I Took His Own Radio Advice And Walked Away From Seven Years Chapter 05

I Took His Own Radio Advice And Walked Away From Seven Years Chapter 05

Two months later, production on the overseas special wrapped. As soon as his plane landed, Ethan turned on his phone and sent me a message.

Ethan: [I just landed.]

A red exclamation point appeared beside it. He frowned and tried again. The second message failed too. Tara wheeled her suitcase over and studied his expression.

“Is Claire still upset? I could call her and explain that nothing happened between us overseas. We were only working.”

Ethan put away his phone.

“Don’t bother. She’s sulking. She’ll be fine once I get home.”

For seven years, I had always been the one to end our fights. When he worked late, I left a light on for him. When he forgot my birthday, I made excuses for him.

He had grown accustomed to my surrender. So he assumed this time would be no different. During the trip, his mother had called repeatedly, and dozens of messages had piled up in the wedding-planning threads. He ignored them all, certain I was simply throwing another fit. But when he opened the front door, he froze.

Half the entry closet was empty. The plants were gone from the balcony. He rushed into the bedroom. My half of the closet was bare. Nothing remained on the vanity or in the bathroom. There was only an engagement ring and a house key on the nightstand. Beneath the key was a note.

[Ethan, our engagement is over. Do not contact me again.]

He stared at it for a long time, then gave a disbelieving laugh.

“She’s really committed to this little stunt.”

He called my number again and again, only to hear the same automated message. With an irritated tug at his tie, he called his assistant and ordered him to find me. The answer came quickly.

“Mr. Reed, Ms. Quinn left two months ago. She moved to Bayport and joined a documentary crew.”

Two months ago. Right when he had left the country with Tara. Had I already decided to leave him then? The thought filled him with a sudden, unfamiliar dread.

He had always assumed I would be waiting where he left me. He had never imagined I would truly go. When Ethan called me from his assistant’s phone, I had just finished an interview. I assumed the unfamiliar number belonged to a potential subject, so I answered.

“Claire Quinn.”

His familiar voice came through the phone.

“How long are you planning to keep this up?”

“What do you want?”

My calm tone seemed to infuriate him.

“You quit your job, moved away, and changed your number. You did all this because you wanted me to come looking for you. Well, I’m back. When are you coming home so we can settle the wedding plans?”

“I’m not.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“The wedding is canceled, and we are no longer together. There is nothing to discuss.”

The line went quiet for several seconds. Ethan spoke through clenched teeth.

“Tara and I went away to record a show. The shoot is over. We’re back. How many times do you expect me to explain it?”

Instead of answering, I started recording the call.

“Pay back the thirty-nine thousand dollars.”

His breath caught.

“We were together for seven years, and now all you care about is money?”

“It was my money.”

“I used it to handle a crisis at work. I didn’t blow it. Once you come home, I’ll replace it.”

“So you admit you took thirty-nine thousand dollars without my permission?”

His voice turned cold.

“Yes, I used it. So what? You’re my fiancée. Do I need to submit a formal request before using your money in an emergency?”

I watched the recording timer and pressed stop.

“Return it to my account by noon tomorrow. If you don’t, my attorney will take it from here.”

“Claire, do you really have to be this ruthless?”

“You should have thought about that before you took my money.”

I hung up and blocked that number too.