ELLIE
*Charlotte... The fiancée.*
I stared at her outstretched hand, still struggling to understand what was happening. What did this mean? My mind filled with possibilities, making my stomach churn. This couldn’t be real.
I looked at the blonde woman, now noticing her beauty. She really was beautiful, with a flawless face.
They... No. It couldn’t be.
I started to feel nauseous and then realized her hand was still extended, waiting.
Swallowing hard, I blinked, trying to return to reality, as I felt my heart sink in my chest once again, completely shattered, along with my hopes.
It didn’t matter why she was here. I should never have come.
“Sorry again, I must have the wrong address,” I said, turning away from her.
My chin began to tremble as I walked away, but I refused to cry until I was out of the building.
I didn’t want to think about what her presence meant. Because it didn’t matter. Whatever the reason, it didn’t change the fact that she was there, with him.
I was wrong. There was no more hope. And now I felt not only devastated but also betrayed. He was with her, just a week after leaving me. Nothing could be worse than this.
The pain was excruciating, but I kept refusing to cry. Ethan didn’t deserve any more of my tears.
At least he’d never know I came, even if I had to beg Rosie not to tell him. But right now, I just needed to go home.
As I waited for a cab on the street, trying not to fall apart, my phone started to ring, with my mom’s name flashing on the screen.
***
ETHAN
I was in the shower when Charlotte knocked on my door the next morning. Maybe I’d made a mistake last night when I agreed to meet her at my apartment.
When I opened the door, her gaze traveled over me, down to the towel wrapped around my waist. It was strange to think she once meant everything to me, but now all her gaze could stir in me was disgust. I cleared my throat, bringing her attention back to my face.
“Sorry. I think I came too early.”
"It’s fine, you’re already here. Come in,” I said, stepping aside. “Just give me a few minutes to finish my shower,” I continued as she walked past me into the apartment.
This was probably the worst idea I’d ever had. I didn’t want to see her, much less listen to her. Her mere presence was enough to irritate me and bring back all those horrible feelings. But I had to try if there was any chance it would help me leave it all behind.
After closing the door, I left her in the living room and went back to the bathroom.
*
*Just hear what she has to say, and then you’ll never have to look at her again*, I repeated to myself as I returned to the living room after finishing my shower and getting dressed.
She was sitting on the sofa, waiting. I took a deep breath, approaching her, trying to ignore the discomfort the situation caused me.
“What did you want to tell me?” I asked, standing by one of the windows.
“I know you don’t want to see me, much less listen to me, so I appreciate you agreeing to this.”
I remained silent, not bothering to look at her.
“I know this doesn’t mean much, but I want you to know I’m sorry for everything that happened.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to hear any of it. You’d better go,” I said, staring at some random point through the window.
I didn’t need any excuses. Nothing could erase everything she put me through for being a deceitful snake.
“Wait...” She stood up from the sofa. “I know there are no excuses for what I did. I acted like a horrible person. But I want you to know that I regret it and that none of it was your fault or had anything to do with you. I was lost…”
“Yet you still accepted the proposal. Even knowing that I loved you, even though I wasn’t enough for you...” My stomach churned at the bitter taste those words left in my mouth.
“And I’ll regret that forever. The truth is, I wasn’t ready for it, and I didn’t know how to appreciate you. I just want you to understand it wasn’t about you, Ethan. I made a terrible mistake; I acted selfishly, and I know I hurt you. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I want you to know I’m sorry.”
“I loved you.” The words came out like blades, cutting my throat from the inside. “Did you ever really feel…” I couldn’t finish.
She stayed silent for a few seconds.
“I did love you, Ethan.”
I shook my head. I knew that wasn’t true. I knew it now. Because I had truly loved her, just as I loved Ellie now, and I would never hurt her intentionally.
“I don’t think you have any idea what it means to love someone. And if you ever find out, you’ll know it had nothing to do with what you felt for me,” I said finally, before heading to the door and opening it. “Goodbye, Charlotte.”
I waited for her to leave, without looking at her.
My only mistake had been loving her alone and dedicating myself entirely to her, but I couldn’t change that.
I closed the door, feeling relief when she was finally gone. And all that remained was an urgent need. I had to talk to Ellie, to be completely honest with her. She needed to know that I truly loved her, even if we couldn’t be together. Honesty was the least she deserved after everything.
I looked for my phone and dialed her number when I found it. She didn’t answer, but I kept trying, and when I realized she might be ignoring me, I sent a message.
*“Please, Ellie, I just need to talk to you.*
*Please, pick up.”*
I waited a few minutes before trying to call again, but she still didn’t answer. Damn it. She didn’t want to hear from me, and maybe she’d never want to see me again. I couldn’t blame her for that. She’d made it clear I didn’t need to come back.
I should never have come here without talking to her first. But, as before, I knew I’d never be able to say no to her. I knew she’d find a way to convince me to try, and that would only hurt her more in the future when she finally realized I could never give her what she wanted. Once again, I’d acted like a coward.
I needed to talk to her and explain everything, even if that meant having to go back to New York since she didn’t seem to have any intention of picking up.
*
In the afternoon, I was checking flights to New York for the next day when a notification with Rosie’s name flashed on the screen. I didn’t have time to open the message, as the phone started ringing a second later, with her name on the screen.
“Rosie?” I answered, puzzled that she was calling me.
“What the hell did you do this time?” she said, sounding upset.
“What? What are you talking about? Is Neil okay?” I stood up from the sofa where I’d been sitting.
“I shouldn’t be doing this, but I need to know what you did,” she said, making me even more confused.
“Looks like we’re both confused, then. Whatever Neil told you...”
“I’m talking about Ellie.”
“What? Ellie? What are you talking about?”
“Why did she leave?”
“Wait, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Leave where?”
“She went home and begged me not to tell you she was here.”
“What? She was here? You mean here in London?”
“Yes, you idiot! She was here.”
“Are you sure?”
“I just want to know what you did to make her leave so quickly.”
“You must be mistaken. I haven’t seen or spoken to her since I left New York a week ago.”
“I don’t believe you. Why would she leave right after she got there?”
“No way she came here,” I said, more to myself, struggling to believe it.
“She was here just a few hours ago. She asked for your address in the middle of the night, and then she texted me a few minutes ago saying she was leaving. She also asked me not to tell you she’d been here.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
She couldn’t have come to London. And if she did, why would she leave without talking to me? It made no sense.
“You don’t know why she left?” I asked, confused.
“No, but it seems you don’t either.”
“I’m as surprised as you are. You should have told me she was here.”
“I thought it was a surprise until Neil told me what’s going on between you two.”
“It is,” I huffed. “Can you do me a favor and try to find out why she left?”
“I’ll try.”
“Okay, thanks, Rosie,” I said, hanging up.
What the hell? How could she have come here and left without me knowing? And why did she go back? She couldn’t have just changed her mind after a damn seven-hour flight.
I tried to think of a reason, but nothing made sense. She had my address but didn’t come to me. I guess it was my turn to go to her, then.