Chapter 11 Heather Walls Is Back
Ezra lifted his cup, filled it with liquor, and took a sip before setting it down to face Scott, who was engrossed in a game of golf in the corner of the room. "You mentioned I should come by because you had something to tell me, but it's been an hour now, and I have other things to do," Ezra said, recalling how he had rushed over to Scott's place right after dropping Emma off at the bus stop.
"Take it easy, brother," Scott replied, finally turning his attention to Ezra after he made sure his golf ball had successfully entered into the hole.
"At last." Ezra watched as Scott walked to him. "What’s so important that you couldn’t just share it over the phone?"
Scott sat on a chair and poured himself a glass of Louis XIII Cognac, drinking it quickly. "You haven't been following the news lately, have you?" he asked, a hint of mischief in his tone.
"What news? And please tell me it’s not about some scandal involving you and a woman from a club," Ezra replied, half-jokingly.
"No, nothing like that. This is something that will truly shock you," Scott said, his expression becoming serious.
“Last week, I discovered that the Japanese girl I had brought home was actually Thai, and since then, I've found it hard to be shocked by anything. It baffled me that she had deceived me into believing she was Japanese. I found out only when I spotted her ID card lying on my table. I sent her on her way without thinking twice.” Ezra chuckled. “Go on, what’s this shocking news you have?”
“Heather Walls is back in New York,” Scott replied, watching as Ezra's empty glass fell from his hand and on the rug, his eyes widening in disbelief.
“What? Heather Walls?” he echoed.
Scott nodded. “She returned last night, and I saw it in the media.”
“B–but why now? She left three years ago.” He was clearly shocked.
Scott informed him that she had inherited Walls Cosmetic from her mother and was back for good. “What will you do about your ex-girlfriend who is currently in town?” he asked, and Ezra could sense the weight of the news pressing on him.
Despite his attempts to move on, Heather held an important place in his heart; their relationship had been a loud mix of joy and pain. She had betrayed him by cheating with Scott, and now she was returning to New York, undoubtedly ready to flaunt her beauty just as she had before.
“I do nothing,” he replied, knowing that some pasts are best left untouched.
Scott raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice as he said, “Looks like her return won’t be an issue after all.” He looked at his glass, crossed his legs, and took a sip of his drink, but he could sense the tension coming from his friend. He turned to Ezra and added, “Honestly, I don’t think she came back for business reasons.”
Ezra’s confusion could be seen. “What do you mean by that?”
Scott leaned in, speaking quietly like he was sharing a secret. “You know Heather, right? She’s always flitting in and out of places. It wouldn’t surprise me if she came back to New York City just for you.”
Ezra shook his head, clearly not believing it. “And why would she do that? It’s been three years since she left. Besides, I’ve moved on. I don’t have feelings for her anymore.” His eyes searched Scott’s for understanding. “I mean it. I stopped caring the moment I walked in on you two together in that hotel room. You really think I could just take her back?”
Scott nodded slowly, recognizing the heaviness of Ezra’s words. “That’s a fair point. I don’t have any ties to her either. Sure, we had something strong once, but that’s all behind us now.”
Ezra stood up and grabbed his coat. “I think I’ll head out now.”
“Are you sure you should be driving in your state?”
Ezra chuckled lightly, brushing off the worry. “I’m not drunk. I’ll be fine. I’ll call you tomorrow.” With a wave, he stepped out the door.
As Ezra got into his car, he rested his head against the steering wheel, a rush of frustration hit him.. Why did she have to come back now, of all times? Three years had passed, and he had worked hard to move on from everything—Heather, and the girl who deceived him three years ago. He took a deep breath, started the engine, and drove home.
Ezra felt uneasy about Heather's return. Their relationship had been more than a normal college romance; they had once promised to love each other enough to marry. Her betrayal had broken that promise. The idea of her coming back into his life felt almost unbearable. How could she even face him after everything?
With a heavy heart, he went inside his home. The moment he reached his bed, exhaustion took over, and he fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Ezra woke up to an unwelcome hangover. He groaned as bright sunlight streamed through the window, hurting his eyes and making him feel worse. Just as he tried to gather his thoughts, his phone rang, and he let out a resigned sigh.
“Milan. Why are you calling me at this hour? Where are you?” he asked, his voice thick with tiredness.
Milan informed him that Mr. Scott Jones had reported his excessive drinking the night before, and she suggested he take the day off.
“There’s no need to worry. Just make sure that you meet with every client. If they ask about my absence, you can tell that I’m unwell, but I plan to be back tomorrow. I really think I need this time to rest.” Just as he was about to end the call, a thought struck him. “Also, make sure Miss Facer has a task today. I’d like her to design a dinner dress, and if possible, I want her to use a different pattern.”
His secretary hesitated, voicing concern. “But sir, isn’t it a bit early for that? They might think you’re showing favoritism, and it could spark rumors.”
Ezra shook off the worry. “I don’t care about rumors. Just have her do it!” With that, he immediately ended the call and tossed his phone onto the bed.
He got out of bed and started taking off the clothes from the night before, his mind filled with thoughts of Heather Walls returning. He stepped into the bathroom, closed the door, and got ready for a bath, hoping the warm water would calm him. He had no plans for the day, but he knew he needed to make one. He remembered his saying, “All work and being playful makes you have financial loss,” yet at that moment, his peace of mind mattered more. He trusted Milan to handle the business.
Sitting at the breakfast table, eating the meal he had prepared, a wave of loneliness hit him—the first he had felt in years. The thought of his ex-girlfriend coming back weighed heavily, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake it.
He stood and carried his plate to the sink when the familiar chime of the elevator caught his attention. It was early, and he expected only one person at this hour—his mother. But as he approached the elevator, his heart skipped a beat, and his mouth fell open when he saw her.
“Hello, Ezra,” she said, giving that same disarming smile that always hinted she had an agenda.
He raised a brow, suspicion creeping in. “So the rumors about you coming back to New York are true. What brings you here? And how did you find out where I live?” he asked, trying to hide his surprise.
“Will you at least let me in?” she asked, her tone softening.
With a reluctant sigh, he stepped aside and let her in.
The scent from her hit him hard as she passed him by. It was just like she smelled back then. He remembered it so clearly.
He placed his hands on the wall to steady himself from falling. He tried so hard not to feel anything, to push it all away, but the hangover wasn’t helping either.
He still felt weak and somewhat dizzy.
That was why he avoided her.
Heather Walls was poison, and being next to her always made him remember the past he wanted to forget.
He had caught them together and it broke something in him.
Every time he saw Scott, he always saw the way he held the woman he loved. The way his hands roamed her body. The way he kissed her. The way he claimed her as his without a single thought for his friend.
Three years had passed, but it felt like it had all happened just yesterday.
She looked around the tidy space. “It’s neat, just like you.”
He crossed his arms, still cautious. “What do you want?”
She took a deep breath, her expression growing serious. “I know you’re still upset about what happened with Scott, but that’s not why I’m here.” She reached out, her fingers brushing the air toward him, but the look he gave her froze her in place. Slowly, reluctantly, she retracted her hand, letting it fall to her side. The silence between them stretched. It was thick and heavy.
She cleared her throat. “I came back to New York two nights ago, and it brought back a lot of memories. Your mom met mine recently, and they planned a dinner for this Sunday. I was invited, and she asked me to let you know you have to come.” She nodded, her eyes earnest. “Your mom was the one who gave me your address to make sure you knew.”
Ezra sat down on the sofa, frustration clear in his voice. “Why couldn’t she just tell me directly?”
“I think they still think we’re a thing. Didn’t you tell her we broke up?”
Ezra gave her a skeptical look. “Do you really think I have time for that? I don’t know why you came back to New York, but if it was for me, you should know I’ve moved on. And if it’s for Scott, you’re wasting your time; he doesn’t understand love.”
Heather bit her lip and took a moment before apologizing for wanting to restore their old friendship.
Ezra’s expression hardened. “Heather, there’s nothing to restore. You betrayed me. Even with your apology, things can’t go back to the way they were. And tell my mom I won’t be coming to dinner on Sunday; I have other plans…You can see yourself out.”
He stood up and walked past her, determined not to be swayed by her charm or remorse. The past was a chapter he had closed, and wanted it that way, especially when it came to exes.