Chloe Gray brushed her hands against the soft fabric of the pale blue dress she had picked for the evening. It was simple but elegant, perfectly reflecting her personality. Nathan always said he loved how she never needed anything extravagant to shine.
But tonight, there was no call from Nathan, no reassurance of love or compliments. Just a cold, empty silence that echoed louder than any words could.
She had spent the past three weeks watching her boyfriend of two years grow increasingly distant. His excuses had grown flimsier, his affection colder. Tonight was no different. When she texted him, he didn't reply. When she called, the line went straight to voicemail.
Chloe paced her small apartment, each passing minute dragging her deeper into a storm of anxiety and doubt. Her phone buzzed, and hope flared briefly before it was crushed by the name on the screen: Lila.
"Hey, Chloe," her best friend's voice chimed through the phone. "Are you okay? You sound stressed."
Chloe let out a bitter laugh. "It's Nathan. He's been avoiding me like the plague lately. I don't know what's going on with him."
"Have you confronted him?"
Chloe sighed. "Not yet. I'm scared of what he might say."
Lila hesitated before speaking. "Chloe, you deserve someone who doesn't make you question your worth. If he's not treating you right, maybe—"
The notification tone interrupted Lila. Chloe glanced at her phone and saw Nathan's name pop up with a text message.
"Hold on, Lila. He just texted me."
Her pulse quickened as she opened the message, but the words she read made her blood turn cold.
"I can't do this anymore. I need someone who matches my status, and Sophia Foster is everything you're not. Disappear, Chloe.Cuz I don't want her ever finding out about us,Don't make me regret letting you down easy."
Her heart plummeted, and a lump formed in her throat. "He… he's breaking up with me," she whispered.
"What? Why?" Lila's voice was laced with anger and disbelief.
"He's with someone else," Chloe choked out. "Sophia Foster."
"The Sophia Foster from the elite family" Lila's voice rose in shock. "Are you kidding me? What a scumbag!"
Chloe's grip tightened around her phone as Nathan's words replayed in her mind. Disappear. As if her existence was an inconvenience.
Lila's voice pulled her back. "Chloe, are you still there?"
"Yeah," she murmured. "I need to go."
She hung up before Lila could protest and grabbed her coat. She needed to escape the suffocating walls of her apartment, to drown the ache in her chest.
The night was chilly as she stepped out, the wind biting at her cheeks. Her feet carried her to a bar she had never visited before—a small, dimly lit place tucked away on a quiet street. The kind of place where people went to forget.
Chloe slid onto a stool at the bar and ordered a drink. The first sip was sharp and bitter, but she welcomed the burn. Anything to distract her from the betrayal replaying in her head.
By the third drink, the world began to blur. She leaned her elbows on the counter, her head heavy with alcohol and heartbreak.
"Rough night?" a smooth voice broke through her haze.
Chloe turned her head and saw a man standing beside her. He had sharp features, dark hair, and piercing green eyes that seemed to look right through her.
"You could say that," she replied, her words slightly slurred.
The man smirked and slid onto the stool next to hers. "Want to talk about it?"
Chloe shook her head. "Not really."
"Fair enough," he said, signaling the bartender. "Let me guess—love troubles?"
She scoffed. "Something like that."
"Well, you're in the right place. Alcohol's a great listener."
Despite herself, Chloe chuckled. "You've got that right."
They sat in silence for a moment, the stranger sipping his drink while Chloe tried to steady her spinning thoughts.
"What's your name?" he asked suddenly.
"Chloe," she replied.
"Nice to meet you, Chloe. I'm Ethan."
She glanced at him. "No last name?"
He grinned. "Ethan Foster."
Chloe froze, her blood running cold. Foster. The same name as the woman Nathan had left her for.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.
"Nothing," she lied, forcing a smile.
Ethan studied her for a moment before leaning closer, his green eyes locking onto hers. "You're a terrible liar, Chloe."
"I just… need some air," she stammered, standing up too quickly and nearly losing her balance. Ethan caught her arm, steadying her.
"Easy there," he said, his voice gentle.
Chloe looked up at him, her heart pounding for reasons she couldn't explain. The alcohol, the heartbreak, and the proximity of this intriguing stranger were a dangerous combination. Before she could think, she leaned in and kissed him.
The kiss was impulsive, fueled by a need to escape the pain Nathan had caused. Ethan didn't pull away, his hand gently resting on her waist as he deepened the kiss.
When they finally broke apart, Ethan looked at her with a mix of surprise and amusement. "Wow. That was unexpected."
Chloe's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"
He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "No need to apologize. It was… nice."
She bit her lip, unsure of what to say.
"Listen," Ethan said, his tone softening. "I don't know what you're going through, but whatever it is, you're not alone. If you need someone to talk to—or kiss—I'm here."
Chloe laughed despite herself. "Thanks, Ethan."
As they exchanged small smiles, Chloe couldn't shake the sinking feeling in her gut. Ethan Foster. The brother of the woman who had stolen Nathan from her.
The universe, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.