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But I wondered—did normal bodyguards or nurses hold their clients this closely?
Pushing doubts aside,Ethan sat beside me,nodding politely to Zach.
Fiona grinned slyly.“You two are so close! Are you dating?”
Before I could speak,Ethan answered,“Not yet.”
Implying we might be.
I didn’t object.
Fiona opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly pulled her hand free from Zach’s grip. Her wrist was red.
“Why so rough?”
I pouted,avoiding Zach’s expression.
Ethan leaned closer instinctively.
“Enough!”
Zach’s loud voice startled me.His face dark,he stormed off.Fiona glanced at me,then followed.
After they left,I relaxed,slumping into Ethan’s arms.
I fumbled for a moment before standing up, and my hand pressed his beating chest.
Oh…why was my heart pounding so faast?
I didn’t realize my face was flushed,my heart racing.
Ethan bit his lip,amused,but did nothing as I stood.
Words felt awkward now.
I realized belatedly.
For the next half-month,Ethan and I fell into a subtle,charged dynamic.
Surprisingly,I paid less attention to Zach.
I used to text him constantly, but now, my replies to his messages were brief.
Seeing them close,I could stay unfazed,treating him as a regular friend.
At month’s end,Zach’s birthday arrived.We used to celebrate just us two.
This year,he arrived hand-in-hand with Fiona.
I smiled,wishing him happy birthday.Zach looked slightly dazed and was clearly tipsy, and his breath hot on my neck.
“Rachel,I brought Fiona.You’re not mad,right?”
I glanced at Fiona in the kitchen,pushing him away.
“Why would I?She’s your girlfriend.”
He gripped my hand tightly,looking urgent, and his eyes were locked on mine.
My eyes reddened with anger.I slapped Zach.
What was he testing?I had a hunch but couldn’t believe it.
Couldn’t believe he was so cruel.
The slap seemed to sober him.He looked at me with red - rimmed eyes, his voice sounding pitiful.
“Rachel,why are you so cold to me?”
“Did you get close to Ethan just to make me jealous?”
What?
Confused, I stared at him, ignoring the stinging pain in my palm.“What do you mean?”
He smiled bitterly and said,“Rachel,I know you’re jealous and upset because I’m with Fiona.I misjudged our bond before.I was wrong.”
“I thought dating Fiona would make me happy,but I keep thinking of you.”
“This time around,I’ve been miserable.”
“Rachel,you got close to Ethan to make me jealous,right?I’m sorry.I’ll be yours alone again,okay?”
“No!”
I shouted and shoved him away,fleeing the birthday without finishing.
How could Zach think I was making him jealous?
Unless he always knew I loved him—and he loved me too.
I cried,feeling deeply wronged.Last life,he chose Fiona over me.This life,with Fiona,how could he toy with feelings?
Now that he’s saying he likes me—I wasn’t trying to make him jealous.
I didn’t love him anymore.
I wiped away my tears and sent a message.
Rachel:“I wasn’t trying to make you jealous.Zach,I really don’t like you anymore.”
Running outside,I saw a car waiting.
He’d been there all along?
Ethan approached quickly,wiping tears from my red eyes.
“Did he really hurt you?”
I shook my head.“No,it’s fine.He just thought I still had feelings for him.”
Unexpectedly,Ethan asked in a serious tone,“So,you don’t like him anymore?”
