When He Asked Me to Stay for Her, I Chose Myself Chapter 05
After a ten-hour flight, the plane finally landed.
In the past, no matter where I went or how much time had passed, I would always check my phone immediately because I was afraid of missing a message from Ethan.
But this time, I didn’t.
“Professor Williams.”
A tall, handsome man came running over, holding a sign.
He greeted Professor Williams first before turning to me with a smile.
“Vivian, long time no see.”
His name was Ryan Cole, one of Professor Williams’s most promising students.
During my freshman year, the wheel on my suitcase broke when I first arrived.
Ryan carried it six blocks without me even asking.
Weeks later, when I lost my ID, he didn’t ask anyone for help.
He simply spent three days searching through lost-and-found offices with me.
Because of him, I was able to settle in and start school.
“Hey, Ryan.”
I smiled back.
—
Professor Williams patted Ryan’s arm.
“Make sure you don’t miss this chance.”
Ryan went still.
His smile didn’t fade, but the warmth behind it dimmed—
like a light switching off in an empty room.
He took my luggage without another word.
After we arrived at our new place, Professor Williams and I stepped inside.
The moment we entered, we heard several loud pops.
A shower of confetti fell from above.
“Welcome, Professor Williams!”
“Welcome, Vivian!”
More than ten senior students clapped for us.
They were all members of the research team.
They had prepared a table full of food to welcome Professor Williams and me.
Everyone had a few drinks.
One of the female senior students looked at me.
“Vivian, I heard you and your boyfriend got married?”
Clatter.
—
Ryan’s chopsticks slipped from his hand.
His expression tightened.
“No.”
I shook my head.
Only then did Ryan relax.
He picked up his glass and slowly took a sip.
“Why?”
“I saw posts about you two getting married,” she said, her tone gentle but curious.
“You always seemed so happy together.”
Several other female senior students continued asking questions.
I opened my mouth, but for a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
Ryan looked at me and answered for me.
“Why are you all asking so many questions?”
“This is someone else’s private matter.”
“Oh, right! Sorry, Vivian. We shouldn’t have asked.”
The senior students quickly apologized and said they would make up for it with another drink.
“It’s fine.”
My voice stayed steady.
—
“Just… strange to say aloud.”
Four years, undone in six months.
The math didn’t add up, but the loss did.
Professor Williams set down his glass, his gaze steady despite the wine.
“Since we’re speaking plainly,” he said, his voice low but clear, “you should know Vivian didn’t lose Ethan by accident.”
He only spoke about facts.
Madison’s calculated closeness.
Ethan’s willingness to ignore the warning signs.
After watching from the sidelines for a while, Madison finally set her sights on Ethan.
Professor Williams and several classmates had warned Ethan before.
But he refused to listen.
After hearing everything, everyone started calling Ethan and Madison out.
“They actually ended up together? That’s disgusting.”
“Vivian is such an amazing girlfriend, and Ethan still wanted someone else? What’s wrong with him?”
“Don’t worry, Vivian. We’ll introduce you to someone.”
“He’ll be a thousand times better than Ethan. Like Ryan!”
—
“Exactly! Ryan and you are such a good match.”
“You’re beautiful, he’s handsome. You two would be perfect together.”
Everyone started teasing me.
My cheeks grew warm.
I didn’t know what to say.
Back then, Ryan and I had almost started dating.
But for some reason, he suddenly disappeared for a while.
I was heartbroken.
So I started seeing Ryan as someone who had led me on and then disappeared.
That was when Ethan stayed by my side every day.
He comforted me, cared for me, and pursued me.
Although Professor Williams had told me Ryan must have had his reasons, I never fully believed him.
It seemed like Ryan noticed how awkward I felt.
He stepped forward and offered to sing a song for everyone.
That finally changed the subject.
After dinner, everyone went back to rest.
Ryan brought me something to help ease my hangover.
“Take this.”
—
“You won’t wake up with a headache tomorrow.”