The Remains of Summer) Chapter 2
Back in the car, Amelia’s phone buzzed with a text from Anna, her best
friend. It was a screenshot of a chat.
The photo showed Chloe, dressed in a black lace bunny outfit, sprawled on the floor, looking seductively at the camera.
[If Master can get here in twenty
minutes, Bunny will let Master do anything.]
Below, Ethan’s dark profile picture
replied simply, [Be there.]
Amelia turned off her phone,
squeezing her eyes shut, trying to block
out the stinging pain.
She’d thought seeing so many photos
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would numb her, but the agony was still
raw, visceral.
Finally, she forced herself to turn off
her phone and close her eyes.
That night, Amelia cried herself to
sleep. Her phone vibrated hourly until
morning. When she woke up, she saw Chloe had texted her every hour – photos
of used condoms.
[He had me all night, tried every
position. I can barely walk. Does he ever do that to you?]
Amelia stared at the photos and the
cruel message, rereading them over and
over.
When Ethan returned, he found
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Amelia curled up in bed, eyes red and
swollen, her knuckles white around her.
phone.
His heart leaped into his throat. He
rushed to her side, his voice tight.“Amelia,
why are you crying?”
Was she crying?
Amelia blinked, touching her face,
realizing her cheeks were wet with tears.
After a moment, she managed a weak
smile, her eyes still filled with
sadness.“Nothing. Just saw some…
touching photos.”
Ethan stroked her cheek.“What
photos could make you cry like this, baby?
You’re going to break my heart.”
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Before Amelia could answer, the
housekeeper knocked.“Sir, the car is ready.”
Ethan nodded, then kissed Amelia’s
forehead. “I’m sorry about leaving you at
the boutique yesterday. To make it up to
you, I’m taking you to an auction.
Anything you want, it’s yours.”
Amelia didn’t reply, but he took her
silence as agreement. He scooped her up,
personally picking out her outfit, jewelry,
and shoes.
At the auction, Ethan spent lavishly,
winning every item in the first half, trying
to cheer Amelia up, even though she
showed little interest.
During intermission, a group of men.
approached. Ethan’s friends.
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“Wonder who was dropping all that
cash. Had to be Ethan!”
“I was hoping to snag something for my grandma’s birthday. No chance now.”
“Mr. ‘Spoil–My–Wife‘ himself. Come on, Ethan, throw us a bone in the
second half!”
They joked, but Ethan barely glanced at them, focused on peeling an orange for Amelia. “No bones to throw. Everything
tonight belongs to my Amelia.”
His friends groaned dramatically, clutching their chests in mock despair.
Ethan smirked, offering the peeled
orange to Amelia.
Amelia shook her head listlessly. “I’m
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not hungry. You eat it.”
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The second half began. Suddenly, the doors swung open, and a server ushered
in a woman in a short red dress.
Amelia felt Ethan stiffen beside her.
She looked up. It was Chloe.
