Ethan's expression darkened instantly. His hands twitched in anger. It took all his restraint not to raise his hand at her in front of her family.
"Don't be stubborn." He forced himself to lower his tone. "Let's talk properly. Come with me. We will have dinner together."
Mila silently stared at him. If she had not known about his betrayal, his coaxing might have melted her. Now, she felt nothing. She didn't want to go anywhere with him. But when she saw Bianca's tight, displeased expression, a thought crossed her mind.
'Let's see what my dear half-sister does.'
"Okay," Mila agreed. "I'll come with you."
Ethan smirked, feeling triumphant. It had always been easy to handle her. "Let's go then."
He stretched his hand toward her.
Just as Mila placed her hand on his, Bianca whimpered.
"My stomach hurt." Bianca swayed slightly, clutching her abdomen.
Ethan shoved Mila's hand aside and rushed to Bianca. "What happened? Why are you having stomach pain?" Wrapping an arm around her, he searched her face.
Bianca leaned into him. "I'm on my period. The cramp is unbearable."
Concerned, his brows pinched. "Why didn't you tell me? You shouldn't have come here."
"I wanted to see Papa," Bianca reasoned.
"Let me take you home." Ethan lifted her in his arms and carried her out, completely forgetting about Mila.
Bianca rested her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips curled slightly as she sneaked.
Mila stood still, her heart in chaos. She had never seen Ethan worry like that for her.
When she had a fever before, she had called him, asking him to come over and stay with her. But he had refused, saying he had work to do other than wasting time with her.
'It's just a fever. As a doctor, you should know how to take care of yourself. Don't bother me.'
He had never once rushed to her, never had taken care of her, never had stayed by her side.
At the time, she had really believed him, thinking he had simply been busy, that it wasn't intentional. But now, she understood everything.
'When a man truly loves someone, concern comes naturally,' she thought. 'He doesn't love me. So indifference is effortless.'
She had mistaken neglect for normal. How naïve she was.
Camilla's voice came from behind. "Don't misunderstand their relationship. Ethan is kind. He treats Bianca as a sister."
Sister?
Mila let out a chuckle. "I'm not a fool. I can see clearly." She turned to her. "If Ethan cares about Bianca so much, why not marry her to him?"
Camilla's expression froze. She was about to retaliate, but Mila spoke again.
"I don't care who he is with anymore. I've already let him go."
She strode out. There was no bitterness left in her heart. What she felt was only clarity.
At the Vega mansion…
Ethan gently put Bianca on the bed. "Rest here. I should leave now."
"No, don't." Bianca clasped his hand, her gaze pleading. "Stay with me."
Ethan hesitated. He had left Mila alone at the hospital. The uneasy feeling that she might have misunderstood him didn't leave his heart. He wanted to go back to her as soon as possible, but he couldn't turn Bianca down either.
'Mila can wait. I'll make up to her later.'
Thinking that way, he agreed, "Alright. I'll stay."
"Thank you." She smiled coquettishly and leaned onto him. "I know you care about me the most." She slowly slipped her hand to his chest, her fingers working deftly to unbutton his shirt.
"What are you doing?" Ethan grabbed her hand. "You are on your period, and have this pain. You should rest."
Bianca didn't quite meet his gaze. "I'm not in pain. The period has not shown up yet."
Realizing that she had lied, irritation surged through him. He shot up on his feet. "You lied to me," he exclaimed. "Why did you do that?"
"I…" Bianca's chest twisted painfully. Ethan had never yelled at her before. Tears blurred her vision.
"You were taking her out to dinner," she said honestly. "I was jealous. I didn't want you to go."
Seeing tears in her eyes, his expression softened. He sat down and drew her into his arms. "Sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's just that…"
He sighed. "Mila is upset for some reason. You know why I am marrying her. I needed to persuade her."
He tilted her chin upward. "But my heart is with you."
Bianca wouldn't believe it until he proved it. "Then kiss me." Her fingers tangled in his shirt. "Prove that I am the only one you care about." She slid her hand up, lingering at his collar.
His resistance faltered. Within moments, he pushed her onto the bed, hands exploring her body, lips colliding with urgency.
Bianca clung to him, and Ethan responded with equal hunger. Clothes loosened and fell off. Soon, the room filled with their heavy breathing.
When it was finally over, Ethan lay flat, staring at the ceiling, breathing gradually, steadying. Then he checked the time.
It was late.
'Mila might have gone home already. I have to talk to her.'
As he moved to get up, Bianca slid closer and put her hand on his bare chest.
"Mom is not coming home tonight. Stay with me."
"Be good. I have to leave now." This time, he didn't listen to her. Getting off the bed, he put on his clothes. He needed to fix things with Mila before it was too late.
Bianca knew he would go to find Mila. This thought irked her. "You are going to her, right?" she snapped.
Ethan didn't deny it. He silently buttoned up his shirt.
"She doesn't want to marry you. Why persuade her?"
Ethan shot her a cold look. "I'm doing this for you. Don't forget what you asked me for."
Bianca gritted her teeth. Yes, she wanted Mila's shares. To get them, Ethan had pretended to be in love with her.
It had been fun at the beginning. But whenever Bianca saw him with Mila, her heart burned with jealousy and anger. She wouldn't tolerate the thought of him marrying another woman.
"For that, you don't have to marry her. You can…"
"We'll talk tomorrow," he cut in, not allowing her to finish her sentence. "Take care."
The door closed behind him.
Bianca groaned in rage, tightening her fingers around the blanket. "Mila, you'd better stay away from Ethan. Or I'll make you pay."
Half an hour later, Ethan was in front of Mila's apartment, hands filled with takeout bags.
'It's not that tough to make her happy,' he thought. 'A few sweet words, and she will melt.'
He knocked on the door.
After some time, Mila appeared. "You?" She frowned, not expecting to see him at that hour, especially after seeing him leaving with Bianca. "What brings you here?"
Ethan lifted the carrying bags. "I brought dinner for you. Come on. Let's eat. I'm starving."
Without waiting for her permission, he tried to enter the house.
Mila blocked him. "You are not allowed to enter my house. Leave."
Ethan's smile disappeared. "What's wrong with you? I'm your boyfriend. I stayed here before. You loved it. Why blocking me now?"
"Because we broke up," she said sternly.
"I didn't agree with that," he snapped. "Stop this, Mila. I'm hungry. Let's eat first, and then we'll talk."
He pushed past her anyway. But his steps came to a halt abruptly when he saw a tall figure in the hall. He sized him up, completely caught off guard.
"Who the hell is this man?" he growled.