He Thought I’d Always Stay—Then the Countdown Hit Zero Chapter 07

He Thought I’d Always Stay—Then the Countdown Hit Zero Chapter 07

The signed divorce settlement agreement arrived three days later.

Ethan’s name was scrawled across it.

The strokes were messy and pressed so deeply into the paper that they nearly tore through.

It looked as though he had signed it in unbearable anger or pain.

We filed the paperwork.

The divorce wouldn’t become final for another thirty days.

During those thirty days, Ethan seemed to become a different person.

He stopped sending meaningless messages asking whether I had eaten or slept.

Instead, he tried to make himself impossible to ignore.

Every morning when I left Rachel’s apartment, a hot breakfast waited on the door handle.

Ethan had made it himself.

There were Eggs Benedict, which I loved, and avocado yogurt bowls covered in fresh fruit.

He even knew Rachel’s preferences and brought two different meals every day.

I didn’t eat them.

I threw every one of them into the dumpster downstairs.

Rachel watched me discard the carefully packed meals without hesitation and clicked her tongue.

“Wow. He’s really committed to the groveling-ex-husband routine.”

I dusted off my hands.

“Too little, too late.”

I thought he would give up after a few days.

He had grown up pampered and was proud to his core.

But he didn’t stop.

He even began following my car after work.

He kept a careful distance.

Close enough to stay in sight, far enough to pretend he wasn’t bothering me.

Like a stubborn ghost.

On the twentieth day, rain returned to Riverton.

I had barely reached the lobby after work when I spotted a familiar figure standing outside.

It was Chloe.

She had no umbrella and was soaked through, looking like an abandoned puppy.

The moment she saw me, she rushed over.

“Natalie.”

Her eyes were red, and her voice trembled with tears.

“Can you ask Mr. Hayes to stop blacklisting me?”

I frowned.

“Blacklisting you?”

Chloe wiped her tears.

“I’ve applied to more than a dozen companies since I was fired, and none of them will hire me.”

“I only recently found out that Mr. Hayes blacklisted me across the industry and told everyone I had serious integrity problems.”

“Natalie, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have worn his jacket or accepted the humidifier.”

“Please forgive me. I really need a job.”

She reached for my sleeve.

I stepped back.

“You came to the wrong person.”

My voice remained calm.

“First, you and I have nothing to do with each other.”

“Second, Ethan blacklisted you, not me. Go beg him.”

Chloe froze.

Then her expression changed.

The innocence vanished from her face, replaced by resentment.

“Stop pretending you’re better than everyone, Natalie!”

Her voice rose sharply.

“Mr. Hayes is such a good man. How can you treat him like this?”

“He stands outside your building until midnight every night and cooks for you every day, but you won’t even

look at him!”

“You’re only doing this because you know he loves you. You enjoy controlling him!”

“What makes you so special?”

People passing by began to slow down and stare.

I watched Chloe lose control.

Suddenly, I found the entire thing boring.

This was the sweet, hardworking young woman Ethan had once pitied so deeply.

“Are you done?”

I looked at her.

“Then move.”

Chloe stubbornly blocked my path.

“No! You’re going to answer me today!”

At that moment, a hand shot out from the side and yanked her away.

The force sent Chloe crashing into a puddle.

“Get out of here!”

Ethan had appeared without me noticing.

He held a black umbrella, fury radiating from him.

He stared at Chloe on the ground.

“I warned you never to come near her again.”

Chloe sat in the puddle and looked up at him in disbelief.

“Mr. Hayes… I only wanted to beg her…”

“Shut up!”

Ethan cut her off harshly.

“If you bother her again, I’ll make sure you can’t stay anywhere in Riverton.”

Chloe trembled in fear.

She scrambled to her feet and fled.

Ethan turned toward me.

The hostility instantly disappeared from his eyes, replaced by naked caution and desperate hope.

He tilted the umbrella over me, leaving most of his own body exposed to the rain.

“Natalie, don’t be angry. I didn’t send her.”

“She’ll never appear in front of you again.”

He looked at me with cautious hope.

“Can we… have dinner together tonight?”

I looked at him.

Then at the shoulder of his shirt, soaked by the rain.

“Ethan.”

I spoke quietly.

“You were ugly when you shoved her.”