I No Longer Want The Blessing You Brought From Snowy Mountain Chapter 06

I No Longer Want The Blessing You Brought From Snowy Mountain Chapter 06

Ethan didn’t leave.

He showed up at the gallery every day. Open to close. Didn’t say a word. Just stood there.

My coworkers started whispering.

Luke pulled me aside.

“Dawn. That guy outside—your boyfriend?”

“Ex.”

“He’s affecting business.”

“Sorry, Luke. I’ll handle it.”

After work, I walked up to him.

His eyes lit up again. “Dawn. You’re talking to me?”

“Ethan. Go. Don’t come back.”

“I won’t. Not unless you come with me.”

Stubborn.

“There’s no ‘us’ anymore.”

“Why not? Tell me what I did wrong. I’ll fix it.”

He grabbed my wrist tight.

“I’ll stop neglecting you. I’ll give you everything—go anywhere you want. Just say the word.”

“Let go.”

“No.”

“Security!”

Two guards came running from the booth. Ethan finally released me, glaring.

“Dawn. You’re really this heartless?”

I looked back. “Ethan. The heartless one isn’t me.”

After that, he didn’t block the door—he switched tactics.

He started sending flowers to the gallery front desk. Every single day. First came roses, then lilies, then tulips. All of them expensive, flashy, and delicate.

The receptionist gushed, “Dawn, your boyfriend’s so romantic.”

I shook my head. “Ex.”

I tossed every bouquet in the trash.

I liked asters. Wild. Tough. All over the mountain.

I’d told him a hundred times. He never remembered.

Day four, the front desk hauled in a giant box. “Dawn, package for you.”

From Ethan.

Inside—a red dress. Exact same style as the one Elena had worn. But fancier. More elaborate. A card tucked inside.

“Dawn—I had the best craftsman make this for you. You’ll look a million times better than her.”

I picked up the dress and dumped it on the curb.

That night, Mom called.

“Dawn… is Ethan with you?”

“Yeah.”

“He sold some of his cattle. Raised twenty grand. Said it was for a gift to make it up to you.”

I went quiet.

Ethan’s family were ranchers. Their cattle were their whole life.

He actually sold them off.

“Dawn… do you think he really knows he messed up? Maybe… give him one more chance?”

I could hear the hope in her voice.

I paused.

“Mom. Do you know why he sold them?”

“Why?”

“Because he still doesn’t understand what I want. He thinks money and gifts fix everything.”

“He thinks what he owes me is just things.”

I hung up. Calm.

Luke walked over and handed me a cup of tea.

“Maybe talk to him. Could clear things up.”

I shook my head.

“There’s nothing to clear.”

Then my phone buzzed. A local number I didn’t know.

I picked up.

A woman’s voice.

“Dawn? This is Elena.”

I wasn’t expecting that.

“What do you want?”

“Stay away from Ethan. He’s mine.”

Her voice dripped with ownership.

“Aren’t you back east?”

“I came back!”

She laughed. “He begged me to come. Said he can’t live without me. Told me you were just duty—I’m the love. So get lost before I make you.”

I held the phone, stunned.