The following weeks passed in a blur of stolen moments and secret smiles. Lily and Ethan's relationship blossomed, and for the first time in a long while, Ethan felt a sense of peace. He tried to keep his promise to Lily, fighting his old habits and the nagging voice of his father in his head.

One Friday evening, as they lounged in Ethan's room, Lily's phone buzzed with a message from Sarah.

"There's a huge party at Ryan's place tonight. You and Ethan should come!" Sarah had texted.

Lily showed the message to Ethan. "What do you think?"

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Parties aren't really my scene anymore, but if you want to go, we can."

Lily leaned in and kissed him softly. "We'll go, but only if you're comfortable."

Ethan nodded. "Let's do it."

They arrived at Ryan's house, and the party was in full swing. Music blared from the speakers, and the living room was packed with people dancing and chatting. Lily immediately spotted Sarah and waved, dragging Ethan through the crowd to join her.

"Hey, you two!" Sarah greeted them with a wide smile. "Glad you could make it!"

As the night wore on, Ethan found himself drifting away from the party, the noise and chaos making him uneasy. He stepped out onto the balcony to get some fresh air, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. The cool night breeze was a welcome relief, and he leaned against the railing, lost in thought.

Lily was dancing with Sarah when she noticed Ethan had disappeared. Concerned, she made her way through the crowd, searching for him. She finally spotted him on the balcony and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey," she said, stepping out into the cool air. "Are you okay?"

Ethan nodded, but his expression was distant. "Yeah, just needed a break."

Lily wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. "I'm glad you're here with me."

Ethan kissed the top of her head. "Me too."

As they stood there, holding each other, a group of girls walked out onto the balcony, giggling and whispering. One of them, a tall brunette with striking features, eyed Ethan with interest. She sauntered over, her eyes locked on him.

"Hey there," she purred, completely ignoring Lily. "Haven't seen you around before. I'm Jenna."

Ethan stiffened, his grip on Lily tightening. "I'm here with my girlfriend," he said coldly.

Jenna's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, I see. Well, if you ever get tired of her, you know where to find me."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Lily feeling uneasy. She looked up at Ethan, searching his face for reassurance. "You okay?"

Ethan nodded, but his jaw was clenched. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

They left the party early, walking back to Ethan's dorm in silence. When they arrived, Ethan paced the room, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"What's wrong?" Lily asked, worry etched on her face.

Ethan stopped and looked at her, his eyes dark. "It's just... I hate it. The way people look at me, like I'm just like my dad. Like I'm going to hurt you."

Lily crossed the room and took his hands in hers. "You're not him, Ethan. You're better than that. I believe in you."

He pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. "I don't want to lose you, Lily. But sometimes, I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle."

"You won't lose me," she whispered. "As long as you keep trying, we can get through this together."

The next few days were tense, with Ethan struggling to control his anger and insecurity. Lily did her best to support him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

One afternoon, she decided to surprise Ethan with his favorite coffee. She made her way to his dorm, her heart light with anticipation. As she approached the door, she heard muffled voices inside. Pausing, she listened, her stomach knotting with dread.

"Ethan, you don't have to keep pretending," a female voice said. "We both know you're not cut out for this whole 'good boyfriend' thing."

Lily's heart sank. She recognized the voice-it was Jenna from the party. Slowly, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, her worst fears confirmed. Ethan and Jenna were standing close, too close.

"Ethan, what's going on?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.

Ethan turned, guilt and panic flashing across his face. "Lily, it's not what it looks like."

Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. "Then what is it, Ethan? Because it looks like you're cheating on me."

Jenna smirked, crossing her arms. "He's just being himself, sweetheart. You can't change that."

Lily felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. She turned and fled the room, the coffee cup slipping from her grasp and shattering on the floor. Ethan's desperate calls echoed in her ears, but she didn't stop. She ran until she reached her own dorm, slamming the door behind her and collapsing in tears.

She had believed in him, trusted him, and he had betrayed her. The pain was almost unbearable, and she didn't know how she would ever recover from it.