Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I'd just reached the parking lot when I ran into my student.

"Ms. Pierce! My acceptance email from Michigan came today! Thank you so much for helping with my essays and writing my rec letter. I'm out celebrating with some friends."

Hearing that, most of my bad mood finally lifted.

Leo Martinez scrubbed a hand through his messy curls, then leaned in and lowered his voice like he had a secret.

"Oh, and my uncle found out you said yes. He was up until midnight picking a restaurant. He changed his mind about the gift three times. He's so happy."

"And don't worry, Ms. Pierce. Face, body, my uncle's the whole package—"

Before I could step back, someone laughed behind me. It wasn't a nice laugh.

"What did I tell you?"

I turned around. Ethan and his parents were standing on the restaurant steps, watching us with complicated expressions.

Ethan's eyes had gone black.

Brooke took a couple of steps forward and looked from me to Leo and back again. Then she turned to Mrs. Cole.

"See, Mrs. Cole? She really is sleeping with her student."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Leo started toward her. I put out an arm and stopped him.

"Go have lunch with your friends. I'll handle this."

He pressed his lips together. Finally he nodded and walked off, clearly furious.

I turned to Brooke and spoke slowly, so she wouldn't miss a word.

"That's twice now. There won't be a third time. Say one more thing about me and my student, and I'll see you in court."

Mrs. Cole stepped in front of Brooke and jabbed a finger in my face.

"Hannah, don't you dare threaten Brooke with lawyers. All four of us just watched you hanging all over that boy."

"A woman like you is never marrying into this family!"

I looked her in the eye. I didn't raise my voice, and I didn't back down.

"Mrs. Cole, what you just said is defamation. And I have nothing to do with your family anymore. You don't get to judge me."

"Defamation?"

Ethan, who hadn't said a word, gave a short laugh. "Yesterday you said Brooke was lying about you, so you threw water in her face. Today we find you out here wrapped around your student."

"Hannah, I believed you. I was going to propose. I can't believe this is how you treat ten years together."

Something complicated flickered in his eyes and then disappeared.

All I could think was how absurd it was.

He was the one who'd cheated.

And here he was with his parents and his new girlfriend, pinning something on me that never happened.

"Ethan, if turning me into the bad guy makes you feel less guilty about what you did, fine."

"But let me tell you something. It's a coward's move."

The air went still. Ethan pushed his tongue against his cheek. Then he grabbed Brooke's wrist.

He slid the ring onto her ring finger.

Our initials were still engraved inside it.

Brooke couldn't hide her delight. Her voice jumped an octave.

"Ethan... are you asking me to marry you?"

Ethan didn't look at her. He kept his cold eyes fixed on me.

Then, slowly, word by word:

"Yes. Only a woman who's been faithful is good enough for me."

I smiled. I took out my phone and called the moving company.

"Hi. Those boxes I packed up yesterday? Can you deliver them to 1147 Lakeview Drive? And put a note on top that says, 'Congratulations on your engagement.'"

Ethan's face went colder. His hands curled into fists.

I hung up. I was done playing a part in their little show. I turned and walked away.