He Replaced Me in Three Days So I Replaced Him in One Night Chapter 03

He Replaced Me in Three Days So I Replaced Him in One Night Chapter 03

Lila’s voice was soft and airy,

“Ethan, you’re playing favorites…”

“Alright, alright. My mistake—had one too many.” He raised his glass toward Lila, his tone indulgent. “A toast. To Lila’s eternal beauty.”

Confetti exploded, streamers drifting through the air.

It was time for the main group game. A spotlight would roam the crowd; whoever it landed on had to choose: Truth or Dare.

I slipped to a corner, a spot no one would notice.

Half-drunk, I heard the host’s question,

“Do you love Clara or Lila?”

“Lila.”

“But we heard— isn’t Lila the other woman?”

Ethan replied without hesitation, “Clara’s the other woman.”

My grip on my glass tightened.

The pleasant buzz I’d been nursing evaporated, leaving a cold, sober clarity. I lifted my gaze.

And found his eyes waiting—cold, empty, and utterly unsurprised to see me watching.

Moments later, Ethan approached with his drink.

He clinked mine symbolically, “Not like you to hold back— I thought you’d splash this in my face.”

“I talked to the wedding planner. We’ll postpone for a year. You’ve waited seven— one more won’t hurt. She’s in her prime now. After this year, we’ll…”

I cut him off. The words left my mouth calm, final. “Let’s just release each other.”

Ethan scoffed, clearly disbelieving.

“Ethan…”

Lila walked over bashfully. Ethan’s gaze softened noticeably.

He wrapped an arm around her, leading her away.

She glanced back at me, looking pitiful, “Miss Clara, are you mad? Ethan, I don’t need a title— why don’t you two get married as planned?”

Ethan shook his head, “If she could stand other men, she wouldn’t have clung to me all these years. She gags at guys hitting on her at bars. She’ll compromise with me for the rest of her life.”

Seven years with Ethan—

I knew exactly how he looked when he loved someone.

Even after three days, the affection in his eyes was real.

But I also knew— Ethan still didn’t really understand me.

When I decided to let go of this relationship,

I’d vanish to the ends of the earth. He’d never find me.

I stood up to grab another drink—

and the spotlight landed on me.

“What a drama! First Ethan, now Clara— this is gold!”

I froze for a second, then headed to the bar to grab my drink.

The host grinned, “Miss Clara— Truth or Dare?”

“Either.”

“Dare then?”

“Fine.”

The host’s eyes lit up, “You sure? Backing out means covering the entire tab for the night.”

This party only happened once a year—

nearly every young person in the city was here.

The tab’s longer than a lifetime; only a handful could afford it.

I didn’t overthink, “I’m in.”

The host raised his voice to a dramatic shout. “The Dare is…” A pause for effect. “You must choose someone. Anyone in this room. And spend the night with them.”

A collective gasp sucked the air from the room, followed by a rising tide of whistles and shocked laughter.

I set down my glass, scanning the crowd. Ethan smirked briefly.

“Predictable— she’ll pick Ethan, right? They’re engaged!”

“Wasn’t the engagement called off?”

“She’ll still pick him— to spite Lila, at least.”

Whispers filled the air.

Lila clenched her fists, tugging at Ethan’s sleeve.

“Ethan, if— if you agree, don’t touch me ever again.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Ethan watched me like it was a show, “Fewer than three people here can cover that tab. Postpone the wedding for a year— agree, and I’ll pay it. Deal?”

Lila preened in his arms, lifting her glass. Ethan sipped the drink she fed him.

“You guys didn’t see— I met her at a nightclub once. A guy touched her hand, and she threw up.”

“Instead of guessing who she’ll pick, bet on how fast she’ll beg Ethan for help.”

Ethan bent his head, his lips brushing Lila’s ear in a whisper everyone could guess at. “If being my girl isn’t fun enough… how about you get to play with my fiancée?” He straightened, his voice now a public taunt. “Let’s have her beg you. Think of something good.”

They were a tableau of cruel anticipation, waiting for me to break.

But who started this lie— that I couldn’t live without Ethan?

I looked past him, pointing to the quietest guy in the crowd, “I pick him.”