He Said He’d Marry Her, So I Married Someone Else Chapter 20

He Said He’d Marry Her, So I Married Someone Else Chapter 20

My wedding preparations began in earnest.

But the Harrington family still hadn’t announced the bride’s identity.

I had just started at a new school and didn’t want the attention.

There was another reason, too. The situation with Ethan was still a loose thread.

When Ethan had insisted I come to Chicago, he had probably already decided he didn’t want me back in Los Angeles.

So when the staff at the Whitmore house packed my things, almost everything I owned was boxed up and shipped to Chicago.

Including every gift Ethan had given me over the past ten years.

Among them was a very expensive pink diamond ring.

Ethan had given it to me for my high school graduation.

It had once been my most treasured possession.

In the past, whenever I was sad, just looking at that ring would make me feel better.

A ring always feels like it means more than just a piece of jewelry.

But now, I was starting to understand.

If someone has never truly liked you.

Or if the affection they give you isn’t genuine.

Then even a marriage contract is just an empty piece of paper.

Let alone material things.

I sorted through everything Ethan had given me, one by one.

My heart was so calm, there wasn’t a single ripple of emotion.

By the time I was done, the jewelry box was empty.

But I felt lighter than I had in years.

I was just about to have everything packed up and shipped off when my phone buzzed with several text messages.

They were from the staff at the equestrian club.

The racehorse I had leased was sick.

It was lethargic and wasn’t eating.

The moment I saw the photo, my eyes welled up.

The staff said it probably missed me.

I used to go see it every few days.

But this time, I hadn’t shown up.

I immediately called for an update.

“Miss Ava, Mr. Ethan is actually here right now. Let me put him on.”

I froze.

The next second, Ethan’s voice came through the phone.

“Ava, do you remember what you said when you leased this horse? Have you forgotten?”

Of course I hadn’t forgotten.

Every child in the Whitmore family had their own horse.

The only rule was that once you chose one, you were responsible for it until the end.

You could never abandon it.

“But you were the one who decided six months ago that I was going to Chicago.”

“Ava.”

Ethan suddenly sneered.

“When have you ever actually listened to anyone?”

“You’ve always been the one who loves making trouble the most.”

“Mom and Dad spoil you rotten. All you have to do is shed one tear, and they’ll let you do whatever you want.”

“At the end of the day, you don’t really care that much about your horse, do you?”

In that moment, Ethan’s thoughts suddenly became a jumbled mess.

It was as if, for the first time, he heard the real meaning behind his own words.

Ava didn’t really care that much about him, either.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have actually gone to Chicago.

She wouldn’t have had no reaction to his engagement.

She wouldn’t have failed to show up at his engagement party.

And she wouldn’t have asked for the brooch back.