He Promised Me A Sunset, He Kissed Her Under It Chapter 07

He Promised Me A Sunset, He Kissed Her Under It Chapter 07

A week later, commencement went ahead as scheduled.

Ethan arrived early and took seat in the third row, glancing toward the entrance every few minutes.

I’d once told him that graduation was one of the most important milestones in a person’s life.

I’d joked that even come hell or high water, I’d back for graduation pictures.

So Ethan was certain I would show up.

He even had the apartment key in his pocket.

He’d already decided that if I softened first, he would be willing to give it back to me.

As for what happened at Lake Tahoe, he was even willing to make one small concession.

He wouldn’t be so openly affectionate with Chloe in front of me anymore.

At least he wouldn’t let me see it.

But when the ceremony began, my seat was still empty.

When the program coordinator went through the names, mine was simply skipped.

Ethan finally couldn’t sit still.

“Excuse me. Isn’t Claire Bennett coming?”

The coordinator looked at him in surprise.

“She didn’t tell you?”

“The project team can’t leave in the middle of the assignment. Claire arranged to attend remotely, and Professor Reed will pick up her diploma for her.”

Ethan’s expression shifted.

“She’s not coming back?”

“Not anytime soon, from what I understand.”

The coordinator hurried away to continue working.

Ethan stood there, the apartment key digging painfully into his palm inside his pocket.

Chloe slipped her arm through his.

“The project is only one year. Claire will come back when it’s over.”

Ethan was silent for a moment.

“Her work is here. The company is here. Of course she’ll come back.”

Saying it seemed to restore some of his confidence.

When the ceremony ended, everyone gathered outside the auditorium for pictures.

Chloe stepped beside Ethan with a bouquet in her arms.

Ryan lifted his camera and laughed.

“Come on, get closer. You both graduated. Why are you still acting shy?”

Chloe flushed and hooked her arm through Ethan’s.

People nearby started teasing them.

“You two actually make a pretty good couple.”

“Ethan, don’t you have a girlfriend?”

In the past, Ethan would have immediately said that I was his girlfriend.

This time, he only smiled and didn’t explain.

Apparently, he still enjoyed the attention.

I wasn’t there, but there was still someone at his side.

If he wanted, he could still make everyone envy him..

But the moment the camera flash went off, he instinctively looked to his left.

For four years, that was where I’d always stood in group pictures.

He once said his left side photographed better, so I’d always given him the angle he liked.

Now Chloe was standing in that spot.

She stood close beside him, wearing a familiar perfume.

And suddenly, something about it felt wrong.

His phone vibrated with an email from me, and he opened it almost instantly.

There were no accusations, no pleas for him to come after me.

There was only my formal notice of withdrawal from the startup and a complete set of handoff documents.

Vendor lists. Client information. Project status. Contract risks.

I’d organized every detail clearly.

The final page contained only one sentence.

[As of today, Claire Bennett and Ethan Carter no longer have any professional or personal relationship.]

Ethan stared at the words personal relationship until the smile disappeared completely from his face.

He closed his email and opened our message thread.

[Do you really have to take this this far?]

A red error icon appeared beside the message.

He froze and sent another.

[Claire, stop this.]

The same red icon appeared.

I’d removed him.

In four years, no matter how badly we’d fought, I’d never blocked him before.

Even when he’d forgotten our anniversary and left me waiting alone in a restaurant for three hours, I’d only looked at him with red eyes and told him not to forget next time.

Ethan’s breath hitched.

He found Professor Reed’s number and called immediately.

“Professor Reed, where is Claire right now?”

There was a pause on the other end.

“The project’s filming locations aren’t being shared publicly.”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

Professor Reed’s voice cooled.

“She specifically asked that no one outside the project disturb her.”

Ethan tightened his grip on the phone.

“We didn’t break up.”

“That’s what you think.”

Professor Reed said slowly and clearly, “Claire told me she doesn’t have a boyfriend anymore.”

The call ended. Around him, graduates laughed and took pictures while Ethan stood frozen in the middle of the crowd.

Chloe approached and reached cautiously for his arm.

“Ethan, let’s finish taking pictures.”

For the first time, he shook her hand off.

The apartment key slipped from his pocket and hit the ground with a sharp clink.

Only then did Ethan finally understand.

I wasn’t waiting for him to chase me.

I truly didn’t want him anymore.