Chapter 97

Ethan Sullivan's lips curved into a smile, radiant as sunlight without a trace of shadow.

He knelt on one knee, his spine straight and proud—still every bit the spirited second son of the Sullivan family.

"Ethan, get up!"

Susan Thompson couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed forward to grab his arm. "Don't do this... I'm not worth it..."

"Susan," Ethan gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eye. "If Bella Quinn leaves with injustice hanging over her, you'll be heartbroken."

He tilted his head and made a silly face. "Keep crying and you'll turn into an ugly monster!"

Susan laughed through her tears.

"Andrew," Ethan turned to Andrew Lucas. "For the sake of our years of brotherhood, testify for Bella Quinn."

Andrew's knuckles turned white, his gaze locked on their intertwined hands.

"Fine," he ground out through clenched teeth.

Ethan immediately sprang to his feet, winking at Susan. "Feel better now?"

"Thank you..."

"Really want to thank me?" Ethan suddenly leaned close to her ear. "Then give me a kiss."

Andrew's eyes turned to ice.

Torey Smith rubbed his arms in protest. "Save the PDA for somewhere else!"

"We'll continue at home," Ethan slung an arm around Susan's shoulders and led her out.

In the hallway, Susan gently pulled away from his embrace. Ethan smiled carelessly, but a flicker of loneliness flashed in his eyes.

They decided to go grocery shopping.

"Susan, that commercial would be perfect for you," Ethan coaxed as they walked.

"I can't act..."

"You don't need to do anything," Ethan looked at her earnestly. "Just be yourself."

Susan opened her mouth to reply when suddenly her pupils contracted.

A black minivan was speeding straight toward them.

"Ethan, look out!"

In a split second, Ethan shoved her aside.

Amid the screech of brakes, his body was flung into the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

Blood bloomed beneath the sunset, a blinding crimson.