Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

I should've just left, but I felt stuck.

Arthur must've seen I was itching for the truth. He gave a creepy smile.

I was both curious and scared because I saw revenge in his eyes.

After ten seconds of hesitation, I wanted to bolt. I turned and almost ran away.

Even if there was another side to the story, I'd rather live in the dream Ethan created for me.

"Because I slept with his ex, he wants to sleep with mine. That's his revenge," Arthur said, his voice low but piercing. He looked so sure I'd want to hear more, as if these words could shatter Ethan's dream for me.

I stopped dead. Slowly, I turned back and saw Arthur's smug smile, like he'd won something.

"Arthur, are you so miserable you can't stand others being happy? Do you think a few words from you can wreck our relationship? You've always been shady; why would I believe you?" I tried to sound calm and steady, but inside, I was shaken. Arthur seemed to see right through me because his smile widened. "Do you know who his ex is?" he asked slowly.

I had to admit, he knew exactly how to mess with my head. I stared at him, trying to look wary, but inside, I was a mess.

When he asked, a name was already in my mind, waiting for him to confirm it.

"His ex is Fiona."

It was her! The truth hit me hard, and I felt like Arthur's voice started to fade.

Arthur went on, "He broke two of my ribs back then. I should've remembered him, but it's been eight years, and he's changed a lot. I didn't recognize him at first. Once I did, I knew his revenge was coming."

"Stop it!" I cut him off. "I have to go to work. I don't have time for your crap." With that, I turned and walked away quickly.

Back at work, I kept telling myself Arthur was just messing with me, but his words wouldn't leave my head, "Because I slept with his ex, he wants to sleep with mine. That's his revenge."

'Could all the warmth from Ethan be fake?' I couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe it.

I remembered the photo of Fiona at Arthur's wedding and realized why it seemed familiar.

At Ethan's grandfather's house, I'd seen a photo of Ethan with a girl. That girl was Fiona, but the photo was different from her artsy ones in the papers, so I only found it familiar but didn't recognize her. Suddenly, things clicked. I took a sick day and grabbed a cab back to the villa.

I went straight to the living room and pulled out the tape from the old stereo. The photo on the tape was small, showing a group of five, so the faces weren't clear.

I hadn't seen many photos or posters of the local band from eight years ago. The only thing I had was this tape.

I used to think Ethan looked like the lead singer of The Thorn Birds Band, but now I knew he was the lead singer.

I searched for info about The Thorn Birds Band on my phone, but they were just a local band, and the internet wasn't big back then. They disbanded early, so there wasn't much online.

I'd seen photos of Ethan with long hair at Martin's house, but they were old, and my impression of The Thorn Birds Band was more about their music, not their looks. So I hadn't connected the dots. Arthur was telling the truth. The feud between Ethan and him had been going on for a long time.

No wonder Ethan recognized Arthur at the hospital, but Arthur didn't recognize Ethan.

It felt like a piece of my heart had been ripped out, the dull pain suffocating me.

I took a cab straight to Skyline International Corporation. Amidst everyone's surprised looks, I took the elevator to the top floor.

Ethan's assistant recognized me and pointed to the conference room, saying he was in a meeting. In my impulsiveness, I pushed open the conference room door.

It wasn't until a dozen or so people turned to look at me that I realized I might've been a bit rash.

Ethan, sitting at the head of the table, looked surprised to see me.

"Sorry, please continue," I said, closing the door and heading to his office to wait. His assistant even brought me coffee.

After about twenty minutes, Ethan finally came in. By then, I had calmed down, so when he walked towards me, I kept a calm gaze and even smiled.

Ethan tossed his documents on the desk, leaned back tiredly, and pulled me into his arms. I didn't resist.

"What brings you here? Miss me?" He had no idea I knew the truth. His tone was light and flirty, as usual.

I made a noncommittal sound, my arms stiff at my sides, not hugging him back.

Ethan sat up, loosened his tie, and smiled mischievously. "Since you miss me so much, I guess I need to comfort you properly."

As he leaned in, I nervously placed my hands on his chest to stop him, but kept a smile on my face. "How about we go to Blue Ocean Bar tonight? I need to unwind." Ethan looked surprised but not suspicious. He smiled and said, "Honey, if you want to go out, of course, I'll join you."

The way he called me "Honey" felt so natural, but it stung.

As night fell, we headed to Blue Ocean Bar.

I called Bella, and Ethan called some of his friends. Once we sat down, I ordered two dozen black beers, shocking everyone.

Ethan's expression turned serious. He touched my forehead and said, "You're acting a bit strange."

"Am I?" I smiled at him.

Knowing he was hiding behind a perfect mask, I decided to wear one too.

Later, I suggested playing Truth or Dare. Bella looked at me in shock; she knew I usually avoided such games. Everyone agreed, and I fixed my gaze on Ethan. He stared back for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Sure."novelbin

Looking at his handsome face, my heart ached. I quickly looked away, suppressing my emotions.

We rolled dice to determine the order. Ethan's luck was consistently good, like even fate was on his side.

But my luck wasn't great, and soon it was my turn. Without hesitation, I chose Dare, a decision I had made before the game started.

Oliver laughed heartily after reading the challenge. "Ask the first man who walks in what color his underwear is," he said, and everyone burst into laughter.

Bella looked embarrassed, clearly worried for me.

Ethan looked at me deeply and then smiled. "You can skip the dare if you want."

I said, "No."

My firm "No" made Ethan's expression change slightly. Under his intense gaze, I picked up a glass of wine, downed it, poured myself another half glass, and stood up, walking slowly towards the door. Just then, a man walked in. He looked quite good, wearing a white shirt with one hand in his pocket and a light gray suit draped over his other arm, exuding an air of elegance.

"Excuse me, sir," I said. He stopped and looked at me with some surprise.

He probably thought I was just another woman trying to pick up men in a bar.

I imagined everyone in the booth watching me, including Ethan. I held a wine glass in one hand and gently placed the other on the man's shoulder.

The fabric of his shirt felt nice, very comfortable. I leaned in slowly. Although he was a bit stiff, he didn't avoid me.

I was nervous, doing something like this for the first time, afraid of being rejected. I stopped very close to him and smiled. "Actually, I want..."

"What game are you playing?" he asked in a warm, pleasant voice.

I stared at him in surprise. "You're smart!"

He seemed amused by my surprise and shrugged. "Not hard to guess."

Since he had already guessed, I had to tell the truth. "We're playing Truth or Dare, and I need to ask you what color your underwear is."

As I spoke, my voice got quieter. The question was too embarrassing, and I was afraid he'd feel awkward or refuse to answer.

To my surprise, he smiled faintly and said, "I can tell you, but you have to agree to one condition."

His smile was very attractive, different from Ethan's. His attractiveness was pure.

I asked, "What condition?"