Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 225 We're Done

A waiter popped in and asked if I was ready to order. I told him to wait for a few more minutes, and he left.

I pulled out my phone, thinking about calling Ethan. My finger hovered over his name, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I kept telling myself, 'Ethan's always on time. If he's late, there's gotta be a good reason. Maybe he's busy setting up the room. He wouldn't just bail on me. Even if something came up, he'd call.' I kept trying to convince myself, but the unease in my gut just kept growing.

After an hour of waiting and worrying, he still hadn't shown up, and I started to freak out.

I finally called him, but he didn't pick up.

'Why isn't he answering? Is he in a meeting? Did something happen?' I thought, getting more and more anxious.

I couldn't sit still anymore.

Just as I was about to head to his office, the door swung open, and there he was.

It was late fall, and the weather was already pretty chilly. He had his suit jacket draped over his arm and was just wearing a thin white shirt.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" he said as he walked in.

Seeing him safe and sound, I let out a huge sigh of relief, realizing all my worries were for nothing.

"It's okay, I haven't been waiting long."

He must've told the staff he was here because the waiter brought in the food and drinks right after.

He sat down across the long table, put down his suit jacket, and without explaining why he was late, he just said, "Honey, you must be starving. Let's eat first."

He opened a bottle of wine, poured himself a full glass, and downed it in one go, then immediately poured another.

A few candles flickered between us, casting a dim light on his face, making it hard to see clearly. But I could tell something was off with Ethan.

"Why aren't you eating? Don't you like the food?" he suddenly asked.

"No, it's fine," I replied.

"That's good." He downed the second glass.

Glass after glass, he barely touched the food and just kept drinking.

"Drink less; your stomach isn't in good shape," I said.

He gave a faint smile, looking a bit tipsy, and said, "It's fine now, not that weak anymore."

He reached for the wine bottle again, only to find it empty, so he opened a second one.

I couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood? Did something happen at work?"

He didn't say a word, just poured himself another glass, so full it spilled over.

After downing it in one go, he set the glass down, leaned back, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, showing off his firm chest. "Are you happy with how everything's set up today?" he suddenly asked.

slightly drunken gaze seemed to hide some emotion I couldn't quite figure

as you're happy.

stunned. "What do you

hands on the table, and looked at me more seriously than before, saying clearly, "I think we should

went off in my head. I was dumbfounded, staring at him like an

"Why?"

staring off into space like he was deep in

felt like

need

nose sting with the urge to

off. He had been so good to me, his kindness had quickly made me fall into happiness. He even said he owed me a wedding. I

his eyes because

serious. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Marriage Bureau to get a

didn't look like he

felt like I could hear my heart shattering

through so much and finally started a

knew I was lowering myself, but I didn't mind

I thought to myself, 'I don't want it to end, it can't end. I want to spend

day? You don't have

interrupted me calmly. "This has nothing to do with anyone else; it's an issue

Ethan spoke slowly,

had been full of anticipation, thinking he would propose to me because he had said he owed me a wedding. But his

pour myself a drink, but my hands were shaking so much that I spilled

in my throat couldn't mask the

I asked,

of smoke quickly blurring my view, making it even harder

separated by your father and

his heavy words, I felt my eyes fill with

that's not your fault, nor is it mine,

with my conscience!" Ethan's voice grew even

terribly, but

was you who said we would travel next year and that you

made him frown. He poured another glass of wine and drank it,

for more than half a year, yet you

him in disbelief, almost

"What are you saying?"

of his cigarette, and through the smoke,

said, we are

smile, "Ethan, are you serious?

hand wearily supporting his forehead, his knuckles rubbing

both adults; I hope you can be more straightforward. Ask for anything you want, and I'll try

grabbed my bag and stood up, looking at him with

"I want you!"

the cigarette in his mouth and

the ironically romantic setting, gave a self-mocking smile, and turned to

back and saw Ethan picking up the wine bottle again, drinking

stepped out