I ended up with the person who used to bully me in school.

As the morning sunlight seeped into the room, I barely moved my arm when the arm wrapped around my waist tightened, pulling me closer.

Ethan Chambers lowered his head to kiss my neck, his deep voice tinged with a husky tone from just waking up.

"Did you fall asleep last night?"

I froze for a moment before nodding obediently.

In the past, I might have resisted, but three weeks with him taught me a simple lesson to be compliant.

He took my hand, which rested at my side, and interlaced his fingers with mine, playing with them as if amused.

Leaning close to my hair, he let out a low chuckle full of interest.

"This time, you didn’t throw away the ring I gave you?"

He was referring to the diamond ring on my finger.

There had been two others before this one—one I hid in the freezer, and the other I threw into the fountain in the garden downstairs.

I didn’t want to think about the consequences of losing the first two rings for now, but the result of the third ring was clear: I was going to marry him, the person I once feared the most.

I enjoyed my time in the bathroom because it meant I didn’t have to face him, nor would I be reminded of certain terrifying memories.

But as I stared blankly at the foggy mirror above the sink, even the hazy steam couldn’t obscure the glaring marks on my body.

My eyes reddened as I stared at my reflection in the mirror until the slow, deliberate sound of knocking came from the door.

"You’ve been in there a while. If you don’t come out soon, I’ll go in."

I was speechless.

It wasn’t the first time Ethan had walked into the bathroom unannounced.

Panicked, I quickly turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around myself.

…

Breakfast was neatly laid out on the table as usual, though Ethan likely didn’t have time to eat.

The morning news droned on in the background as he effortlessly adjusted his tie with practiced precision.

Noticing me staring at him, he leaned down and tapped my nose with a smirk.

"Like what you see? Next time, you can tie it for me."

I turned my face away, avoiding his gaze.

He chuckled lightly, unfazed, and deliberately picked up the glass of milk I’d been drinking, taking a sip right where my lip mark was left.

"Be good. Wait for me to come back. Tonight, I’ll take you to look at wedding dresses."

Ethan left shortly after.

I stared blankly at the television for a long while.

Then, in a sudden burst of anger, I grabbed the glass he had just drunk from and hurled it at the television.

The screen only trembled slightly, but the glass shattered across the floor with a loud crash.

The sound started the house staff, who cried out in alarm.

I hugged my knees and sat frozen in place, tears streaming down my face as I cried.

…

Ethan was once my worst nightmare.

Back in high school, he was the ringleader of the group that bullied me the most.

He would stand above me, looking down with disdain, as he tossed all my books from my bag down the stairwell.

He orchestrated my isolation, ensuring no one dared to befriend me.

With just a word from him, a group of girls dragged me into the bathroom and slapped me across the face.

As long as Ethan took the lead in tormenting me, no one dared to step in.

After all, he was the son of the CEO of a major corporation.

Our school even had an entire building donated by his family.

When he mocked me openly, it became a trend in the class to pick on me.

I heard that many of the girls had a crush on him, drawn to his looks and the fact that he was their idea of the perfect man.

But to me, he was nothing but the demon who left me sleepless, night after night.

And this person, seven years after graduation, suddenly said he wanted to marry me.

…

I still couldn’t shake the habit of trembling whenever I saw Ethan, even after sharing the same bed with him for three weeks.

There was no one to help me. When my mother found out someone of Ethan’s status wanted to marry me, she couldn’t stop celebrating her “good fortune.”

Ethan seemed to have changed cars again. This time, the backseat was particularly spacious.

I never liked cars with too much room in the back.

The partition was up, closing us off from the front, leaving anyone outside to wonder what he and I might be doing back there.

But today, Ethan was quieter than usual.

I was shaking uncontrollably, and despite the temperature rising in the car, I couldn’t stop.

He ignored my reaction and pulled me into his arms.

"Alice, are you that scared?"

His whisper brushed against my ear, and he knew exactly why I was trembling.

"I’ll take you to pick out a wedding dress later, okay?"

I managed to steady my trembling, but a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Who would have thought that the man who once pushed me into the abyss was now gently telling me he wanted to take me to pick out a wedding dress?

…

Ethan took me to a boutique located in a private villa.

The crystal chandelier reflected dazzling light, illuminating the wedding dresses displayed on mannequins, making them sparkle.

I had no interest in looking or choosing a dress. I let Ethan and the designer discuss which style to customize for me while the assistant measured my body dimensions.

The shop’s backyard was a small garden, which caught my attention more than the dresses.

So, while they were talking, I lifted my skirt and wandered to the small pond in the backyard.

There was a door at the back of the garden, and beyond it seemed like a path to unlimited freedom.

I’d thought about running away countless times.

But when I finally mustered the courage, I was disheartened to realize I had nowhere to go.

My mother was desperate for me to marry Ethan, pulling my hand and urging me not to resist.

I sat by the small pond, waiting until Ethan finished his conversation and came to find me.

"What are you thinking about?"

Ethan always had this air about him, as though he were above everyone else.

So, I exposed my arm to him.

On my wrist was a small red mark.

It was a round scar, with a raised, thickened ring around the edges.

"Look, you burned me with your cigarette."

I was referring to that day in high school when he, in a bad mood, dragged me to a corner and pressed the cigarette butt against my skin.

It hurt so badly that I forgot everything else he did afterward.

He stared at the mark for a long moment before squatting in front of me.

As much as I hated to admit it, Ethan’s face was flawless.

It was perfect like it had been sculpted by one of history's greatest artists.

If he gazed at someone with such soft, gentle eyes, I imagined anyone would drown in them.

Maybe that was why the Bible said the devil had the most enchanting face.

The light from his lighter flickered as he lit a cigarette in front of me.

I flinched instinctively, afraid the burning tip would land on my arm again.

But the next second, he calmly pressed the cigarette out against his own wrist, right at the same spot where he had left a scar on me.

He quietly watched me, his voice soft. "Does this make you feel better, Alice?"

I didn’t reply, lowering my gaze.

The cigarette ash flickered, and the fresh wound on his wrist stood out painfully.

Suddenly, he reached out and pulled me into his embrace.

"Alice, I wish I could take some of your pain."

The fireflies slowly rose above the pond as I stared at the shimmering moonlight.

"Ethan, you know those pains were caused by you."

His body stiffened for a moment, then he slowly began to caress my hair.

"Then let me atone, okay?"

I fell silent.

…

After Ethan left this morning, I threw the glass of milk at the television, just like before.

At times like this, the staff would usually warm up another glass of milk and hand it to me.

But today, I didn’t want any.

Milk used to be my favorite drink.

Back in school, my mom would always make sure I left the house with a bottle of it every morning.

But one day, when I got to class, Ethan was sitting on the desk in front of me.

He was already quite tall back then.

As he leaned down to look at me, his shadow completely engulfed me.

I heard someone sneer, followed by a voice saying, "Come on, Ethan, have some fun."

Then he smiled at me, stretching out his hand.

I handed him the milk bottle.

The moment he twisted off the cap, the scent of milk hadn’t even reached my nose before the white liquid poured down over my head.

My nose, collarbone, neckline, the hem of my skirt—everywhere was soaked with that smell.

But while I was crying, everyone else was laughing.

"Hey, look at her. Who’s she trying to seduce?"

"I swear, Ethan, your twisted sense of humor..."

Suddenly, a thumb brushed against my cheek.

Ethan rested his chin on his hand, sitting in front of me.

He grabbed my chin, studying me for a long moment.

Then he scoffed.

"Ugly."

That was why I’d hated milk ever since.

But more than anything, I hate Ethan the most.

When I knocked over my second glass of milk today, the person bringing it to me was practically on their knees.

"Miss... please, just drink it..."

I turned my head away and said I wouldn’t.

Finally, my gaze fell on the landline phone beside the sofa.

I crawled over and pressed the buttons.

This landline could only call one person’s phone.

But this time, the voice that answered wasn’t Ethan’s.

"Miss Quinn?"

Oh, it was his assistant—the one who was always driving him around.

"I need to speak with Ethan."

"He’s in a meeting, Miss Quinn..."

"Then I’ll come over."

I didn’t wait to hear what he had to say and hung up.

The security at this villa was strict. There were guards at the entrance.

I looked up and told them I was going to Ethan’s company.

I supposed this was one of the perks of being engaged to him.

No one stopped me. I walked straight to the top floor without any obstacles.

Only when I was about to barge into the conference room did his assistant finally stop me.

"Miss Quinn, you can wait in the lounge..."

I pushed the doors open without hesitation.

Sometimes, I didn’t quite understand what I was trying to do.

Maybe being trapped in the dark had created the urge to pull someone down along.

Or maybe I just wanted to create a mess, to ruin myself completely.

That way, I wouldn’t have to wonder whether someone like me was even worth saving.

The conference room was filled with middle-aged men, most of them well past their prime.

Seated at the head of the table, Ethan stood out because of his looks. He didn’t belong among them.

All eyes were on me—forty-something pairs, scrutinizing.

Maybe it was the cold blast of the air conditioning, but for a moment, I couldn't stop trembling.

Then suddenly, someone scooped me up.

For the first time, I caught the scent of smoke on Ethan.

It was cold and merciless, just like him.

"When did you get here, hmm?"

Just moments ago, I heard him berate his subordinates. He changed his tone so fast.

Now, speaking to me, his voice was soft.

…

Because of my intrusion, the meeting was abruptly cut short.

By the time I snapped back to my senses, I was already in his office, still in his arms.

His office was spacious, sitting at the very top of the building, with a view of the towering skyline below.

Standing at such a height, looking down, it felt as if the people rushing about below—their entire fates—could be grasped in the palm of his hand.

As if crushing an ant like me would take no effort at all.