My Bestie Stole My Childhood Love, I Married a Billionaire Chapter 03

My Bestie Stole My Childhood Love, I Married a Billionaire Chapter 03

Chloe shot him a look.

Ethan walked in stiffly, set a coffee and a bagel on the table. “Your usual. Black coffee, plain bagel.”

Then he pulled a pink charm from his pocket. “Got this for you. So drop the attitude.”

I took the unopened green one instead and pulled out my phone. “Thanks. How much? I’ll Venmo you.”

The room went dead.

Ethan blinked, brow furrowed. “Who pissed you off now?”

Chloe grabbed my arm, shaking it gently. Chloe pressed a credit card into my palm. “Seriously, just take it. Go nuts. Let him foot the bill.”

“Eight hundred dollars. On a charm. Last night. And he was about to do it again. I had to snatch it out of his hand. He doesn’t know how to flirt, he doesn’t know how to apologize—he’s useless. So don’t bother being mad. Just spend his money and feel better.”

Ethan crossed his arms but didn’t stop her.

The card was cold against my palm.

I set it on the table, grabbed the trash bag by the door.

“I’m not angry. I have work. Excuse me.”

…

At school, the teachers greeted me.

One of the newer teachers held up an extra coffee. “Ms. Vance, you want this? Black.”

The teacher next to me snorted. “She can’t do caffeine. Save it.”

I smiled.

A coworker I’d known less than a year remembered.

Ethan Hayes, Ivy League memory, perfect recall, never did.

He just didn’t care.

After my morning classes, a text from Ethan popped up.

[Changed my train. Lunch today?]

[Pick you up at school?]

I didn’t reply.

But when I walked out, he was there. Car by the curb. Window down. That icy face.

He jerked his chin at the passenger seat. “Get in.”

Ten minutes later. Same man who’d regretted ever meeting me this morning. Now acting like nothing happened.

He rattled off orders to the waiter like clockwork. “Start with these. You want to add anything?”

He didn’t pause. “Chloe’s stressed. GRE crunch. Don’t bring up this morning again. After lunch, you apologize, so she doesn’t spiral.”

I took the menu. Didn’t write anything down.

He noticed Chloe’s mood. Hadn’t noticed I’d left the chat.

The day I passed the Praxis, I’d wanted to drive over and tell him in person.He was on vacation with Chloe. She’d failed her GRE. He was comforting her.

This dinner was supposed to be my celebration. It’d been waiting for months.

The joy was long gone.

This could be my last chance at dignity.

Hot pot arrived. Meat platters. Veggies.

Ethan dropped beef in my bowl, hesitated. “There’s a reunion coming up. You free? We could visit the old teachers—”

His phone blared.

Chloe’s voice, shaking. “Ethan, I tried to find the public library and I got lost. It’s so empty out here—”

He was already on his feet, jacket on. “Stay put. I’m coming.”

Halfway to the door, he glanced back at me. “I’ll drop her off and come back.”

I didn’t answer.

The restaurant closed. He didn’t come back.

I went to school for evening supervision.

The teacher on duty with me—older, chatty—grinned. “My son’s single. You should meet him.”

I paused mid-grading. Smiled. “Sure. I’ve got time.”

This time, I meant it.