My Boyfriend’s “Just a Friend” Became the Reason I Walked Away Chapter 09

My Boyfriend’s “Just a Friend” Became the Reason I Walked Away Chapter 09

Why had Ethan and Vanessa grown so close in college?

Ethan had grown up in a remote mountain town. During a violent rainstorm, the only school in his hometown collapsed, injuring several children.

From that day on, he had sworn to study architecture and design buildings strong enough to keep

people safe.

Vanessa had her own reasons.

Her family had once lived in a run-down neighborhood targeted by an unscrupulous developer.

During a violent, illegal eviction, her father’s leg had been broken, and the family had never /

received justice.

That was why she had fought so hard to leave her small town and study architecture. She had

wanted to ensure that people like her family could never be exploited by powerful developers again.

Yet over the past five years, both of them had become consumed by ambition and status.

To win contracts, they had learned to compromise their principles and exploit every loophole

available. Somewhere along the way, they had forgotten every promise they had once made to

themselves.

Neither of them spoke on the drive back to the firm.

The moment they stepped through the doors, their coworkers raised confetti poppers, ready to

celebrate what everyone assumed was a successful deal with Sterling Properties.

But when everyone saw the looks on Ethan’s and Vanessa’s faces, the excitement vanished. Everyone exchanged uncertain looks and slowly lowered their hands.

No one could believe that Mr. Walker and Director Blake, who had never failed to land a major

account, had returned empty-handed.

Just then, Sterling Properties issued an official statement announcing that it would take over the

Southside redevelopment project. The statement also disclosed serious structural defects and

safety violations in the original firm’s design.

The story spread across social media within minutes, and Ethan and Vanessa quickly became the

targets of widespread outrage.

….

[They put people’s lives at risk just to make more money. Architects like that should never be allowed to practice again.]

[They made their fortune by gambling with other people’s safety. Sooner or later, they’ll get exactly what they deserve.]

As the backlash intensified, the other partners at the firm stormed into the office.

“Ethan Walker, you’ve destroyed this firm’s reputation. All our clients are threatening to terminate

their contracts!”

“You and Vanessa are out. Get your things and leave.”

The state architectural licensing board quickly opened a formal investigation, and the violations

connected to the Southside project were fully substantiated.

At the disciplinary hearing, Ethan and Vanessa sat on the opposite side of the room from me.

Before proceedings even began, several affected residents and their family members rushed

toward Ethan. One man pointed directly at him and shouted, “You piece of trash! Do you have any idea how close that building came to collapsing on my family?”

Vanessa turned pale and immediately hid behind Ethan.

By the end of the hearing, there was no room left to dispute what they had done.

Their architecture licenses were revoked, and they were permanently barred from practicing as

architects.

The man who had once stormed into Ethan’s office and injured my arm approached me afterward,

gratitude plain on his face. He gave me a solemn nod.

“Ms. Sterling, thank you. If you hadn’t stopped the project when you did, the consequences could’ve

been catastrophic.”

Then he glanced at Ethan with open disgust.

“A man who shoves a woman in front of him when danger strikes is nothing but a coward. You were right to leave him, Ms. Sterling.”

Ethan pressed his lips together, his eyes red as he stared at me in silence.

I didn’t give him so much as a glance.

-….

I simply turned and walked away.

By then, both Ethan’s and Vanessa’s reputations had been ruined across the industry.