He Put Our Love on Pause, Then Married Her Behind My Back Chapter 07

Three days later, I went back to the house where Ethan and I had lived for two years. When the door opened, I

paused.

Their photo album was gone from the entryway, and the shoe rack was much emptier. Ethan stood in the living room. He’d clearly cleaned up before I got there.

Sophie was there, too, crouched by the bedroom door, sorting through her things. When she saw me, she

slowly stood and stepped aside.

A ring box sat on the coffee table. Ethan pushed it toward me.

“I had the jeweler change the engraving back.”

I glanced down but didn’t reach for it. Changing it back now only disgusted me more.

I took out the list I’d prepared and set it on the table.

“Let’s go through this first.”

I’d checked everything against my payment records, listing what I was taking separately from what he owed

me for the things staying behind.

Ethan took it and went through the pages. When he reached the end, his voice grew quieter.

“I’ll transfer the full amount you paid for everything you’re leaving.”

The movers soon came in and started taking things apart. When they took down the dining room light, a

faint ring remained on the ceiling.

I looked up at the mark, my chest aching. I remembered standing in the lighting store, holding my phone and asking Ethan which one looked better.

“You’ll light up the room no matter which one you pick,” he’d said.

Now the light was going into a cardboard box, and he stood beside me, his voice rough.

“Can you leave this one? I’ll buy you a new one.”

I looked down and checked it off the list.

“It’s mine. I’m taking it.”

He stared at me for a long moment without saying anything else.

The movers carried the boxes out one by one. I went into the bedroom and took off the pillowcase Grandma

had sewn for me. I folded it carefully and put it in my suitcase.

Ethan followed me to the doorway and watched me pack.

“Claire, do you have to keep score like this?”

I didn’t look up or stop what I was doing.

“You’re the one who started keeping score. I’m just settling up.”

He stood in the doorway, swallowing hard, but couldn’t find anything to say.

Once we’d checked everything, he showed me the transfer confirmation.

“I’ve sent it all.”

I checked the amount, then sent him a payment of my own. The note was brief.

[Partial repayment of hospital expenses.]

His expression changed the moment he saw it.

“You don’t have to pay that back. I never expected you to.”

I put my phone away and looked at him.

“It doesn’t matter what you expected. I don’t want to owe you anything.”

Sophie stood by the bedroom door, hesitating for a long time. Finally, she took off the necklace and set it on

the dresser.

“I’ll leave this here.”

I glanced at it.

“It’s yours. Keep it. I don’t want to see it.”

She stiffened, then silently put it away.

As I reached the door, Ethan followed me another step.

“The wedding’s been canceled. I’ll deal with my marriage to Soph, too.”

I looked back at him.

“That’s between you and her. You don’t need to tell me.”

Only then did he finally understand that I was really gone.