Could he have walked into the wrong apartment?

No, that wasn't possible.

Elizabeth couldn't possibly be...

But that man was Ethan. He knew exactly what Elizabeth used to feel for Ethan and the heartbreak she endured from his rejection.

She had loved Ethan for so many years, countless years...

He was nothing compared to Ethan!

His vision grew hazy, yet he didn't retreat. He didn't shout accusations, nor did he interrupt their intimate moment.

He simply watched as Elizabeth initiated the kiss with Ethan, standing frozen as his own heart shattered into a million tiny fragments.

From her peripheral vision, Elizabeth saw Nathan standing motionless at the doorway.

She could vividly imagine his devastation in that moment, desperately wishing he would push them apart, maybe even slap her. But he did nothing.

He just stood there, consumed by his agony.

Elizabeth's eyelids fluttered. She closed her eyes as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, then deepened her kiss on Ethan's lips.

What began as a gentle peck transformed into something hotter, more fervent, and Ethan's heart hammered wildly in his chest.

A simple brush of lips was enough to drive him insane, let alone this passionate exchange...

He didn't dare move.

He shouldn't respond at all, he sternly reminded himself.

That resolve lasted until someone forcefully shoved him away.

The warmth of her lips vanished...

Reality came crashing back.

"Bam!"

Nathan's fist connected hard with Ethan's face.

Ethan didn't fight back, even as his cheek reddened from the impact.

He just stared at Nathan.

He saw the unshed tears making Nathan's eyes bloodshot, the raw fury contorting his features, and the murderous hatred blazing in his gaze.

Nathan couldn't take it anymore.

His clenched fists trembled violently at his sides as he glared at Ethan with unrestrained rage.

"Ethan Parker, Elizabeth is my girlfriend!" he roared, directing all his anger at Ethan.

Ethan pressed his lips together and remained silent—Elizabeth had instructed him not to speak, promising she would handle everything.

Then he heard Elizabeth's voice. "Nathan, I'm sorry."

Nathan turned to look at her.

He saw the tears glistening in her eyes and the profound guilt and apology written across her face.

"I realized I can't forget about Ethan," Elizabeth stated, meeting his gaze directly.

She looked straight into his pain-filled eyes, seeing how completely she had broken his heart.

"Yesterday, when Ethan brought you home...I couldn't control myself any longer. I asked Ethan to come over today because I want to start over with him," Elizabeth explained calmly, almost coldly.

Her voice was distant and detached, yet tears continued to stream down her face uncontrollably.

"Hah..." Nathan let out a bitter, broken laugh at her explanation.

He chuckled with such profound sorrow it was physically painful.

"Elizabeth York, am I really that worthless? Am I truly no match for him? Tell me what I lack compared to him—I can change! I'll transform myself into someone you can love, please?"

He was desperate, humbling himself completely in his heartbreak.

Elizabeth had never seen Nathan like this before.

He was always so vibrant and cheerful, so proud and full of life.

She hated seeing him reduced to this.

Suppressing the ache in her own heart, Elizabeth said, "Nathan, no matter how much you change, you'll never be Ethan. You know how many years I've loved him. I thought I could use you to move on, but I overestimated myself. I'll never be able to forget Ethan for as long as I live..."

"I don't care about that." Nathan looked at Elizabeth with unwavering devotion. "It's fine if you can't forget him—I don't even need you to.

I just want to be with you, to stand by your side even after he abandoned you."