Fifty Bowls, One Broken Engagement Chapter 04

Fifty Bowls, One Broken Engagement Chapter 04

That evening, I had barely reached the front door when my father called.

“Claire.”

“Your mother and I got a message saying our flights were canceled. Is it some kind of scam?”

The week before, Ethan and I had chosen a two-bedroom condo and planned to make the down payment that week. My parents were supposed to visit and stay with us for a while.

I walked them through sending me a screenshot.

The message really was from the airline.

To be safe, I called the airline myself. They confirmed the tickets had been canceled.

I entered the apartment with a frown, and Megan came straight toward me.

“Claire.”

“Ethan just booked flights for my parents. They’ll be here tomorrow night. Pick a restaurant so we can all have dinner together.”

The word flights struck a nerve.

I turned toward Ethan, who was cutting fruit in the kitchen. “Is this why you canceled my parents’ tickets?”

“Don’t overreact.”

Ethan sighed and carried out the fruit tray. “It’s hard for Megan’s parents to visit, so I want them to stay longer.”

“Your parents have always lived on a farm in a small Oregon town. They will not be comfortable in Portland anyway. They can come on the wedding day.”

“And you know how things are with my company. Megan’s family lives closer, so their airfare is more than a hundred dollars cheaper. It makes financial sense.”

He looked as though he’d made some noble sacrifice. My chest tightened, and I regretted ever loving such a selfish man.

My parents had always been understanding. They knew Ethan’s startup was struggling, so they never demanded that he shoulder the wedding costs alone.

Instead, they had contributed $15,000 toward our down payment.

How many hours had they worked that farm? How many harvests had they sold to save $15,000?

They only wanted to visit their daughter and future son-in-law.

Megan’s parents had trouble traveling.

Did mine somehow have it easy?

Ethan knew exactly what they’d sacrificed, yet he still put Megan’s parents first.

Was this what it meant to love someone so much that you loved everyone connected to her too?

“Huh? Didn’t I tell you to buy groceries? Why did you come back empty-handed?”

Ethan’s next question drove the knife in deeper.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

“Claire, have some lemon.”

Megan took the opportunity to shove a lemon slice into my mouth.

The sourness brought tears straight to my eyes.

I went to wash my face, then sent my parents a WhatsApp message.

[Mom, Dad, I’m not marrying Ethan.]

[Someday I’ll buy a big house and bring you both to live with me.]

My father called immediately.

“Claire.”

“Don’t make a decision in anger. Maybe Ethan has his reasons.”

“Your mother and I don’t need to stay in Portland. As long as we can attend your wedding and know you’re happy, that’s enough.”

My mother spoke from beside him. “He’s right. We wouldn’t be much help there anyway.”

They had been hurt, yet they were still making excuses for Ethan. All they wanted was for me to marry happily.

Across the room, Ethan and Megan were laughing together.

Pain flooded my chest. I walked out of the apartment and said, “Mom, Dad.”

“I’m not acting on impulse, and I’m not joking.”

“I will not be happy in this marriage.”

Everyone knew how desperately I had loved Ethan.

But I had nothing left to give.

After a long silence, my parents answered, “Claire, has he been hurting you? If you don’t want to marry him, then don’t. Whatever you decide, we’re with you.”

I assured them I would be fine, ended the call, and went into the bedroom to pack.

That was when I realized how little I owned. I rotated through the same few outfits, and the only cosmetics I had were a nearly empty lipstick and a tube of sunscreen.

My belongings didn’t even fill half a suitcase.

Ethan’s side of the closet, meanwhile, was packed with designer suits and shirts.

Everything had gone toward keeping up his image.

I carried my suitcase out of the bedroom.

Ethan froze. “Where are you going?”

“I have a business trip for the next few days,” I replied.

His brow relaxed at once. He actually looked relieved. “I thought you were throwing another childish fit and moving out.”

He opened the refrigerator, took out several bottles of mango yogurt, and pushed them into my hands. “You love yogurt. Take these for the road.”

I did love yogurt.

But I never ate mango flavor because I was allergic to mangoes.

Megan was the one who demanded mango everything.

“What a shame. I guess I will not get Claire to buy me dinner.”

Megan spread her hands and stuck out her tongue. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll take good care of Ethan.”

I only smiled. Without another word, I turned and left, tossing the yogurt into the trash downstairs.

Ten minutes later, Ethan called.

“Claire, stop by the new condo and change the entry code to my birthday.”

“Megan’s parents want to stay awhile, so I’m planning to let them use the new place.”

“Since you’re traveling, stay away a few extra days. There’s no need to rush back and make Megan’s parents feel uncomfortable.”

He was becoming more considerate by the minute.

Just never toward me.

Then Megan’s coy voice floated through the phone. “Ethan, give me a hug!”

I said nothing. I laughed coldly, ended the call, and blocked his number and WhatsApp account.

Someone else could keep paying for his life.

I had a career to build.