From the moment Elena was sixteen and realized her feelings for Ethan, until she turned twenty-one, she spent five years praying that she would grow up faster, praying that Ethan would slow down his plans to marry Sienna.
The day Ethan went to register his marriage with Sienna, Elena tried everything to keep him. In a desperate moment, she took a pair of scissors and aimed them at her wrist, hoping to force him to change the date.
Ethan was no longer the same as before.
His cold, indifferent voice shattered the last bit of reason Elena had left. “Elena, no one can stop me from marrying her. If I had to choose between you and her, you would never be the answer.”
That day, the sharp scissors slid across her delicate wrist, blood pouring out, but Ethan still walked away without a second glance.
Elena, in her despair, pleaded for even the smallest bit of Ethan’s affection—just a trace of his love was enough to let her breathe.
But it seemed like he had forgotten everything.
Ethan avoided Elena’s gaze. This time, he didn’t scold her harshly but instead told her not to talk about her feelings for him so openly anymore.
“Ethan, you hate that I like you. You think my feelings for you are disgusting, don’t you?”
“Ellie, I am your elder. I’m twelve years older than you.”
“You’re only saying that because you like Sienna,” Elena shot back.
Time and time again, Elena lied to herself, telling herself that Ethan didn’t care for Sienna that much. But each time, she was slapped with the harsh reality—he was kind to her, but even kinder to Sienna.
“My engagement with Sienny is set. Stop making a scene. I can forget everything you’ve said, but if you want to stay by my side, you’ll have to forget too.”
Ethan dropped Elena off at her house, but as he turned to leave, his body swayed, and he leaned against the wall, unable to calm the storm inside him.
Elena was starting to resemble her mother more and more, especially as she blossomed into a graceful young woman. Everywhere she went, there were traces of her mother in her.
But how could he, a friend of her mother, ever think of her that way?
The hospital called, saying that Sienna refused to eat. They were at their wits' end, and by the time Ethan arrived, Sienna was in tears, asking the doctor if the scars on her face would remain.
She had injured her face while saving Elena, and for a female celebrity, that was a potentially career-ending scar.
Ethan moved to comfort Sienna, wrapping his arms around her and gently patting her back. “Don’t worry, I’ll find the best doctor to help you remove the scar. It won’t leave any trace.”
Sienna buried her face in his chest, sobbing, her shoulders shaking with each breath.
“Ethan, will you still want me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Of course I will.”
“Then... what about the wedding?”
“Just discuss it with my mother. You can do whatever you want,” Ethan said, his tone indifferent. He had no particular thoughts about the wedding.
The Scott Family needed dignity, and Sienna wanted a grand ceremony. It was only natural for her and Esther to come to an agreement.
Sienna wasn’t seriously injured, and on the day she was discharged, she pouted and whined to Ethan, “Ethan, can I stay with you? My ankle’s still a little swollen, and it would be easier for you to take care of me. What if something happens when I’m alone...?”
Without hesitation, Ethan shut her down, extinguishing her hopes.
“No, Ellie doesn’t like having anyone else in the house.”
Sienna froze. He had refused her for Elena’s sake?
“Then… can you stay with me tonight? I’m a little scared alone.”
Ethan agreed, and Sienna smiled contentedly. “I knew Ethan would always be the best to me.”
Elena spent the whole night waiting for Ethan, but he never showed up. When she finally picked up her phone, a message from Sienna popped up on OurTalk.
It was a photo of Ethan, with the caption: "Ellie, Ethan just couldn't leave me at ease, so he's staying with me tonight. You don't need to wait for him, get some rest."
Elena stared at the screen, her face expressionless. She stared at the message, scrolling back and forth for a long time.
What was Sienna doing?
Claiming her territory?
How insecure must she be, to repeatedly use such childish methods to show off and provoke?
Elena tossed the phone aside and walked into Ethan’s room, lying down on his bed.
The first time she slept in the same bed as Ethan was when she was ten. She had been crying and too scared to fall asleep. The house was so big, even speaking seemed to echo, so in the middle of the night, she had snuck into Ethan’s room, hugging her pillow.
“Can I sleep with you? Mom always used to sleep with me. I’m scared to sleep alone.”
Ethan, usually cold and unyielding, was always softhearted when it came to her.
That night marked the beginning, and even until she was forty, whenever Elena had nightmares, she would still instinctively go to Ethan. But ever since she began to change physically, Ethan had made it clear that she was no longer allowed to enter his room.
Elena wrapped herself in the blanket, still smelling of Ethan, as she tossed and turned the entire night, plagued by nightmares. Even in her dreams, she could hear Esther’s harsh words, cursing her as filthy.
The next day, however, things took an unexpected turn. A video of Esther publicly berating Elena at the hospital went viral online.
Elena’s feelings for Ethan were suddenly exposed to the public.
Sienna, a rising star, had long been the subject of envy for her relationship with Ethan, and now, with the news out, Elena was immediately thrust into the spotlight, her name trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. The insults were too vile to bear.
“Disgusting, how could she develop those feelings for someone who raised her? Ethan could practically be her uncle!”
“How dare she? She’s nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Knowing full well that Ethan is engaged, she still clings to him shamelessly!”
“Our Sienny has been through so much, hasn’t she? She got hurt just trying to save Elena, and now this—Elena is after Sienny’s fiancé.”
“She must be the third party, right? I heard she even lives in Ethan’s house, while Sienny hasn’t even been allowed to stay there.”
The malicious comments flooded in online, and Elena was caught off guard. The person who had managed to capture that video was one of the few who had the chance.
Unable to reach Ethan, Elena hurriedly ran to his office to find him.
On the way, Sienna posted an update on her social media.
Sienna posted a video, her face tired and drawn, the scar on her cheek clearly visible.
Calmly addressing the viral scandal, she said, "Everyone, I apologize for taking up public space, but I’d like to make a statement. Ethan and I have a very strong and healthy relationship, and there’s no third party involved."
"Elena is young and doesn’t fully understand things, and perhaps some of her actions have been misunderstood. But both Ethan and I will guide her to avoid making mistakes, and we hope everyone can be understanding toward her."
"Additionally, I have some good news to share. Ethan and I will be getting married on the 8th of next month. I hope everyone will bless us."
The 8th of next month, just half a month away.
The video quickly racked up over ten million views, with the comments sharply divided. On one side, there were well-wishes for Sienna, and on the other, the most venomous insults aimed at Elena.
People praised Sienna for her grace, while viciously condemning Elena as disgusting, saying she should have died long ago.
Elena’s name was trending, but Sienna’s efforts only seemed to fuel more hatred.
Numb, Elena turned off the comments and called Ethan again.
His phone wouldn’t connect.
She dialed again and again, but still couldn’t reach him. Panic gripped her, her breathing shallow and erratic, feeling lost and helpless.
She remembered back to middle school when she was bullied. She had fought back fiercely, wrestling with the tormentor and leaving them battered and bloody. Ethan had always been there, unwavering in his protection, telling her that no one would ever hurt her.
But now? Would he stand by Sienna or her?
When the phone showed the 39th call, Ethan finally picked up. Elena, like a drowning person clinging to a lifeline, choked on her words as she asked, "Did Sienna have someone record and post that video?"
No one else had a motive to record such video except for Sienna. Esther wouldn’t do it since it would tarnish Ethan’s reputation.
Ethan didn’t answer her question. Instead, he asked, “Where are you now?”
Elena screamed in despair, “Answer me, is it you?!”
“Sienna has already dealt with her subordinates. They didn’t do this on purpose. I’ll handle it. Don’t worry about it.”
Such cold words. Was this still the Ethan who once promised to protect her, who swore no one would ever hurt her?
To protect Sienna, he chose to sacrifice her, making her the target of everyone’s criticism?
Her voice trembled as she asked, “Why? Do you think I’m disgusting too? That I should die and never stand in the way of your happiness with Sienna?”
“Elie, calm down. This will blow over soon. If you don’t want to be disturbed, I can send you abroad for a while. Once everything settles, you can come back. I’m really busy right now, so stop causing a scene.”
With that, Ethan hung up the phone.
He said she was causing a scene…
He even said he’d send her abroad. In the end, he didn’t want to keep her around anymore.
Sienna’s move was indeed effective. Unable to drive Elena away directly, she forced her out with this method. Even if Elena refused to leave, she would be harshly criticized as filthy and shameless, bearing the weight of everyone’s scorn.
Elena’s insides twisted in pain. Her body, already drained, couldn’t take much more. After everything that had happened, she was more certain than ever of Ethan’s determination to marry Sienna.
She had traded the remaining of her life for his affection, but in doing so, she had forgotten to ask for his marriage.
Around 9 PM, Ethan returned home and found that Elena wasn’t there. He drove around, eventually spotting her curled up outside a pharmacy.
Elena's body was still wracked with pain. Despite taking a large dose of painkillers, they offered no relief. With less than ten days left until the deadline, she felt as though her death was already closing in on her.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Ethan’s voice suddenly rang out above her.
Elena felt no joy anymore.
"Come back home with me." Ethan helped her up from the ground, and the bottle of painkillers she had dropped fell to the floor with a soft thud.
"What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?"
Elena stared at him in confusion as he anxiously examined her, her breath faint as she smiled weakly. "It’s just that time of the month... my stomach hurts."
He let out a sigh of relief, and as they made their way back home, Ethan finally began to discuss the matter with her.
"Ellie, I’ve bought you a place in the next neighborhood, not far from here. You’ll move in tomorrow."
Elena’s face drained of color, her expression one of utter disbelief.
Her gaze cut through him, sending a sharp pain straight to his chest.
"You’re all grown up now. It’s not appropriate for us to live together anymore. And once I get married, Sienna will be moving in as well."
Elena forced a bitter smile. She had always known that one day, Ethan would abandon her.
Now, even he didn’t want her.
Before Elena had even moved out, Sienna had already moved in without hesitation.
Her luggage was all moved into Elena’s room, prompting the maid to step out and say, “Ms. Bay, this is Ms. Wings’ room. Sir Ethan specifically instructed that you use the other guest room.”
Elena’s room was directly across from Ethan’s, close enough for him to hear anything from next door. The other guest room, however, was down the hall, a fair distance from Ethan’s room.
“Ellie is moving out soon, and the room will be empty anyway. Plus, these two rooms are close. Makes it more convenient for me when I finally move into Ethan’s room later.”
The maid hesitated, stealing a glance at the silent Elena. “But, Ms. Bay… she…”
