Chapter 36

"Ethan? You—" Clara opened the door, her face still swollen from freshly removed stitches. The moment she saw the man standing there, a mix of surprise and joy flashed through her face. But she quickly turned her head to the side— She thought once her surgical scars healed, she’d show up in front of Ethan like nothing was wrong. This time, she had her outer eye corners moved, her pupils slightly adjusted, and her nose bridge raised. The doctor swore that once the swelling went down, she’d look even more like Sophie. To win his heart, she’d done every shady thing imaginable. A few knives to the face? Who cares? As long as Ethan could love her, it was all worth it. "What happened to your face?" Ethan stood there in the cold autumn drizzle, water beading off his soaked clothes like a thin sheet of frost. His dripping hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot. That version of him made Clara involuntarily shrink back, a chill running down her spine. "I… it’s nothing, just an a