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.

eyes looked even deeper, and his slightly drunken gaze seemed to hide some emotion I couldn't quite figure out. "It's

long as you're happy. I wanted

"What do

sat up straight, placed both hands on the table, and looked at me more seriously than before, saying clearly,

like a bomb went off in my head. I was dumbfounded, staring at him like an idiot, my voice barely a

"Why?"

bit his lip, staring off into space like he

felt like forever,

we need a

nose sting with the urge to

into happiness. He even said he owed me a wedding. I couldn't believe he would change

dare look into his eyes because

I'm serious. Tomorrow, we'll go to

serious. He didn't

felt like I could hear my heart

much and finally started

I was lowering myself, but I didn't mind being humble in front of

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

that day? You

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

understand, Ethan

seeing the setup in the room, I had been full of anticipation, thinking he would propose to me because he had said he owed me a wedding. But his words brought such a huge psychological gap that

myself a drink, but my

the glass, the burning sensation in my throat couldn't mask the pain

asked, trying to keep my voice

cloud of smoke quickly blurring

by your father and my

words, I felt my eyes fill

your fault, nor is it mine,

conscience!" Ethan's

hurt terribly, but I still

I was the only one and you told me never to leave. It was you who said we would travel

questions made him frown. He poured another glass of wine and drank it, the sound of the glass hitting the

year, you were gone for more than half a year, yet

disbelief, almost biting my lip until

"What are you saying?"

a drag of his cigarette, and through the

we are getting

with a bitter smile, "Ethan, are you serious? Do you even

one hand wearily supporting his

that once I make a decision, I rarely change it. We're both adults; I hope you can

looking at him

"I want you!"

cigarette in his

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

and saw Ethan picking up the wine bottle again, drinking by himself. He

away and stepped out the door, finding Dennis leaning