realized his words were inappropriate. Panic flashed across his face, and he apologized hurriedly: "Chloe, sorry, I misspoke. I didn't mean that." I gripped my handbag tightly, looked into his eyes, and asked word by word: "Then what did you mean?" "And why did you lie to me about going on a business trip today?" Ethan walked over and held my hand. "I didn't lie to you. I really planned to go, but the client changed the time. I just didn't have time to tell you yet!" His tone was intimate and natural, easily dispelling much of my dissatisfaction. But that "Sister-in-law" still stuck in my throat. I huffed: "Then why did your subordinates call Lily 'Sister-in-law'?" "Just a joke between colleagues. Besides, who here doesn't know their boss's girlfriend is a big jealous pot?" Speaking, Ethan squeezed my palm. "Baby, don't be mad, okay? It's your birthday today. I'll take you to a nice dinner tonight." Just as I was about to warn Ethan not to make such jokes in the future, Lily ran over in a panic. She looked at me pitifully, her tone carrying a hint of submission: "Chloe, sorry to make you unhappy. If you really mind, I... I won't intern at Ethan's company. Just please don't fight because of me." Saying this, she even shed a few tears. Others saw this and assumed I was bullying her. They dared not speak up, so they all looked at Ethan. Seeing Lily cry, Ethan let go of me and walked over. He comforted her gently, his movements soft. That night he didn't stand me up. He really took me to a nice dinner. But the food tasted like ash. Because although he was with me, every word he said was about Lily. "Lily grew up with me. She's like a sister." "Her parents asked me to arrange an internship for her, so I put her in my company." "I was afraid you'd overthink it, so I didn't tell you." "If there was really something between us, we would have been together long ago. Why wait until now?" "Chloe, I know how good you are to me. You are the only one in my heart." Ethan sounded sincere, and I couldn't keep harping on it, so I nodded. He took out a pair of couple rings. After putting on the men's ring, he slipped the women's ring onto my finger. "Chloe, with my current conditions, I can only afford these cheap rings. Sorry for making you suffer." "But don't worry, when I make big money, I'll bring the world's most expensive ring to you." Leaning in his arms, looking at the ring on my finger, the uneasiness in my heart finally dissipated. But in the end, he broke his promise. After that day, Ethan no longer hid it. He openly came and went with Lily. Rumors started spreading on campus that Ethan had dumped me for Lily. Before I could find the source of the rumors, Lily came to me directly. Changing her usual weak demeanor, she said to me arrogantly: "Chloe, do you know what kind of woman is the cheapest? It's women like you who chase men!" "Ethan loves me. Be smart and quit!" I clenched my fists, not wanting to dignify Lily's provocation. But she smiled slightly, eyes full of determination. "Since you're deceiving yourself, let me help you face reality." After Lily left, I immediately told Ethan about this. But I never expected that he wouldn't believe me. On the phone, his voice was so impatient: "Chloe, I've already explained to you that there's nothing between Lily and me. Why are you always so paranoid?" "I grew up with Lily. I know what kind of person she is. Why slander her like this?" "I slander her?" My voice rose sharply. "Ethan, am I that kind of person in your eyes?" The person on the other end fell silent. I don't know how long it took before he spoke again: "If you really don't like it, I'll let Lily leave after her internship ends." "But Chloe, company matters are already giving me a headache. Even if you can't help me, please don't add to my troubles right now, okay? I'm really tired." "You also have to work on your graduation thesis recently. Let's not meet for a while. Let's both calm down. We'll talk properly after your graduation ceremony." With that, he hung up. Listening to the dial tone, I felt cold all over. He would rather suspect me of slandering Lily than believe she actually said those words. That was the first time I felt Ethan wasn't worth it. It was also the first time I gave him the silent treatment. Ethan kept his word. For the next month, I didn't contact him. He didn't contact me either. 3 Sometimes even when we bumped into each other on campus, he turned a blind eye to me. Until the day of the graduation ceremony. Just as I was about to take the graduation gown from the counselor, the department head suddenly found me. In front of all the students and teachers, he asked me directly: "Student Chloe, your graduation thesis is identical to Lily's. Who copied whom?" I looked at the head in shock: "Sir, it's impossible. I wrote my thesis myself." Lily also came to the head's side, eyes red, saying: "Sir, I didn't copy anyone. I wrote every word of my thesis myself!" "If you don't believe me, you can ask senior Ethan. He can testify for me." For a moment, everyone's eyes fell on Ethan. I also looked at Ethan. Ethan avoided my gaze directly. At this point, if I still didn't understand what happened, I would be hopelessly stupid. I habitually put my finished thesis and some important documents in the shared cloud drive Ethan and I used. So it was self-evident who gave my thesis to Lily. The department head's scrutinizing gaze fell on Ethan. Ethan took a deep breath and said to the head: "Sir, Lily is interning at my company now. I've seen her working overtime on her thesis." With Ethan's testimony, the plagiarist naturally became me. Enduring everyone's contemptuous gazes, I walked up to Ethan, looked into his eyes, and asked him word by word: "Ethan, are you saying my thesis was copied from Lily?" I saw hesitation and struggle in Ethan's eyes. But I waited for a long time, only to hear him say: "I only know Lily wrote her thesis herself." Hearing this, I actually laughed out loud. This was the man I loved with all my heart for four years. If I could, I really wanted to go to the eye doctor right now and fix my blindness. Seeing me like this, a trace of intolerance flashed across Ethan's face. Just as he was about to speak, Lily beat him to it: "Chloe, although you are Ethan's girlfriend, you can't force him to perjure himself for you!" "I know you don't like me. Usually you bully me, fine, but you even forced me to pass you exam answers." "If I didn't listen to you, you hired thugs to bully me." Saying this, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms covered in bruises. "If Ethan hadn't arrived in time that day, I might have been violated by those thugs." Hearing Lily's accusations, I even suspected there was something wrong with my ears. Otherwise, why did I understand every word she said? 4 But put together, I didn't know what she meant. What do you mean I bullied her? What do you mean I wanted to copy her answers and sent thugs to bully her? "Lily, if you have persecution mania, please see a doctor. Don't pin it on me." Before Lily could speak, Ethan suddenly roared: "Enough!" He looked at me, guilt gone from his eyes, replaced by anger and disgust: "Those thugs confessed. You paid them to bully Lily!" "Chloe, I always thought you were just jealous, but I didn't expect you to be so vicious." "Lily is a girl. Did you ever think you were driving her to death by doing this!" I stood frozen, and after a long time, I whispered: "Ethan, so you'd rather believe Lily and those thugs than me?" Ethan was silent for a while before saying: "I only believe what I see with my own eyes." I stood there in a daze, my heart trembling. Only the contempt and ridicule of others remained in my ears. The department head scolded me directly: "I didn't expect to have a student of such bad character in my department!" "I don't think you meet the requirements for graduation. You don't need to attend this graduation ceremony today." "As for your punishment, I will notify you after reporting to the school. You can go now." I ignored the head's words, just staring blankly at Ethan. But he looked away, frowning and scolding lightly: "Chloe, go back first. Don't make a joke of yourself here, and don't disturb other students' graduation!" "As for us, we'll talk in private!" I stood there in humiliation, my voice trembling: "Ethan, treating me like this, are you sure you won't regret it?" But Ethan ignored me and turned away heartlessly with Lily. From then on, I became the laughingstock of the entire school. Even classmates who were once close to me avoided me like the plague. My heart died completely. I bought a plane ticket to find my parents abroad. Before boarding, I took off the ring and mailed it back to Ethan. The memory ended. I looked at Mark and the other classmates: "If you asked me here today just to tell me this, then I'll take my leave." Mark blocked my way directly, his tone urgent: "Chloe, wait. Ethan is coming soon. Let him tell you himself!" I frowned slightly: "I don't think there's anything left to say between us!" "Besides, I'm already married!"
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