My Boyfriend’s “Just a Friend” Became the Reason I Walked Away Chapter 06

My Boyfriend’s “Just a Friend” Became the Reason I Walked Away Chapter 06

Over the next few days, Ethan searched every place I used to visit.

He checked the café on the corner, the downtown library, and even the art studio I had once frequented, but there was no sign of me anywhere.

It was as though I had vanished without leaving a trace.

Vanessa followed him and scoffed at his growing desperation.

“Why are you wasting your time looking for her? Where could she possibly go? Give her a few days

to calm down, and she’ll come back on her own.”

Ethan didn’t respond.

It was the first time he had ignored Vanessa completely.

Sitting in his car, he opened the photo gallery on his phone and found an old picture of one of my

architectural sketches.

The lines were fluid, and the concept was ingenious.

He stared at it and began remembering everything I had done for him.

For the past five years, I had stayed up late helping him organize his ideas before every pitch.

Whenever the firm had a difficult client, I had been the one who forced a smile, smoothed over the

conflict, and kept the account from walking away.

No matter how late he worked, there had always been a hot meal waiting for him on his desk.

At first, he had been grateful for everything I did.

Somewhere along the way, he had begun treating it all as something he was simply entitled to.

When had he started believing that everything I did for him was simply expected?

When had he begun believing that every sacrifice I made was only what he deserved?

The realization filled him with guilt.

Later, he sat alone in the empty living room, staring at the withered plant I had left on the coffee table. The longer he sat there, the more panicked he became.

He decided he would never allow Vanessa to intrude on his personal life again.

Once he found me, he would support my return to architecture and plan the grand proposal he thought I deserved.

The next day, when Vanessa still hadn’t moved out, Ethan gave her a firm deadline.

“Pack your things and be out by the end of the day.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Vanessa remained outwardly calm and nodded.

“All right. I’ll start packing.”

She turned and entered the guest room.

The moment the door closed, her calm expression disappeared.

She leaned against it, her chest rising and falling sharply.

From the moment she first saw Ethan during their freshman year, she had sworn that he would be

hers.

She had taken advantage of Claire’s trusting nature to work her way into their circle.

Whenever Ethan was around, Vanessa deliberately showed off her professional ability and made

Claire look as though she knew nothing about design.

It had taken five years to make her presence feel essential to him.

Now he wanted to throw her out for that useless receptionist?

Vanessa walked to the window and looked down at Ethan’s car parked below. She gave a cold smile.

If Ethan wanted to be ruthless, she would use the secret she had been holding onto.

She knew a damaging secret about Sterling Properties.

Once she made it public, Claire and Ethan would both suffer the consequences.

Vanessa took out her phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Mr. Dawson?”

“I have a quality inspection report concerning Sterling Properties’ Southside redevelopment project.”

“I think you’ll find it very interesting.”