When Ethan took the gift box, something brushed against his chest. The touch was feather-light, yet a strange, sharp pressure bloomed beneath his ribs, catching his breath. It wasn't pain, precisely, but the air in his lungs suddenly felt thinner, harder to draw. The bow on the box had been tied with painstaking care, a testament to the effort she’d invested, the time she must have spent planning this. And here he stood, a complete bastard, his mind filled with selfish, shameful thoughts. Before Ethan could find his voice, Chloe had already moved to the entryway. She slipped on a beige wool coat and wrapped a thick scarf around her neck, hiding the delicate oval of her face. Only her dark, clear eyes remained visible. As she turned to leave, her stride seemed unsteady, just for a moment. Ethan was about to ask what was wrong when Isabella gasped beside him. “Ahh! That hurts…” His attention snapped to her immediately, and he helped her ease back onto the sofa. “Are your knees still that bad? Let me take you to the hospital.” “I don’t want to go.” Isabella bit her lip, her gaze flicking to the box in his hands. “And you claim you’re not falling for her?” she muttered. “You’re holding that gift like it’s some priceless treasure.” Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Bella, I already owe her so much.” Tears welled in Isabella’s eyes, slipping down her cheeks. “And what about me, Ethan? What am I to you? Are you just going to let her walk all over me and Leo?” “I told you, Chlo’s not like that,” he said, his voice firm. “Enough!” Isabella’s voice cracked. “Can’t you hear yourself? Every word out of your mouth is a defense for her!” She pushed herself to her feet, her shoulders shaking with dramatic sobs, and dragged Leo upstairs with her. Ethan sat stunned for a moment before letting out a slow, heavy breath. He wasn't even sure what he was thinking anymore. He only knew, with a certainty that unnerved him, that he couldn’t stand to hear anyone speak ill of Chloe. Snow fell steadily for the next two days. Chloe spent the morning seeing patients at the clinic. In the afternoon, she found herself covering a session for her senior, who was unexpectedly absent, leading a discussion with a group of overseas doctors. By five, she was home, changing and applying a touch of makeup. She needed little; with her bright eyes and flawless smile, she was striking with minimal effort. As she came downstairs, however, she felt a prickle of unease. The house had been eerily silent since she’d arrived. The mother-son duo upstairs was being unusually well-behaved. Just as she finished pulling on a pair of tall boots, Isabella appeared, a venomous smile playing on her lips. “Chloe, who do you think he’ll choose in the end? Me, or you?” “Isabella, what are you talking about? I don’t quite follow.” Chloe paused, then let a slow, knowing smile spread across her own face. “Oh? Don’t tell me you’re trying to spin some tawdry drama for the Carter family, something along the lines of ‘widowed sister-in-law seduces her young brother-in-law’?” Isabella’s face contorted with fury. “Chloe!” Chloe calmly draped a cashmere cape over her shoulders, her smile unwavering. “I don’t have time to argue. Ethan’s already waiting for me.” Isabella’s gaze shot toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, where a black car was parked in the driveway. Rage, hot and acidic, rose in her throat. When she’d agreed to let Ethan marry this “sweet and pliable” girl, she had assumed Chloe would be easy to control. Who could have guessed the meek little rabbit had fangs? Chloe slid into the car and turned to Ethan. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.” “No, I just got here.” He reached over, his hand closing around hers for a brief squeeze. Then his eyes fell to the sliver of pale, flawless skin visible below the hem of her skirt. Her legs were bare to the cold, and he frowned. “Why are you dressed so lightly?” She smiled faintly. “The car and the house are both heated.” She was always telling her patients to dress warmly, but she never seemed to follow her own advice. Ethan sighed. “If you catch a cold, don’t expect me to take care of you.” “I’ll take medicine,” she replied simply. A cold was a simple thing. One dose of herbs and she would be on the mend. Over the past three years, she had learned to rely on herself. She had long since stopped expecting him—or anyone else—to care for her. Ethan didn’t know why her placid indifference managed to unsettle him so deeply. “You say that as if I’m some heartless husband who doesn’t care about you at all.” She was quiet for a moment. “Did you open the gift I gave you yesterday?” “Not yet.” Ethan turned his gaze to the window. “It’s a birthday gift, isn’t it? I figured I’d wait.” “Sure.” That works, she thought. It gives me more time to prepare. They had little else to say to each other, so the ride passed in a heavy silence. Ethan glanced at her profile. She sat perfectly still, watching the stream of traffic flow past the window. There was a peaceful, composed quality about her that he couldn't reconcile with the person Isabella despised so fiercely. He was about to speak when his phone buzzed. “Mr. Carter, Ms. Reed is at a blind date.” The voice on the other end was calm, not loud, but in the close confines of the car, it was perfectly clear. Chloe heard every word. The air tightened, growing sharp and cold. A muscle flexed in Ethan’s jaw, a flicker of the fury he was keeping tightly controlled. He rarely lost his temper. “Send me the location,” he said, his tone turning to ice. After hanging up, he turned to Chloe. His expression was composed, but his voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Chlo, something urgent came up. I can’t go to the family banquet with you.” Something urgent? Chloe didn’t even bother to ask. Why humiliate herself by digging for the truth she already knew? “I understand.” She lowered her gaze. “Mike, could you pull over up ahead?” The car slowed to a stop by the curb. For a moment, Ethan didn’t move, his jaw tight with a conflict he couldn’t voice. Chloe looked at him, her expression unreadable. “Ethan, you should go. We can’t park here for long.” He seemed taken aback by her composure, by the calm grace with which she was dismissing him. He could find no excuse to stay. “Alright.” He got out of the car without another word. The Price family’s monthly banquet was unlike other social events. Only five people ever attended, including Ethan. The atmosphere was always quiet. Unnervingly so, more like a funeral than a celebration. When Chloe arrived, the butler, Jason Reyes, led her straight to the dining hall. “Ms. Miller, Mrs. Price has been waiting all day. She’s been asking after you since this morning,” Jason said respectfully. “Okay.” Chloe nodded, her fingers clenching nervously at her sides. Inside the dining hall, Eliza sat at the head of the long table. To her left, her eldest and second daughters were seated in order of age. Chloe stepped forward and greeted them politely. “Grandma. Aunt Fiona. Aunt Miranda.” The two aunts offered lukewarm nods, their eyes glancing right past her. When Eliza saw that Chloe was alone, her brows drew together in a deep furrow. “Where is Ethan?” “Something urgent came up,” Chloe said softly. “He had to attend to it.” “Out! Get out and kneel!” A harsh yell shattered the silence. In the next instant, a porcelain teacup flew through the air, aimed directly at her.

Chapter 5: The Weight of a Gift