"Ethan, wait!"
The group parted like the Red Sea as she rushed after him.
Her designer shoes, probably another gift from Jason, clicked against the floor.
Here cos the crocodile tears.
Ethan paused at the store entrance. The exit stood there in front of him, like salvation, but sothing in Amy’s voice made him hesitate.
Don’t turn around. Keep walking. Don’t give her the chance, Ethan!
But sixteen-year-old hearts rarely listened to logic.
Amy caught up.
"Why are you being so cold to ?"
Her fingers found his free hand, intertwining with intimacy.
"Did I do sothing wrong?"
The touch. She knows exactly what that does to .
Ethan’s resolve wavered like a candle in the wind.
The warmth of her skin, the familiar scent of her perfu, the way she looked at him with those wide, innocent eyes, it all crashed over him in waves.
Maybe I misunderstood. Maybe Jason really is just a friend. Maybe—
"I’ve been texting you all week," she continued, voice soft as silk. "You barely responded. And now you’re acting like... like I’m a stranger."
Her thumb traced gentle circles across his knuckles. The sa gesture that used to make his heart race during their three perfect weeks together.
She’s good. Really good.
Ethan’s mouth opened, an apology forming on his lips. The expensive shopping bags suddenly felt heavy with guilt rather than triumph.
"Amy, I—"
Noah’s elbow found his ribs.
A subtle nudge, barely perceptible, but enough to shatter the spell that Amy had cast on him.
Right. Rember why we’re here.
"I’ve been busy," Ethan said finally, his voice steadier than he felt.
"Busy with what?" Amy stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "Your family business that you never told about? Do you not take seriously?"
’There it is. The real question. How much money does hehave?’ Noah thought, with a wry smile.
The girl was a very good gold digger, despite her young age.
"Among other things."
Ethan gently extracted his hand from hers.
"Important things."
Amy’s perfect mask slipped for just a mont.
She’s not asking because she missed . She’s asking because she slls money.
"Maybe we could talk?"
"Just the two of us? Like we used to?"
The group watched from inside the store, faces pressed against the glass like spectators at a zoo.
Jason’s expression had shifted from smug confidence to genuine concern.
His territory is being threatened. Ethan had sohow managed to steal her from him. This had never happened to him before. Once he stole a girl, she would stay with him until he dumped her.
"I don’t think that’s a good idea," Ethan said quietly.
"Why not?" Amy’s voice rose slightly. "Ethan, we’re good together. We’ve always been good together."
Noah almost laughed at her absurdity.
’Since when did three weeks count as always?’
"Have we, though?"
Amy’s eyes widened, sensing danger in waters that had seed so safe monts before.
"What do you an?" She frowned slightly.
Ethan looked at her—really looked—for the first ti since discovering her betrayal.
She’s performing.
"I an, maybe we want different things," he said finally.
"Different things?"
She laughed ironically between her words. "Like what?"
Ethan hefted the shopping bags, feeling their weight like armour against every doubt he had about returning to her.
"Like loyalty."
Bulls-eye.
Amy’s face went pale. The word hit her like a physical blow, carrying hidden anings she couldn’t deflect or deny.
"L-Loyalty?" Her voice ca out strangled. "W-What are you talking about?"
She knows. She knows exactly what I’m talking about.
"Enjoy your dinner last Friday," Ethan said quietly. "I heard the restaurant was... expensive."
Checkmate.
The colour drained from Amy’s face completely. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly, caught between denial and confession.
Inside the store, whispers erupted like wildfire. Even from this distance, the group could sense blood in the water.
"Ethan, I can explain—"
"No need."
"I hope you and Jason are very happy together."
There. I said it. There is no going back now.
Amy’s carefully constructed world collapsed in real ti. The secret she’d thought safely hidden lay exposed.
"It’s not what you think—"
"It’s exactly what I think."
Ethan turned toward the exit.
"Goodbye, Amy."
As they left, Noah glanced from the corner of his eye and caught the aftermath through the store windows.
Amy stood frozen for a heartbeat. Then desperation kicked in.
She spun toward Jason, reaching for his arm with the sa innocent gesture she’d used on Ethan monts before.
Round two. Let’s see how the playboy handles damaged goods.
Jason’s reaction was imdiate.
He stepped back, shaking his head with visible disgust. His lips moved in words Noah couldn’t hear, but the body language spoke volus.
Nobody likes a double-crosser. Even other cheaters have standards.
Amy’s face crumpled as Jason walked away, leaving her alone in the centre of their friend group. The girls whispered among themselves, phones already out to docunt the social carnage.
From queen to pariah in under ten minutes. New record.
Outside the mall, Ethan walked in silence before he finally broke it.
"Thank you, cousin. I appreciate this a lot."
His voice carried gratitude mixed with sothing else.
Relief, maybe.
Kid’s finally standing up straight. About ti.
They reached the taxi that Noah had ordered. Ethan paused beside the passenger door.
"So, when do we return these?" He pointed at the bags awkwardly. "I an, the receipt’s probably still good for exchanges, right?"
Return them? Oh, sweet sumr child.
Noah laughed.
Rich, genuine amusent that made several passing shoppers turn and stare.
"Return them?" He wiped his eyes, still chuckling. "Ethan, that phone is yours."
The teenager’s face cycled through confusion, disbelief, and finally shock. "Mine? But that’s...so much money."
Noah pulled out one of the phone boxes, pressing it into Ethan’s trembling hands.
"Here, take it. That’s a gift. You can’t claim to have bought these, then show up to school without one, right?"
"This is insane," Ethan whispered. "You can’t just... buy a thousand-dollar phone!"
"I just did." Noah’s grin could have powered the entire mall.
Ethan stared at the box like it might explode.
"But why?"
Because watching that was worth every penny. Because seeing you find your spine was priceless.
"Because that’s what family does," Noah said simply. "We show up when it matters."
Ethan’s grip tightened on the phone box.
The Young Master has officially been born.
"Hello? Sorry to break your mont, but we are causing traffic. Can you get in already?" The taxi driver peeked through the rolled window.
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