My Fiancé Chose Her Over Me—So I Canceled Our Wedding Chapter 10

Ethan didn’t leave that night.

When I opened the door early the next morning, he was still sitting outside.

His suit was a wrinkled mess, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night.

His head snapped up at the sound of the door.

“Claire…”

I walked past him.

I didn’t stop.

For six years, I’d always been afraid he wouldn’t notice me.

Now he finally saw me.

But I no longer wanted to turn around.

On my third day at my new job, our department went out for lunch.

As we ordered, a coworker said, “Claire, we’re saving you some maple-glazed salmon. I remember you saying you liked it.”

I paused, surprised.

I’d only mentioned it in passing at lunch the day before.

They actually remembered.

After lunch, the five of us got ready for a photo. Out of habit, I stepped out of the frame.

My coworker waved me over. “Claire, come on! You’re the only one missing.”

When the picture was taken, I stood right in the middle.

For the first time, I realized something.

I didn’t have to keep proving I wouldn’t be any trouble just to fit in.

People who wanted me around made room for me without being asked.

After work, I saw Ethan outside the office.

He held a bouquet of lisianthus.

“You like these, right?”

He even looked a little hopeful.

Then a coworker called out behind me.

“Claire! You forgot your flowers!”

Another bouquet of lisianthus was pressed into my arms.

“Your welcome gift. Glad to have you as our fifth team member.”

Ethan’s smile slowly froze.

He looked down at his own flowers.

Six years.

He finally remembered.

Other people had needed only three days.

“I’ll drive you home.”

The words tumbled out of him.

“Your shoulder hasn’t healed yet. I’ll drive slowly.”

“She’s not riding with you.”

My coworker smiled and jingled a set of keys.

“We already saved her a seat.”

I left with them.

Ethan stayed where he was.

After that, he showed up almost every day.

Coffee. Breakfast. Lisianthus.

But he couldn’t find a way back into my life.

For six years, I’d always been on the outside of their group of four.

Now he was the one standing outside the door.