Chapter 32

Chapter 32
Lily was sitting in the car, hands on her lap, but her mind was still in the shop. She wondered if Ethan would be able to handle it. Jack didn’t think like normal people. It only took a short moment, but it felt like an eternity had passed. Her fingers hovered over her phone, debating whether to call the police.

Slam.

Through the window, she saw Jack running to his car as if chased by spirits. He yanked his car door open and sped off.

Moments later, Ethan stepped out of the shop and locked the door behind him. He walked around the car and got in silently. His expression was unreadable.

When he was settled in, Lily turned to him

“Thank you for earlier.” She said softly.

Ethan didn’t answer at first. He reached out and gently dropped her shop keys into her lap.

“I locked up without asking if you left anything inside.”

“I didn’t forget anything.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

They sat in silence. His hands rested on the wheel, fingers drumming softly.

Then he spoke again.

“Let’s get married.”

Lily looked at Ethan. Their eyes met, and gazes held. 

“What did you say?”

“I said we should get married. You don’t have to answer now. You can think deeply about it.”

Lily’s mind raced throughout the ride. Ethan asked her to marry him. Should she say yes? She wanted to. It was what she’d always wanted. She had lost hope 5 years ago, but now he was asking. IT was like a dream come true.

Her fingers tightened around her keys

When Ethan parked the car in front of the restaurant and unbuckled his seatbelt, Lily reached out and touched his arm, then immediately pulled back.

He turned to her.“Is something wrong?” 

She took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Let’s get married.”



The following morning, Lily sent a text to their group chat.

Lily: “Ethan and I are getting married.”

After sending it, she tossed the phone on the bed and went to take a shower. She and Ethan would be going home to tell her parents about the wedding later that day. She hadn’t slept all night.

When she came back out, her phone was lit up. On her notification bar, she saw Chloe had called 9 times. 

She opened their group chat.

Chloe: “What!!!!”

Chloe: “Did your phone get stolen?”

Chloe: “Blink if you need help.”

Chloe: “Pick up the phone.”

Chloe: “Where are you??????”

Her phone started ringing again. Caller ID— Chloe. 

Lily smiled and slid to answer.

“Hey.”

“Hey?? How are you this calm? That’s all you have to say? You’re getting married! How did that happen? What’s going on?”

“He asked, and I agreed.” 

There was a long pause. Chloe groaned. “I leave for 2 weeks and you’re getting married? I’m sure by the time @Miles returns, you’d have given birth to about 5 kids with another one on the way.”

Lily laughed softly.

“You’re so dramatic.”

“Are you sure about this?” Chloe asked, more seriously now. “About Ethan. His leaving and ghosting for 5 years hurt you more than any of us. You were closest to him— and you liked him.”

“I know. But it’s…” Lily started. She didn’t know what to say. Maybe she had made a terrible decision, but she didn’t want to lose him again.

“I understand. You know I’ll always be here for you, right?” Chloe’s voice became lighter. “But if he hurts you, I’m definitely getting someone to beat him up. Illegal or not.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“So when’s the wedding?”

“We decided on April.”

“In 3 months. Isn’t that whe our London trip is supposed to happen.”

Lily was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry, I forgot. We could—” 

“Never mind, you’ve never been one for travelling anyway.”



Her mom was the happiest when she heard the news. She immediately started planning the wedding in her head, calling all her designer friends to help make the perfect wedding dress.

They got married in a wedding that caught all the headlines. The heiress of the Monroe Jewelry Corporation and the CEO of the hottest new game company that was just about to go public. 

Childhood sweethearts to adulthood lovers— the press had a field day.  Photos of them together through the different stages of their lives went viral. 

The wedding was grand. Beautiful. Her parents spared no expense. Brenda was the event planner and went all out—it could be said it was her best work.

Lily wore a custom couture dress designed just for her, and her necklace was personally designed by her mother. Ethan wore a classic black tux with cufflinks that matched her necklace.

Everyone called them a perfect love match.

Only they knew they weren't like what the outside world thought.



They didn’t go on a honeymoon. 

Lily moved into Ethan's house 3 days after the wedding. The house was furnished in a way she liked. It even had a garden, very much like the one in her parents’ house. Lily had her own room separate from Ethan’s, it had a large window overlooking the garden. Uncle Alfred was the butler, meeting him again unlocked feelings of nostalgia in her. She hadn’t seen him since Ethan’s stepmother fired him back when they were in high school. 

Life resumed like the wedding had never happened.

Actually, things changed. Lily started seeing Ethan less and less, unlike when they were going out and she used to see him 3-4 times a week. He buried himself in work as the company’s public offering date drew nearer. 

After a successful listing, he opened branches in different states and started going on business trips. Most times, she didn’t even know when he came back or if he did. By the time she went down for breakfast, he was already gone.

When she texted, she only got short, polite messages in reply.

“On a flight.”

“In the Texas bench.”

“I won’t be coming back.”

Or no reply at all.

On the rare nights they had dinner together, their conversations were pleasant but shallow. Polite questions and updates, nothing more.



Then Stacy came back from England.

She was now a popular actress with a huge following. After filming several box office hits, she was the star every company wanted to sign. But she didn’t pay attention to any of them.

“Star actress Stacy Peters becomes the face of leírion Games.

She starred in every ad campaign and even had a special character in their newest game based on her.

Paparazzi loved her.

In every press release and ribbon cutting, Stacy was there, beside Ethan. Fans of the company started shipping them. And soon, Everyone forgot Ethan was married.

And so, the marriage continued.

Polite. Quiet. Distant.

Until their third wedding anniversary.