My Fiancé Chose Her Over Me—So I Canceled Our Wedding Chapter 09

I looked up.

Ethan stood outside.

He saw me over Mom’s shoulder, then noticed my bandaged hand.

His lips moved several times.

Finally, he managed to say my name.

“Claire…”

Mom planted herself in the doorway.

“Where were you when she went to the hospital bleeding?”

The color drained from Ethan’s face.

His lips quivered as he looked at me.

“I was with Sophie.”

His own eyes reddened as soon as he said it.

“Claire, I’m sorry.”

“I should’ve gone to the hospital with you when you got hurt.”

“No. It wasn’t just that day.”

I didn’t speak.

He suddenly held his phone out in front of me.

“Look.”

“I deleted Sophie’s fingerprint. All her stuff is gone.”

“I cleared out Luke’s gaming room and Ryan’s home theater, too.”

“I’ve made it your study again. Your spot by the window, just where you wanted it.”

“I changed the code, too”

His voice shook

“It’s your birthday now.”

“Claire, come home with me.”

I looked at him.

“Which home?”

Ethan went still.

I pointed behind me.

“My study’s right here.”

“My dad just fixed my desk.”

“I have a home.”

“Why would I go back to a place that didn’t even have my fingerprint in the lock?”

The hope vanished from Ethan’s eyes.

“That wasn’t…”

His voice caught.

After a long moment, he forced out the words.

“Claire, I’m begging you.”

I’d known him for six years.

This was the first time Ethan had ever begged me.

“Please don’t give up on me for good.”

“I know I was wrong. I really do.”

“We’ll reschedule the wedding, redecorate the house. I’ll stay away from anyone you don’t like.”

“Just give me one more chance.”

“Let me be the one to win you over this time.”

Before I could answer, the elevator doors opened.

Luke and Ryan rushed out.

“Claire!”

They stood a few steps away, with none of their old impatience on their faces.

Luke lowered his head first.

“I’m sorry.”

Ryan’s voice sounded strained.

“We were assholes to you.”

I asked them straight out.

“What exactly are you apologizing for?”

They both opened their mouths.

Neither could get a word out.

Six years was a long time.

They’d hurt me so many times that even they couldn’t remember them all.

A sob sounded behind them.

Sophie had come, too.

“Claire, I’m sorry.”

“I’m the reason things ended up like this between you two.”

“I’ll step aside, okay?”

“I won’t contact Ethan or come to the house or any of your get-togethers anymore.”

Crying, she reached for Ethan.

“Ethan, tell Claire. I never wanted to take…”

For the first time, Ethan moved out of her reach.

“You stepping aside doesn’t mean she has to come back.”

“And she wasn’t being oversensitive.”

“The four of us took advantage of the fact that she loved me. We walked all over her for six years.”

The hallway fell silent.

Ethan turned back to me.

“Claire.”

“Tell me how to make this right.”

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

“Please.”

I looked at him.

“Then give me back that minute when the floral frame fell.”

“This time, turn around and look at me first.”

His tears finally spilled over.

But I started to close the door.

“Too bad.”

“We can’t go back.”

The door shut between us.