My Boyfriend Gave Our Home Access Card To My Best Friend Chapter 02

My Boyfriend Gave Our Home Access Card To My Best Friend Chapter 02

Ethan leaned against the doorframe, watching me coldly.

“Running away to scare me again? Claire Bennett, you’re almost thirty. Can you stop acting like a child?”

I closed the suitcase.

“I’m not running away. I’m breaking up with you.”

For a moment, he froze.

Then he sneered.

“Fine. Go. Let’s see how long you last without me.”

I wheeled my suitcase into the elevator without looking back.

He probably expected me to cry and wait for him to come after me, the way I always had.

This time, the doors slid shut.

The elevator took me all the way down from the seventeenth floor without asking for a card.

Watching the numbers fall, I felt tears sting my eyes.

Getting into his home had been so hard.

Leaving him was so easy.

After I checked into a hotel, a string of messages arrived from Vanessa.

Vanessa: [Claire, I gave Ethan the elevator card back.]

Vanessa: [Work’s been stressing him out. That’s why he snapped at you. We always hurt the people closest to us. Please don’t hold it against him.]

Vanessa: [You can’t throw away seven years together. He’s really upset. Just come home and say you’re sorry, okay?]

I stared at the words “say you’re sorry” until something inside me went numb.

I’d known Vanessa for twelve years.

When she couldn’t find a ride on a rainy night, I’d been the one who felt bad for her and asked Ethan to drive halfway across town.

When her boss gave her a hard time, I’d begged him to help her.

I’d thought they got along because they both cared about me.

Now I understood that I’d brought them together myself.

My boyfriend had become the person she relied on.

The home that should have been mine had become hers.

Somehow, I was the one who didn’t belong.

I blocked her without replying.

Maybe it was the stress of that night, but I couldn’t settle my stomach.

The next morning, I went to a private appointment alone.

While I waited for my results, I spotted Ethan nearby.

He was sitting beside Vanessa, holding a warm drink and patiently taking care of her.

I’d never seen that look on his face before.

So worried.

So tender.

He noticed me as I turned to leave and stepped into my path.

“So you finally showed up.”

His eyes burned with anger.

“Nessa gave me the card back and insisted on taking the stairs like you. She had an accident. Happy now, Claire?”

For four years, I’d climbed seventeen floors and been called dramatic.

Vanessa had one bad experience, and somehow it was my fault.

I steadied myself.

“I didn’t tell her to return the card, and I didn’t tell her to take the stairs. Move.”

He blocked my way.

“You’re going to apologize.”

“No.”

I tried to walk past him, but I was already exhausted.

He led me over to her.

Vanessa looked up with worried eyes.

“Don’t blame Ethan, Claire. I made my own choice. That card should’ve been yours. I shouldn’t have taken it or made you think I was trying to take your place.”

With every word, Ethan’s expression grew colder.

“Apologize.”

The exhaustion left me barely able to speak.

Other people were watching.

At last, I heard my own dry, thin voice.

“I’m sorry.”

Vanessa immediately took my hand and smiled.

“We’ve been friends for twelve years. How could I blame you? I don’t mind a little inconvenience, as long as you two aren’t fighting because of me.”

Only then did Ethan step away.

There was even a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes, as if he’d proved that no matter how hard I resisted, I’d always give in to him.

I pulled my hand away and turned to leave.

He followed me a few steps.

“All right. I’ll take you home.”

Behind us, Vanessa spoke softly.

“Ethan, I really don’t feel well…”

He stopped and rushed straight back to her.

“Nessa? What’s wrong?”

Without even looking at me, he said,

“Claire, go home and ask management for a new card. I’ll come find you when Nessa’s feeling better.”

I laughed.

He still didn’t understand that I didn’t want the card anymore.

I didn’t want him, either.