*Noah's POV*
The entire restaurant holds its breath. Ethan kneels before Chloe with that massive diamond ring, six hundred thousand dollars' worth of glittering desperation catching the overhead lights.
I watch Chloe's face carefully. Her mouth opens slightly. Her eyes dart between the ring and Ethan's expectant expression. Then her gaze finds mine across the room.
For a moment, I see something flicker there. Pain, maybe. Or regret.
"Well?" Ethan's voice carries a note of impatience. "The whole restaurant is waiting."
Chloe's cheeks flush pink. She looks around at the crowd of faces staring at her expectantly. Everyone has their phones out, recording this moment for social media.
"I..." she starts, then stops.
Scarlett appears at my elbow. "Aren't you going to stop this?" she whispers.
I shake my head. "I want to see what she says."
"You want to see if she'll accept?"
"I want to see if she's learned anything."
