Chapter 2 - THE HUMILIATION
Claire's fingers tightened around the wineglass.
"Ethan, what is wrong with you?"
He leaned across the table.
"You wanted the expensive wine."
Claire stared at him.
"You ordered it."
"You encouraged me."
"I said it looked good."
"And now you pay for it."
The volume of his voice drew attention from surrounding tables.
Claire felt dozens of eyes turning toward them.
Her cheeks burned.
She lowered her voice.
"Please sit down."
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"You should have thought about that before ordering half the menu."
"I barely ate anything."
"Then you should have said something."
Claire couldn't believe what she was hearing.
An hour earlier, Ethan had been holding her hand.
He had told her she was different from everyone else.
He had talked about traveling together.
He had even mentioned introducing her to his mother.
Now he was treating her like a stranger.
The waiter approached nervously.
"Sir, is everything all right?"
Ethan pointed toward Claire.
"She'll take care of it."
Claire looked at the bill.
Then at Ethan.
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
The waiter glanced between them.
Claire slowly reached for her purse.
But before she could open it, Ethan's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
Something changed in his expression.
His anger vanished.
Fear replaced it.
Claire noticed.
"Who is that?"
Ethan didn't answer.
The phone vibrated again.
This time, he immediately walked away from the table.
May you like
Claire watched him disappear toward the hallway.
For the first time, she wondered whether the bill had ever really been the problem.
