Even if a part of him cared about me… his heart still bent toward Lily. 6
332words
The bath water was set to 39 degrees Celsius, the shampoo smelled of jasmine. Freshly brewed black coffee—100% pure. Silk pajamas laid out on the bed…
Everything was just the way Ethan liked it.
He stepped out of the bathroom without a hint of expression, his hair still damp. Out of habit, I picked up the hairdryer and gently began drying his hair.
Just like the last few times, there was no trace of jasmine in the air.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
Jasmine had been Lily's favorite. Ethan loved it because he loved her — at least, he used to.
But that was a long time ago . I knew he didn't care for it now .
[Should I switch your shampoo to lemon-scented?]
The lemon scent was my favorite.
Ethan paused, caught off guard. [Make it fragrance-free.]
I nodded, quietly swallowing the small wave of disappointment.
Ethan didn't love Lily anymore, but he still wouldn’t let himself love me.
He turned his frustration toward me instead.
If it hadn’t been for me, his heart might never have strayed.
[’ve got some documents to sort . I’ll sleep in the study tonight. You go to bed early.]
My chest felt tight with pain, but my voice was impossibly soft .
[Ethan, when will you admit that you love me?]
Ethan's body tensed. It took him a long time to answer. [What I feel is responsibility, not love.]
This was the last time I explained everything that happened before.
[Ethan, I never schemed against you, and I never hurt Lily.]
As Ethan shut the door behind him, he paused and looked back at me. [I only trust what I see . Seeing is believing.]
What's the point of seeing is believing when all you see is shaped by your own bias?
Ethan is a perfectionist, whether it's in his work or his life.
