The Dress Fitting He Promised I Would Not Attend Chapter 09

The Dress Fitting He Promised I Would Not Attend Chapter 09

Daniel and I walked out of the office building together at the end of the day.

“Home for your mom’s cooking, or do you want to go out?”

I looked up at the sunset. It was too pretty to waste.

“Let’s go to the beach. French place.”

“Okay.”

We made it to the parking lot, and someone stepped out in front of me.

I stumbled backward, startled.

“Careful.”

Daniel caught my arm with one hand and braced my waist with the other.

“Take your hands off her.”

I looked up. It was Ethan. He shoved Daniel hard.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

I steadied myself and yelled at Ethan.

“Claire, you’re yelling at me? You’re yelling at me because of him?”

He looked hurt and shocked at the same time. It would have been funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.

“You parade around with your little assistant and I don’t say a word. I defend a friend and that’s a problem?”

A flicker of hope crossed Ethan’s face. He rushed to explain.

“I know you’re jealous of her. I already fired her. Those posts weren’t real. It was all in her head. Nothing happened between us. In Silverport—”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear any of it. Ethan, the engagement is over. We’re done. Leave me alone.”

I had no patience for his excuses.

But he wouldn’t quit.

“No, you’ve got it wrong. You don’t trust me. I never betrayed you. Just let me explain. Claire, I don’t accept this. I won’t.”

Daniel stood to the side, silent. But his eyes stayed locked on Ethan.

“You didn’t betray me? What do you think betrayal is?”

“It doesn’t matter if you slept with her or not. What matters is that you gave her a reason to think it could happen. Or that whenever you wanted it, it could.”

“Isn’t that the lesson you wanted me to learn, Ethan?”

He froze. His eyes went wide with disbelief.

“Claire, that’s… that’s not what I meant. I just wanted some space. We’ve been together too long. I didn’t want to feel trapped by everything. I—”

I laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound.

“Those are just excuses. You didn’t need another woman to get what you wanted.”

“You took her on trips. You took her to restaurants and movies. You brought her to your grandpa’s birthday party. You were testing me.”

“Seeing how much I’d take. And if I’d kept letting it slide, after the wedding, you would have done worse. I can see it so clearly now. Just stop. There’s nothing left to say.”

I turned to leave. He stepped toward me.

Daniel blocked him with an arm.

“Claire already told you she doesn’t want anything to do with you. Harassing her isn’t going to win her back.”

Ethan’s glare was sharp enough to cut. His whole body radiated menace.

“What happens between her and me is none of your business.”

Daniel smiled. Calm and steady.

“From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re the one who doesn’t belong here.”

Ethan turned to me. His expression was hard to read.

“Claire, what is he to you?”

I slipped my arm through Daniel’s and lifted my chin.

“He’s about to be my boyfriend.”

Ethan’s breath caught. His expression crumbled.

“No… we grew up together. We’ve only ever loved each other. You can’t just love someone else…”

Daniel’s face stayed neutral, but I felt his arm tremble.

I didn’t look back at Ethan. I walked Daniel to the car and got in.

The engine started. I checked the rearview mirror.

He was still standing there, alone, staring at the tail lights as if he might never move again.