Love Died One Apology at a Time Chapter 08

Love Died One Apology at a Time Chapter 08

Ethan gave the same explanation to his law firm.

To the media. To anyone who would listen.

And every time, he got the same question.

“Then what about the photos?”

There was nothing explicitly sexual in them.

But there was no denying the intimacy.

Their faces pressed close together. Their shoulders touching.

And in one photo, Riley was kissing the corner of Ethan’s mouth.

I laughed softly.

“They’re right, aren’t they?”

Ethan immediately raised his hand as if taking an oath.

“The most intimate photo is that one. The kiss.”

“She begged me to take it.”

I could almost hear Riley’s voice.

Her eyes red with tears.

“Ethan, please.”

“You promised you’d be my boyfriend. Can’t you grant me this one tiny wish?”

“I swear. After these few days, I’ll never bother you again.”

But at the last second, Ethan had turned his face slightly away.

The kiss had landed only at the corner of his lips.

“Nothing else happened.”

“Everything she said was a lie.”

To prove it, he ran around gathering evidence.

Security footage from the rooftop.

Footage from every place he and Riley had visited.

Anything that could clear his name.

“But you lived with her, didn’t you? Who knows what happened?”

For once, the defense attorney had no defense.

“Her chats. Her medical records. Surveillance. Her housekeeper. Everything proves it.”

“What do I have to do to make you believe me?”

He stood there waiting. As if awaiting a verdict.

I slowly shook my head.

“Ethan. No matter what you say. I can choose not to believe you.”

A short laugh escaped me.

“Remember how you used to be? The security footage was right there, but you said it was too blurry.”

The words struck him like a punch.

For a moment, he almost lost his balance.

Some media outlets defended him.

They said he was a good man punished for helping the wrong person.

His law firm announced that he would return to work once the investigation ended.

Everyone was on his side.

Except me.

The one person whose trust mattered most.

“Maybe.”

Once, we had held each other’s hands so tightly.

Somewhere along the way, we let go.

Now we were covered in thorns.

Every step closer only drew blood.

Thanks in part to the evidence Ethan provided, my case against Riley moved quickly.

In court, Riley sat with her head lowered.

Gone was the arrogant girl I’d known.

Until Ethan took the stand.

He testified about her history. Her intent to harm me.

Then she exploded.

She leapt to her feet.

Sobbing hysterically.

The chains around her wrists rattled loudly.

“How dare you call me a murderer? It was just blood! It doesn’t matter!”

“I only did it because I love you! You gave me hope! You!”

“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve stabbed her a few more times! I should’ve killed Claire too!”

The courtroom erupted.

The judge slammed the gavel repeatedly.

“Order!”

“You will respect this court!”

Two officers rushed forward and restrained her.

But she kept screaming.

“Serves you right!”

The veins in Ethan’s neck bulged.

For a second, it looked like he might charge across the courtroom himself.

But then—

He remembered.

He’d spent so much time cleaning up her messes.

But when the truth came out—what did it matter?

A colleague had said, “Ethan, how could you make such a stupid mistake?”

“Or did you actually have feelings for her?”

Ethan couldn’t answer.

“You let the fox in. And now look at your girlfriend. Look at yourself.”

The bitter fruit of his own choices.

He deserved every bit of it.

Riley’s sentencing came quickly.

Intentional assault. Lack of remorse. Multiple aggravating factors.

Seven years in prison.

Only then did I realize I had been clenching my fists the entire time.

When I opened my hands, my palms were covered in red marks and sweat.

The weather was perfect. No rain.

Step by step, I walked out of the courthouse.

Ethan was waiting.