Chapter 20: Chapter 20- Crossroads

Ethan's POV

"$50, sir."

"Oh, okay. Let me CashApp you—I'm not carrying cash at all."

"Sure thing, sir."

"All done." Honestly, CashApp might be the easiest app ever created.

"Recognized, sir. Thank you."

I step out of the mall, my arms overloaded with bags filled with lady and baby items. Carefully balancing the bags, I struggle to open my car. Before I know it, a couple of the items tumble onto the asphalt.

Kneeling to pick them up, I see a hand reach down to help. For a moment, I don't look up, too focused on gathering the scattered bags. But then I glance at the hand's owner—and freeze.

It's Vivian.

She freezes too, realization dawning on her face. Her expression shifts from neutral kindness to stunned recognition, and then to something I can only describe as pain.

When it clicks that it's me she's helping, she drops the items she picked up and takes a step back, as if the proximity burns her.