I Stepped Out of the Shadow of His Favor Chapter 07

I Stepped Out of the Shadow of His Favor Chapter 07

The next morning, Lane Wilson headed straight for Verity Consulting, Ella Carter’s workplace. The receptionist checked the system and told him Ella had applied for a long-term out-of-town posting.

“A long-term posting?” Lane froze.

“She put herself forward for a regional project out of town. Looks like she’s relocating there for good.”

He stood in the lobby, and then it came back to him. Ella had mentioned this. She’d been sitting across from him at the dinner table, saying the project would help her get promoted. He’d been busy texting Chloe back about her physical therapy appointment. He’d barely glanced up. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you think.”

She hadn’t said anything else after that, and he’d forgotten about it completely.

She’d shared all these plans with me long ago, yet every word fell on deaf ears.

He left the office and went to the bridal shop. The saleswoman told him politely that Ella had canceled her appointment two nights ago—the same night as the dinner at Harvest Bistro.

The saleswoman opened their records. “Ms. Carter was so thorough. She even made note of everyone’s dietary restrictions.”

Lane scanned the notes. His mother had a peanut allergy. His father needed low-sugar desserts. Keep antacids on hand. He gets an upset stomach easily. And one more line: [If Chloe attends the wedding, seat her away from the AC vents.]

His eyes stung. Ella had made sure even Chloe would be taken care of properly.

I’d squandered every bit of her thoughtfulness and grace.

The saleswoman kept talking, saying Ella had handled everything herself because she knew how busy he was.

Lane couldn’t find the words. He thought back to every wedding plan Ella had shown him. He’d always said the same thing: “I trust your taste.” He used to think that was trust. Now he saw it for what it really was—him phoning it in while she carried the weight of their future alone.

Back at the apartment, Lane packed Chloe’s slippers, the Lactose-free milk, and all the odds and ends from the car into a cardboard box.

Chloe came to pick up her things, her face dark. “Lane, what is this all about?”

“I need you to stop leaving your belongings here from now on,” Lane said flatly.

Chloe’s eyes reddened. “You’ve never acted like this before.”

Lane didn’t answer. Chloe had grown comfortable treating my apartment as her own, all because I never set clear boundaries. She’d gotten used to him taking care of everything, and she knew Ella was too easygoing to push back.

“I only asked you for help because I’m not well,” Chloe said, her voice cracking. “I never set out to come between the two of you.”

Lane looked at her. “But I stupidly let you occupy that space instead.”

His own face went pale as he said it. Chloe stood there, stunned.

After a long moment, she clenched her jaw. “What about everything I went through? I got hurt in that crash just to deliver your work files years ago.”

Lane’s fists tightened. “I owe you. I know that. But I had no right to make Ella pay for my mistakes.”

Chloe left with the box. Lane typed out a long message to Ella. He brought up the accident, poured out his guilt, and admitted he’d taken her patience for granted.

The message was marked read almost instantly. She never replied.

At that moment, Ella was standing in a conference room in another city, delivering her project presentation. Her last slide read: [Stop Wasting Your Energy.]

The clients nodded and said they found the message powerful.

Ella smiled slightly. She’d learned that lesson the hard way, from a life that had fallen apart. Of course it was powerful.