Claire's expression shifted ever so slightly.
She knew she'd been manipulative in the past—no point pretending otherwise.
But a self-proclaimed "goddess" never feels guilty for how she treats her loyal backup boy.
Even though Ethan's cold demeanor was throwing her off, she still convinced herself this was just him playing hard to get.
He had to be testing her, right?
Sure of herself, she pouted again and cooed,"Come on, Ethan~ I only acted that way because I cared about you!"
"Don't be so petty, okay? I'll come over right now to make it up to you~"
She bit her lip, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.
"If you want, I could… give you a massage or rub your shoulders~"
Ethan blinked. Internally, he couldn't help but mutter, Jesus.
Even in the middle of a damn ice age, this woman could put on an Oscar-worthy performance.What a waste of talent.
Too bad it didn't work on him anymore.
"I don't think that's appropriate," Ethan said, his tone suddenly firm.
"We're not dating. I can't do something so intimate with someone I'm not in a relationship with."
"I'm a traditional guy," he added, face serious.
Claire nearly exploded on the spot.
What?
She was practically throwing herself at him, and he was playing the virgin card?
Was he blind?Couldn't he see she was practically offering herself on a silver platter?
If he just let her into that cozy, warm apartment, she'd reward him plenty.Maybe even all the way, if she felt like it.
Maybe he just needed a stronger hint.
For the sake of surviving this frozen hell, she tossed aside all shame and ignored the fact that Natalie was sitting right next to her.
She leaned in and whispered coyly,"Ethan… I've always had a soft spot for you."
"Maybe… we could be more than friends… later on…"
"After all, love takes time, right?"
She giggled, hiding her face with both hands."Oh my gosh, I'm so embarrassed~! Do I have to spell it out for you?"
It was masterful tea-artistry.A perfectly brewed blend of flirtation and suggestion.
Ten out of ten.
Old Ethan would've fallen for it in seconds.
But not the new Ethan.
Not after living through betrayal, starvation, and death.
Not after realizing just how fake this woman really was.
Sure, he'd chased after her like a fool for two years—but that fool was dead and buried.
This Ethan leaned forward, eyes narrowing with a crooked grin.
"Claire," he said, "you've got this all twisted."
"I mean… yeah, we got along okay back then."
"But…" His voice dropped, laced with amusement. "You don't actually think I liked you, do you?"
The shock on her face was immediate.
Natalie's head whipped around, eyes wide. For a moment, there was a flicker of smug satisfaction on her face.
No matter how close your besties are, deep down, it's always a game of comparison.
Claire stared at Ethan like he'd slapped her across the face.
"You—you used to be obsessed with me!" she cried.
Ethan snorted.
"Obsessed? Don't flatter yourself."
"You're cute, sure. A solid seven on a good day. But girlfriend material? Please."
"Let's get real—if I wanted a hot girl in Bayview City, I could find one by the weekend."
He grinned wider, enjoying the way her mouth opened and closed in outrage.
"Where the hell did you get the idea I was head over heels for you?"
It was a brutal reversal.
The man she'd categorized as a lifelong backup had just told her she was never the prize.
Ethan continued, twisting the knife.
"Let's be honest. I've got a decent job, savings, good looks, and a property in Bayview."
"I was just being nice back then. You? You were Plan D at best."
That last line hit like a brick.
Claire's entire world collapsed.
She'd always thought she was the one doing the choosing.She'd believed Ethan was just waiting on standby, desperate for scraps.
But now?
Now, he was saying she had been the backup plan all along.
Her voice cracked with fury."Ethan! That's enough!"
He didn't stop.
"Oh please. Don't act like some innocent little angel now."
"You're just a gold-digger, Claire. You've been hopping from one rich guy to another, thinking one of them will marry you."
"News flash: they're not idiots. They know exactly what you are."
He laughed, then added,"You know what they call you in the rich-kid circles, right?"
"Community property. Shared plug-in."
He chuckled again, this time without holding back.
"You really thought one of them was gonna make you a trophy wife? Girl, wake up."
Claire turned pale.
Her whole body shook with rage, embarrassment, and disbelief.
She had never been humiliated like this—not by a man she thought she owned.
Natalie tried to hide her grin but failed. The internal satisfaction of watching her "bestie" get destroyed was too strong.
Claire shrieked,"Ethan! Shut up!"
But he wasn't done.
"I'm just being honest. You hate hearing the truth? That's on you."
"You've been playing both sides for years—now you're mad someone called you out?"
He didn't wait for a response.
With a final smirk, Ethan ended the call.
Right before the screen went black, he caught one last glimpse of Claire's wide-eyed, trembling rage—and Natalie trying not to burst out laughing.
He leaned back in his chair, sighed, and smiled.
"Damn," he muttered."That felt good."