"Emma, just treat what happened as a silly joke, okay? Ethan and I used to be the most intimate, you can't hold it against us forever, right?"
The friends all laughed it off, accepting Sophie's explanation and telling me to forget the incident.
Seeing I didn't argue back, Ethan visibly relaxed, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
If this had happened before, I would have cried, momentarily ripping off my weak facade to question and accuse him in front of everyone, making a scene just to defend my pitiful self-respect that they trampled on.
When Ethan and Sophie broke up, it wasn't long before he accepted my pursuit.
He came from a better family, had better relationships, and had an unparalleled good-looking appearance.
Everyone thought I had used some underhanded tricks to take advantage of the situation and climb up to Ethan's level.
Even though I was misunderstood, I never tried to explain myself.
Ethan chose me, which meant he liked me.
I loved him to the bone and was willing to give everything for him.
I almost had the responsibility of taking care of his diet and daily life engraved in my bones.
However, he took my whole-hearted dedication for granted, while I felt like I never entered his heart.
Until three years ago, when Sophie reappeared in his life, my nightmare began.
He started not coming home at night, getting dead drunk, and rushing to her call.
I had argued and fought with him.
He always stabbed me again when I was most broken, with Sophie.
"She needs me."
"She's having a hard time, only I can help her."
"She's sick, I can't ignore her."
"She's heartbroken, I have to accompany her."
"She's in love again... let me celebrate with her."
We had both collapsed in our hearts over and over again.
I can't even remember how many times we fought because of her.
Afterwards, he would patiently say a few conciliatory words.
I would seize the opportunity to retreat, it would be best to go with the flow.
If I didn't know my place and continued to throw a tantrum, what awaited me would be an endless cold war.
It was the worst time yet when I scolded Sophie for having ulterior motives towards him, for not knowing her place, and for trying to seduce him despite having a boyfriend.
He got angry and disappeared for half a month, and even when I apologized and admitted my mistake, he still wouldn't come home.
In the end, I panicked.