He Put Our Love on Pause, Then Married Her Behind My Back Chapter 03

I stayed with Maya. As she made up a bed for me, she went off about Ethan.

“That whole break thing is disgusting. He gets to decide when you’re together and when you’re not, and you’re just supposed to sit around waiting.”

I sat on the edge of the bed she’d just made.

“Not this time,” I said quietly.

Ethan called around noon the next day.

“Come to my mom’s tonight.”

I tightened my grip on the phone.

“So you’re introducing your girlfriend to the family? The one you just went public with?”

He was silent for a couple of seconds.

“You know about that?”

I drew a breath.

“What do you want me there for?”

“The family’s got the wrong idea. If you’re there, we can clear it up.”

I thought about those messages in the family chat. I went anyway.

Ethan picked me up that evening. When I opened the car door, Sophie was already in the passenger seat.

She turned and smiled.

“Hi, Claire.”

I said nothing and got into the back.

Ethan’s mother, Evelyn, greeted us at the door with a smile. The moment she saw Sophie, she took her hand.

“He’s finally brought you over! I’ve always said Ethan needs a girl like you. Pretty, with a good job, too.”

I was still standing in the doorway when she added, “It’s about time he cut those trashy girls out of his life.”

My fingers twitched. I looked at Ethan, but he avoided my eyes.

Only then did Evelyn notice me. She frowned.

“And who’s this?”

Before I could speak, Ethan answered.

“She takes care of the house. She’s basically my housekeeper.”

I froze. Yesterday, he’d thrown me out of our home. Today, he was calling me his housekeeper.

I looked at him, my voice hoarse.

“Ethan, is this why you brought me here?”

He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“Don’t start. My mom likes Soph better. If you say anything now, you’ll only embarrass yourself.”

I took a step back.

“Who’s the one who should be embarrassed?”

In the living room, Evelyn was pressing a handbag into Sophie’s hands.

“This is for you, sweetheart. I hope you like it.”

Ethan’s younger brother, Luke, gave Sophie a lazy grin.

“Welcome to the family, Sophie.” Then he looked at me.

“Your housekeeper’s pretty young, Ethan.”

Laughter broke out in the living room. I stood there, my hands and feet cold.

A ring box sat on the coffee table. Evelyn picked it up and peered inside, frowning.

“That’s the wrong name engraved in there.”

I looked over. The name inside the band was mine.

Ethan barely glanced at it before taking out his phone and making a call.

“The engraving’s wrong. Change the name to Sophie.”

Each word made my chest ache. I couldn’t stay another second. I turned and walked out.

Ethan caught up with me at the door and blocked my way.

“Claire, I’ll have the wedding my family wants first. I’ll give you yours later.”

I looked up at him, my eyes stinging.

“What am I to you?”

He reached for me.

“Don’t make a decision you’ll regret. I can give you a stable life, and I’ll keep paying Grandma’s medical bills. If you leave me, where else can you go?”

I stared at him, my voice shaking.

“Move.”

He didn’t. I pushed him aside and hurried away.

Just as I reached the corner, a notification for a new post popped up on my phone. The headline made me feel faint.

[Woman Harasses Couple, Shows Up at Man’s Family Home to Cause a Scene]

I opened it. The post was full of screenshots of my messages with Ethan. At the bottom, it listed my employer and job title.

Not long after, HR called.

“You’re still in your probationary period, Claire. We can’t have your personal life damaging the company’s reputation. Can you come in to complete your exit paperwork?”

I stood at the curb, my lips trembling. Then another call came in, this one from the hospital.

“Ms. Bennett, your grandmother isn’t doing well. You need to get here right away.”

My mind went blank. I raised a hand to hail a cab.