Chapter 19
The alarm stopped.
The lights came back on.
The area was empty except for her.
The map on the wall glowed faintly.
She followed the direction of the arrows.
Noisy voices came from the distance.
The exit seemed to be blocked.
Sophia Sullivan hesitated and stopped.
A crowd suddenly surged from behind.
She was pushed toward the wall by the crowd.
Someone stepped on her foot.
She crashed into the uneven wall.
Her chest ached from the impact.
She couldn't help but gasp.
She suddenly felt someone's gaze.
She looked up.
Her eyes met Ethan Roscente's.
He looked at her disheveled state, his expression complex.
So it was really her.
That call of "Clara" wasn't an illusion.
But she actually had the leisure to play in a haunted house.
She seemed quite happy after the breakup.
Isabella Langley nervously grabbed Ethan's arm.
Her gaze toward Sophia was defensive.
Sophia lowered her eyes, not wanting to engage.
She turned to push through the crowd and leave.
The lights flickered on and off.
Someone suddenly screamed.
A suspended wooden sword swayed precariously.
It was aimed directly at Sophia's head.
"Watch out!"
Ethan didn't think. He shook off Isabella.
He pushed through the crowd and rushed over.
He pulled Sophia into a safe corner.
With a loud clang.
The wooden sword hit the ground.
It was actually iron, painted to look like wood.
If that had hit someone...
Sophia gasped in delayed fear.
She then noticed Ethan was still holding her hand.
She immediately pulled away.
She leaned against the wall and stood up.
"Thank you."
Ethan's eyes darkened at her distant expression.
"Nothing else to say besides thank you?"
Sophia looked at him, puzzled.
What else was there to say between them?
"Why did you block me?"
Ethan stepped closer, his voice low.
Sophia was a little surprised.
During past arguments, she was always the first to unblock him.
But this time...
She curved her lips slightly.
"It's normal to delete an ex after a breakup."
Ethan frowned.
"When will you add me back?"
Sophia's eyelashes fluttered.
"I won't."
Ethan looked at her irritably.
"How long are you going to stay angry?"
Sophia smiled sarcastically.
The crowd surged again, separating them.
He tried to grab Sophia's hand.
But Isabella wrapped her arm around his.
Isabella watched the scene with jealousy.
She squeezed next to Ethan and held him tightly.
"Baby, let's get out of here. It's so dark."
"I almost fell earlier. I was so scared."
"Don't leave me, okay..."
Her voice trembled, sounding pitiful.
Staff maintained order at the entrance.
"The malfunction has been resolved. Please evacuate in an orderly manner."
The chaos quickly subsided.
Sophia walked out without looking back.
Ethan pulled his arm free and followed.
Isabella gritted her teeth and chased after him.
"Ethan, wait for me—"
Olivia Lopez was already waiting at the ticket checkpoint.
She heard there was a malfunction inside that almost caused a fire.
She was anxious and wanted to rush in to find someone.
Fortunately, Sophia came out safely.
Olivia hurried forward.
"Are you hurt? You scared me to death."
"I'm fine. Let's go. I'm tired."
Olivia nodded and was about to leave.
She suddenly saw Ethan and Isabella coming out.
"What bad luck. How do we run into them everywhere?"
Sophia glanced over indifferently.
"Just a coincidence. Let's go."
On the way back, Olivia grew angrier the more she thought about it.
She suddenly made a U-turn at an intersection.
Sophia was stunned.
"Aren't we going home?"
"No. I'm taking you to see the world."
"There are plenty of men. He's not the only one."
Sophia was confused.
At eight PM, the bar was noisy.
The smell of smoke mixed with perfume hit her.
The lights were dim, and figures moved through the crowd.
Sophia's casual outfit stood out.
A female singer sang a sentimental English song.
Olivia pulled her to a private booth upstairs.
She ordered whiskey and cocktails.
Sophia's face flushed after just a little alcohol.
Her cheeks felt warm.
"I'm going to the restroom."
Olivia waved her hand. "Hurry back."
Outside the restroom, she ran into Sebastian Evans.
Among Ethan's friends, she was only close with Charlie Lowell.
So she nodded politely.
"What a coincidence."
Sebastian seemed surprised.
"Alone?"
"With a friend."
"Ethan?"
Sophia's smile faded.
"No. I have to go."
"Clara." Sebastian stopped her.
The nickname made her uncomfortable.
"Yes?"
"Did you really break up this time?"
"Are there fake breakups?"
Sebastian's gaze was deep.
"I see."
Sophia turned and left.
He raised his phone and took a photo of her back.
He opened the group chat and sent the photo.
"Look who I ran into."
Charlie replied instantly.
"Sophia? Really?"
Julian Winston asked.
"At a bar?"
Charlie added.
"That bar we always go to."
Sebastian tagged him.
"Not saying anything? @Ethan Roscente"