Love Ended That Winter

Five years ago, a video of me tangled up with several men in bed went viral online. Not long after, I broke up with my boyfriend and left the city. Later, I heard Ethan dated 99 girls who looked just like me. Everyone said he was still hopelessly in love with me. Then, five years later, I met his new girlfriend at a mutual friend's wedding. She looked nothing like me, but none of that matters anymore because I'm getting married next week. After the wedding reception, a group of friends insisted on heading to a bar for drinks. I was about to decline when someone pushed Ethan to my side. Come on, Ethan Emma flew all the way back You can't let her leave on an empty. stomach My best friend Lucy said it with two playful raises of her eyebrows Ethan didn't respond He simply took my suitcase from my hand as naturally I checked the time There was still plenty of time before I was supposed to meet Cole So I nodded. I took the front passenger seat. Ethan and his girlfriend, Sienna, slid into the back. The moment the car pulled away, Sienna spoke"Ethan. you haven't introduced us yet. " Through the rearview mirror, I could clearly see the challenge and disdain in her eyes. Ethan's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he could say anything. I spoke first"Hi, I'm Emma. Ethan and I went to school together. "School friends, please. Everyone in our circle knows you're his exgirlfriend. Don't worry, I'm not the jealous type. Something like this wouldn't make me jealous. She wrapped herself around Ethan's arm and deliberately kissed him. It was a clear declaration of territory. For the rest of the drive, Sienna never stopped talking. The quiet and reserved Ethan actually answered every single thing she said without the slightest complaint. My alcohol tolerance is terrible. If I get drunk, will you take me home? Of course, today's wedding was beautiful. When we get married, I want roses and colorful balloons everywhere. Whatever you want, I rolled the window all the way down and let the wind rush into the car. I had no interest in listening. Thirty minutes later, we finally arrived at the bar. I had just stepped out of the car and was about to head inside when Sienna bumped into me from behind. Emma, don't get any ideas about Ethan, you need to face the facts, I don't look anything like you and he is serious about me.

I looked at her without a hint of interest. "If you were really that confident, you wouldn't be saying this to me. " Sienna's face tightened with anger, but she didn't dare make a scene in front of everyone. She gritted her teeth, hooked her arm through Ethan's, and followed me inside. You're late, three drinks each, no arguing. Sienna can't hold her liquor, I'll drink for her. Just as I reached for the second glass, Sienna deliberately stepped in front of me, a smug smile on her face. "How could you all bully poor Emma? She doesn't even have a boyfriend! "If she gets drunk, who's going to take her home? I looked her in the eye and couldn't help thinking how utterly tedious she was. Siena, thank you for your concern, but there's one thing. I'm not single. So where's your boyfriend tonight?

The atmosphere in the room became strange, Lucy immediately jumped in and waved a. deck of cards, "Nobody's leaving sober tonight, come on, let's play! ". My alcohol tolerance is awful Don't worry. I'll drink for you. But I don't want you drinking that much. Emma, you've had so much to drink and your face isn't even red, your alka tolerance must be amazing. Would you like to drink for me? You're really going to let her talk to Emma like that? You've always been good at drinking. Want to help me finish Sienna's drinks too? For a brief moment, I felt my fingers tremble. When Ethan and I first got together, he wasn't the polished executive he is now. Back then, we were squeezed into a tiny apartment and barely making ends meet. We saved money for two years before finally starting a company. At every business dinner, someone always targeted me. Emma, finish these drinks and I'll invest in your company. Every time before I could reach for the glass, Ethan would cut in, "I'll drink half for her. " But every single time, he secretly poured all of my drinks into his own glass. Onsen, Ethan drank so much that he suffered stomach bleeding. He cried while holding me and said. Emma, I'll give you a good life. I won't let anyone force you to drink ever again. Now, looking at the man standing across from me, I took two steps back. Ethan, Sienna is your girlfriend, not mine. After all these years, can you still not protect your own girlfriend?

Emma, I know you're still upset that Ethan dumped you back. then. but that doesn't mean you get to take it out on us. No one got dumped, things were complicated back. then. If you're really that concerned, Sienna, maybe you should talk to Ethan about it. in private. Sienna bit her lip as tears spilled down her face, but when she turned and saw Ethan only watching her in cold silence, she unwillingly wiped her tears away. Fine. no drinking. Let's play truth or dare. I'll be the judge. No one wanted another argument, and the tension gradually eased. Sienna grabbed an empty bottle. Whoever the bottle points to has to tell the truth, she spun it. The bottle stopped directly in front of me, a flash of satisfaction appeared in her eyes Emma, did you really come back just for the wedding or was there another reason? I came back to get married.

Everyone's eyes moved back and forth between Ethan and me, Sienna shook his arm, "Wow, Emma's getting married, I guess she can't be our bridesmaid after all. "It's fine. Even if I weren't getting married, I wouldn't be interested in being anyone's bridesmaid. " Sienna looked disappointed again and picked up the bottle. Let's keep playing. Whoever gets picked has to drink. I had no idea how Sienna managed it, but every single round the bottle pointed at me. The long flight had already left me exhausted, combined with the alcohol, my head quickly started spinning. Before I could pick up another glass, Ethan suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand. That's enough for tonight. His hand was ice cold; touch instantly cleared my head. Sienna glared at me. But this round isn't over yet. If Emma doesn't want to drink anymore, then how about another round of truth or dare? I checked the time; there were only 10 minutes left until midnight. Fine. a calculating look flashed through Sienna's eyes. She pulled out her phone, opened a photo, and held it in front of me. Emma. in that leaked photo scandal of yours, how many men were actually in those photos?

The moment I recognized the photo, my entire body froze. A dark chapter of my life that I thought had long been buried suddenly appeared before me again. It happened when Ethan's company and mine were on the verge of going public at a dinner party we should never have attended. Ethan stepped outside to answer a phone call while he was gone. Someone slipped something into my drink. The moment I realized something was wrong with my body, I panicked and smashed the wine glass in my hand. The sharp pain of the broken glass cutting into my palm brought me back to my senses for a brief moment. I stumbled out of the venue, trying to find Ethan, but he was nowhere to be found. I had no choice; using the broken glass, I repeatedly cut my wrist to force myself to stay conscious while crawling toward the restroom. Only after hearing the lock click shut did I finally dare to breathe. When I woke up, it was already the next morning. By the time I got home, I learned that Ethan had spent the entire night looking for me. Before the doctored photo was uploaded and spread online, I never even had the chance to tell him what had happened. Ethan wrapped me tightly in his arms. Don't be afraid, no matter what happens, I won't leave you. I told him that nothing had happened, but the overwhelming flood of photos online trapped me completely. People stepped forward and accused me of sleeping with men in hotel rooms to secure business deals for the company, some people I had never met claimed that I had sent them nude photos myself.