My Boyfriend Gave Our Home Access Card To My Best Friend Chapter 01

My Boyfriend Gave Our Home Access Card To My Best Friend Chapter 01

For four years, the key card to our future home had never once worked for me.

My boyfriend, Ethan Cole, replaced it again and again. None of the cards worked, so every day I climbed seventeen floors, arriving exhausted.

He said I was being dramatic.

“The building’s access system is old. Everyone has this problem. A few stairs aren’t going to hurt you.”

Then one day, I could barely make it down the stairs with two heavy bags of groceries.

I was stranded in the stairwell, and Ethan wouldn’t answer his phone.

A moment later, I heard him laughing outside the elevator with my best friend, Vanessa Reed.

She swiped her card without hesitation, and the screen lit up.

[Resident access granted. Welcome home.]

Vanessa covered her mouth with a little laugh.

“I’m here every day. It practically is my home.”

Their voices triggered the stairwell light.

Only then did they see me sitting on the steps.

After a brief, awkward silence, Ethan smiled.

“Nessa visits so often, management probably knows her by now.”

I said nothing.

I made my way to the building management office.

The employee checked the system, then looked uncomfortable.

“Each unit is allocated two registered elevator cards. Mr. Cole registered himself and his wife, Ms. Reed. If you’re another member of the household, the owner needs to submit an additional access request.”

The stairwell was suffocating in the summer heat, but I couldn’t stop shivering.

I’d spent four years in the home we were supposed to share, and I wasn’t even listed as part of the household.

I didn’t go back and scream at Ethan for an explanation.

I wasn’t going to need that elevator anymore.

…

When I got home, Ethan was kneeling in front of Vanessa, helping her into a new pair of slippers.

He barely glanced at me before frowning.

“Where did you go? Where are the groceries?”

Vanessa swung her feet, showing off the slippers.

“My heels were bothering me, so Ethan bought these just for me. Claire, you’re so lucky. Your boyfriend is such a sweetheart.”

An hour earlier, I’d asked Ethan to come downstairs and help me.

All he’d said was,

“Nessa came all this way. Stop wasting time and get back here to make dinner.”

My discomfort was easy for him to ignore.

He couldn’t bear even a frown from her.

I took a deep breath and tossed the useless card onto the coffee table.

“Explain this, Ethan.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

“It’s broken again? I’ll get another one.”

“Management says every unit gets two cards.”

I looked straight at him.

“Why is Vanessa registered as your wife?”

The room went completely silent.

Vanessa stood, her eyes filling.

“Claire, management must have made a mistake. I had no idea—”

Ethan stepped in front of her.

“They entered the wrong relationship on a form, and you have to embarrass her over it? You know how much she cares about you!”

I laughed in disbelief.

“The owner has to submit the registration himself. Did management enter it without your approval, too?”

His face hardened.

“Fine. I registered her. So what? Nessa works late all the time. A card makes it easier for her to come and go.”

“You’re my girlfriend. Do you really have to make a big deal out of a few stairs?”

Four years.

I’d climbed those seventeen floors even when I wasn’t feeling well.

I’d climbed them when I could barely keep going.

I’d asked him to fix the problem more times than I could count.

Every time, he said,

“Stop being so delicate. Just take your time.”

Vanessa reached for me.

“Claire, it’s only a card. Please don’t fight with Ethan because of me.”

I pulled my hand away.

“Don’t touch me.”

Ethan’s expression darkened.

“Watch your mouth!”

I stepped back.

Whatever warmth I still felt for him disappeared.

He was already checking on Vanessa, completely ignoring me.

That was when I was finally done.

I went to the bedroom and packed my ID and laptop.

After four years in that apartment, everything I owned fit into one suitcase.