He Made Every Choice for Twenty Years Then I Chose Divorce Chapter 06

He Made Every Choice for Twenty Years Then I Chose Divorce Chapter 06

I landed during HQ’s summer break. Ms. Harwood gave me two weeks to settle in. I signed up for a

language class near my apartment.

One afternoon after class, I wandered into a bakery. I stood at the counter forever, eyes trailing

from croissants to toast to cinnamon rolls.

Back home, Ethan and Maya always ordered for me. They’d tell the barista two of something, then

toss a “Got you one too, no thanks needed.”

I’d never chosen anything for myself-even my taste had been decided. I sighed and shook my head, A laugh came from beside me. “Indecisive?”

I turned. It was my substitute teacher from the language class-some guy who insisted on practicing his English with me even though his English was painfully bad. Half the time I couldn’t tell if he was teaching me French or I was teaching him English.

Derek Shaw shrugged, flashing a grin. “You’ve been here five minutes. I was watching from the

door.”

I felt embarrassed. “It’s not indecision-I just… never used to choose.” He didn’t pry, just said casually, “Pick whatever. You’re the one eating it. If it sucks, try something else next time.”

I paused, then grabbed the cinnamon roll. We sat on a bench nearby, tearing into our pastries.

He made small talk. “Work or study?”

I chewed and joked, “I’m a runaway bride.”

He choked, cocked his head in disbelief. I laughed.

He gave me a thumbs-up. “That’s badass. You’ve got guts.”

I laughed and threw one back at him. “Right back at you.”

Just then, a hoarse voice called, “Celia.”

I froze. I turned and saw Ethan a few feet away-red-rimmed eyes, dark circles, chapped lips. I wiped my smile off, on guard. “How’d you find me?”

He opened his mouth but nothing came. Derek suddenly stood up, spread his arms like a shield, and

whispered to me in French, “Run-I’ll hold him off.”

I blinked. He added, “I know taekwondo-he won’t get past me. Keep running.”

I stood and touched his arm. “It’s okay-he won’t hurt me.”

Derek looked between us, then stepped aside. Ethan stayed rooted, staring at Derek too long. He licked his lips. “Celia, who is he?”

I shook my head. “We’re done. Who he is doesn’t matter. How did you find me?”

He swayed, pulled a manila envelope from his coat, and handed it to me.

I opened it-wedding mockups, every page covered in red roses. Bright, bold, everything I’d once

craved.

He was laying it at my feet. “I canceled the house, sold the bands, scrapped every plan,” he said,

voice cracked and desperate.

“Celia, I don’t want any of it-I just want you back. Red roses everywhere, a huge TV in the bedroom, any trip you want-”

He covered his eyes, choking. “Just come home. I’ll do anything.

I held the thick stack. These were promises I’d once dreamed of. Now he offered them like his whole heart on a plate. But I didn’t need them.

“Ethan,” I said softly, “red roses are beautiful.” He lowered his hand, hope flickering. I smiled. “But I don’t need them anymore.”

His face went pale. His hands shook. “Celia-“I cut him off, clear and final. “We’re over. Now and

forever. No chance.”

Then I added, “Maya loves you, and you love her-so now you’re free to-‘

“I don’t love her!” he shouted, voice trembling. “I never have. She’s your best friend-I treated her

well because I thought that was how I treated you. I was an idiot.”

He stepped forward, begging. “Celia, if I loved her, I wouldn’t have proposed to you.” I laughed.

“From where I stood, you did love her.”

“You always picked her taste, her travel spots-even our wedding revolved around her. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is.”

He went white, opened his mouth, but nothing came. I turned to leave. As I passed, his cold hand

grabbed my wrist.

“And me? What do I do without you?” I gently pulled free and said nothing.

We’d already run out of words.