He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 36

Ethan shot Rose a sideways glance and asked curiously, "So who exactly is Houston to you? Isn’t he getting a little too involved in your life?"

Rose rolled her eyes at him. "Ethan, you and I are strangers now. My friends are none of your concern." With that, she brushed past him.

Out of nowhere, Ethan grabbed her arm. His eyes swept over her fresh new outfit, and something dark flickered behind his stare—something even he didn’t recognize. "Rose, your mom said you didn’t come home last night. Were you with that guy the whole time?"

Rose yanked her arm back, her voice sharp with fury. "Ethan, don’t touch me with the same hands you’ve had all over other women. It makes my skin crawl."

His arm dropped to his side, limp. Her words hit him hard, and for a moment, he snapped out of it. Glaring at her, he exploded. "Stop acting so high and mighty. A woman who really respects herself doesn’t spend the night at some random guy’s place."

Rose grabbed him by the collar and snarled, "Ethan, you’re nothing to me anymore. So stop pretending to care about me. You’ve got no right." She spun on her heel and stormed off.

Ethan stood frozen, his face clouded with defeat.

Back when they were together, Rose had never once stayed overnight at his place. And now, after knowing this Houston guy for only a few months, she’d already spent the night with him? How close were they, really?

The thought of what used to be his now being someone else’s sent a wave of frustration crashing through him.

But what stung even more was remembering how Rose used to be so sweet, so devoted. No matter how cold he was, she had clung to him. Now, she couldn’t get away from him fast enough.

How had things gotten this bad between them? He’d thought that even after breaking up, they could still be friends.

After all, she had loved him so much.

While Rose was seeing patients, her phone buzzed nonstop with texts from Meliora.

"Okay, spill. When exactly did you start seeing that super hot guy? You even saved his name as 'hubby'! Before last night, I was one hundred percent sure Vivian and Ethan had betrayed you. But now? I’m not so sure. Rose, you’re not the type to fall fast. If you didn’t already know him well, you wouldn’t be this close to him. You know I hate betrayal. You’re my best friend, the one I trust and admire most. Please don’t disappoint me. I couldn’t take it if you did."