The Art of Not Missing You - Chapter 3

I lifted my gaze, meeting the eyes of a woman with flawless makeup, her gaze dripping with disdain. Without waiting for an invitation, she nudged Ethan Foster aside and sat right next to him, positioning herself directly across from me.

“Let me introduce myself,” she said, flashing a practiced smile. “I’m Olivia Summers, Ethan’s girlfriend.”

I didn’t respond.

She deliberately brushed against Ethan’s arm, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Ethan, aren’t you going to introduce me? Who is she…?”

Ethan’s face darkened, his surprise evident. The way he avoided my gaze almost made me want to laugh.

“I’m just an employee at Mr. Foster’s company,” I said smoothly. “The café was full, so we shared a table.”

Ethan’s head snapped toward me, shock flickering in his eyes before relief washed over him.

“Ah, right. This is Sophia Taylor, one of my employees.”

Olivia’s smile widened. “Miss Taylor must be exceptionally talented. This is the first time I’ve seen Ethan share a meal with any woman besides me.”

As she spoke, she casually nudged her phone forward on the table, just enough for me to see. The provocation was unmistakable.

A quick glance confirmed it: her WhatsApp profile picture matched Ethan’s, a set of matching avatars. Even their outfits today were coordinated, high-end couple rings in disguise. Under the soft lighting, they looked like the perfect pair, golden boy and golden girl.

I set down my chopsticks and stood up to leave.

Olivia grabbed my wrist, her long nails digging into my skin where Ethan couldn’t see. “Miss Taylor, are you leaving because of something I said? If I offended you, I’ll apologize. Isn’t that enough?”

I had no patience for her green tea bitch theatrics. I yanked my hand free, only for hers to “accidentally” smack into a little boy playing nearby.

The child yelped in pain, bursting into tears.

Olivia’s eyes instantly welled up as she rushed to apologize. Ethan, ever the gallant one, quickly pulled out his phone to transfer money to the boy’s parents.

But then, the boy pointed directly at me. “It was her! She threw that lady’s hand at me! She should say sorry!”

Olivia bit her lip, feigning distress. “Miss Taylor, if I’ve wronged you somehow, take it out on me. Don’t hurt an innocent child.”

Whispers erupted around us. Diners shot me disapproving looks.

Ethan glared. “What are you waiting for? Apologize. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Emboldened, the boy suddenly lunged at me, sinking his teeth into my hand and refusing to let go. The more Olivia coaxed him, the harder he bit.

I couldn’t exactly fight a child. So, I apologized, to him.

But Ethan wasn’t satisfied. Blind to the blood welling on my skin, he grabbed my arm before I could walk away. “Sophia, apologize to Olivia!”

She gave a theatrical sigh. “Ethan, it’s fine. I’m not hurt. But that poor boy must be in so much pain…”

Ethan glanced at her reddened hand and, without warning, shoved my hand into the steaming bowl of soup in front of us.

It wasn’t boiling, but sixty-degree broth seeping into the bite marks was enough to make my whole body tremble with pain.

“You’re disgusting, Sophia. Consider this a lesson.”

“Is that really what you think of me?” I asked, my voice steady despite the agony. I already knew the answer, but some masochistic part of me had to ask.

The scene was drawing stares from every corner of the restaurant.

“Wait, which one’s his girlfriend?”

“Are you blind? The one he’s shielding, obviously. Matching outfits? Hello?”

Pitying eyes turned to me. Someone called out, “Hey, buddy, that’s enough. You’ll blister her skin!”

Pale but smiling, I held Ethan’s gaze until, for once, he looked unsettled. Only then did he release me, striding off with Olivia without a backward glance.