In the third year after I dropped out of school to support my boyfriend Ethan Carter, he finally took me to meet his close group of buddies.

Everyone warmly called me “sis-in-law,” except for the group’s favorite girl-buddy, who sat quietly in the corner.

During a drinking game, someone teased her about her flat chest, saying she looked like a runway.

Just as I was about to speak up for her, the usually stoic Ethan chuckled and said:

“Yeah, pretty flat—you could use them as a blindfold for me.”

The girl-buddy pouted playfully, grabbed her shirt, and snapped it over Ethan’s face.

“Ever seen such a big blindfold?”

Then she glanced at me and smirked:

“Not bigger than your yellow-faced girlfriend’s, right?”

My face darkened instantly, and I demanded an apology.

She looked pitifully at Ethan, seeking support:

“It was just a joke. Your girlfriend really can’t take a little fun?”

Ethan forced her to apologize to me.

But then he turned back and bluntly added:

“Honestly, hers are bigger than yours. And yeah… your complexion does look a little sallow.”

...

Lily Evans, the so-called “girl-brother,” burst out laughing first, followed by the rest of the group.

It wasn’t until she noticed my uncomfortable expression that Lily forced herself to hold back, blinking innocently:

“We didn’t mean anything, just thought Ethan was being too blunt.”

Shame and anger burned inside me, making it impossible to sit still.

My boyfriend Ethan leaned close to my ear and whispered:

“I was just telling the truth. You know I’m straightforward—don’t get mad.”

Even though I hadn’t touched alcohol, my head felt dizzy and my eyes stung.

But Ethan didn’t notice my emotions. Instead, he turned, spun the bottle, and the neck stopped at Lily.

The loud and mischievous Jason Miller picked up the card she drew and read it aloud:

“Give any guy here a hickey!”

Lily’s face turned red. She cursed playfully:

“Oh, hell no! I’ve never even been in a relationship! I don’t know how to give a hickey!”

As she said that, her eyes kept drifting toward Ethan.

The other guys egged her on:

“Just practice now, so you’ll be ready when you get a boyfriend!”

Pretending to hesitate, Lily pointed at the henpecked Jason.

He waved his hands frantically:

“Spare me, princess! If you give me a hickey, my wife will divorce me!”

Ethan suddenly grabbed Lily’s wrist, his tone carrying a hint of possessiveness even he didn’t realize:

“Pick me.”

Lily hesitated, glancing at me:

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Ethan explained to me quickly:

“Jason’s wife is strict, and the others’ girlfriends aren’t here. If they go home with random hickeys, they’ll be in trouble. You don’t want my buddies to fight with their girls, do you?”

Lily grinned at me:

“It’s just a game, sis-in-law. You’re not that petty, right?”

Despite the polite address, she boldly swung her leg over and sat on Ethan’s lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and lowered her head to kiss him.

The sound of her sucking at his skin filled the air.

Ethan frowned slightly but didn’t stop her as she left a vivid, bright red hickey on his neck.

When it was over, Lily stayed perched on his lap as if she had forgotten to get up.

Proudly, she turned to the others:

“Not bad, huh? I’m just a natural at everything!”

Ethan smiled indulgently at her, one hand protectively supporting her waist as if afraid she might fall from his lap.

My heart felt like it was being pierced over and over by tiny needles.

In bed, Ethan had always been cold and restrained.

Even at our most passionate, he would sternly warn me never to leave any marks on him.

He once said:

“I’m still a student. How would it look if I showed up at school covered in marks?”

But now, he broke that rule—

and right in front of me.

Even as I tried to hold it in, my eyes still reddened.

“I’m going to the restroom,” I muttered.

Without caring about their reactions, I got up and walked out.

Behind me, I heard Lily’s worried whisper:

“Ethan, do you think your girlfriend is jealous?”

Then her exaggerated sigh:

“Women are such trouble. I won’t dare hang out with you guys again.”

Ethan clicked his tongue impatiently:

“You guys keep playing. I’ll check on her.”

Ten minutes later, after I had calmed down in the restroom, Ethan was still waiting outside.

He looked at my red eyes and sighed helplessly.

From behind his back, he produced a large box and placed it in front of me.

“Here—your birthday present. Don’t cry anymore.”

“I saw you had it sitting in your online shopping cart but couldn’t bring yourself to buy it. I just got my scholarship money, so I ordered it for you.”

It was a La Mer set worth nearly a thousand dollars.

He freed one hand to pinch my cheek lightly, speaking in a deliberately cheerful tone:

“My little yellow-faced girl—time to use this and turn into a swan!”

“That way it won’t feel like a waste that I’ll be living on cup noodles for the next two months.”

He used to praise my fair skin, saying I could play Snow White.

He used to call me his little princess.

Now, he called me “yellow-faced.”

It sounded like affection, but I still caught that faint hint of disdain.

Bitterness spread in my chest.

I noticed the package had already been tampered with. My face blank, I opened it.

The smallest—and most expensive—serum was missing.

When he saw my gaze fall on the empty slot, Ethan said carelessly:

“Must’ve been Lily. She wanted to check it out. I thought she just wanted to look.”

Watching my reaction closely, he added with a laugh:

“It’s just one tiny bottle. So what if she took it? You’re not mad, are you?”

My voice was flat:

“If she likes it, let her have it.”

Ethan’s smile faded. He rubbed his temples wearily:

“Emma Brooks, if you’re upset, just say it. Don’t give me this passive-aggressive attitude.”

I wanted to say I wasn’t mad—but the moment he let Lily give him a hickey earlier, something inside me had already gone numb.

But Ethan didn’t give me the chance. He lashed out, venting his frustration:

“Studying for grad school is exhausting. The last thing I want is to come home and guess if you’re angry.”

“We came out tonight to relax, but you’ve been sulking at the table all evening. You’re making it really hard for me.”

He looked into my eyes for three long seconds, then sighed and softened his voice:

“I know I owe you a lot. I shouldn’t have snapped. It’s my fault. Don’t be mad, okay?”

I didn’t know what to say.

These past three years, every time we fought, Ethan would apologize afterward, reminding me of how I dropped out to support him, lowering himself to make peace.

I used to think that showed loyalty and gratitude.

But now, it only left me cold.

“Do you not love me anymore?” I asked.

Because if he loved me, he wouldn’t keep bringing up debts.

Ethan’s eyes flickered with confusion before he quickly said:

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I love you.”

He shoved the gift box back into my hands and leaned in to kiss my cheek.

“If you don’t like this birthday present, I’ll get you another one.”

Expressionless, I stared at Ethan.

“I don’t need it.”

Out of nowhere, Lily popped up, shoving the missing serum into my hands.

“It was just a freebie—what’s the big deal?”

Ethan stayed silent, making no move to stop her. Clearly, he thought I was overreacting too.

His friends frowned at me, siding with Lily.

I placed the skincare set back into Ethan’s hands.

“This has nothing to do with it.”

Lily grabbed me dramatically, covering her mouth with mock shock:

“Wait, sis-in-law, you’re not fighting with Ethan because of me, are you?”

Ryan Cooper swatted her on the head.

“Stop acting like such a tomboy. No way she’s jealous of you.”

Another girl might have laughed it off.

But I met Lily’s eyes and said firmly, word by word:

“Then stop doing it on purpose.”

“Even if you’re carefree, you should at least have boundaries. Respect yourself a little.”

From the moment Ethan introduced me to the group, this so-called “beloved little sister” had treated me with subtle hostility.

I could tolerate her crossing lines in private—because Ethan didn’t reject her.

But when she pushed it right in front of me, I wouldn’t stay silent.

Ethan frowned and cut me off:

“Emma! You don’t need to be so harsh—we’re all girls here.”

Eyes brimming with tears, Lily suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and tiptoed to kiss him right in front of me.

Ethan froze in shock.

Then she bit his lip on purpose, spun to glare at me, and snapped:

“Now this is what crossing boundaries looks like!”

Finally realizing, Ethan pushed her away, his face darkening.

“Lily Evans!”

Lily looked at him pitifully, as though heartbroken:

“Your girlfriend smeared me. If I’m going to be accused unfairly, I might as well make it true.”

Her desperate act might have fooled someone who didn’t know better.

But all I wanted was for her to keep her distance.

Ethan grabbed my wrist, scowling:

“Apologize!”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“What did I do wrong?”

He looked at me deeply and said:

“Do you really want me to spell it out? You’re letting jealousy get the better of you. That’s why you’re lashing out at her.”

I was stunned, unable to argue back.

Before I could refuse, Lily lifted her chin, still teary-eyed but arrogant:

“I don’t want her apology. If she stays out of our hangouts from now on, that’s enough. Saves us the trouble.”

Her words made it clear: I was the problem, not her.

Sharp-minded, socially smooth Ethan—yet in this moment, he saw nothing. He only sighed and said helplessly:

“You’re so soft-hearted. You already forgave her but can’t admit it. Fine, fine. I promise I won’t bring her to our gatherings again.”

Lily pouted and punched his chest playfully:

“You’re my boy. I can’t let you stay single forever, can I?”

A heavy ache filled my chest.

With just a single sentence, Lily had banished me from Ethan’s circle.

Bitterness rose in my throat and blurred my eyes.

So, nothing in this world was truly permanent.

Ethan and I had grown up together in a foster home, depending only on each other.