Chapter 44

General POV

For a moment, the room is consumed by a heavy, oppressive silence.

Finally, Elizabeth nods politely. "I understand, sir."

Slowly, she turns and heads upstairs. She hadn't come to Ethan's mansion with anything but herself and her phone, so she picks up her phone from the bed. However, as she makes to leave the bedroom, she collapses on the bed and bursts into hot tears.

Elizabeth can't believe this is happening to her. Again. All her life, she's been cast aside by everyone. She doesn't fit anywhere. She's never fit anywhere, anyway.

After a couple of minutes pass, she cleans her face with her clothes and stands up on her feet. With one last look around the room, she opens the door and steps outside.

Returning to the living room, Elizabeth finds Ethan's parents still seated in the same positions she left them in.

Anna is also now seated, a triumphant smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth as she watches Elizabeth.

Elizabeth goes to stand before the couple and then bows low. "Thank you, sir, ma'am. I'll leave now. I promise never to show up in front of Ethan again. However, you don't need to do anything for me. Thank you."

Her words startle Andrew.

Bowing again, Elizabeth turns and exits the mansion.

However, when she reaches the front door, she hears a voice call out from behind her.

"Aren't you forgetting something" Anna's voice drips with disdain.

Elizabeth turns slowly, her heart sinking as she meets Anna's smug gaze.

With a silent resignation, Elizabeth watches as Anna approaches, her mocking expression cutting deeper than any blade.

Stopping mere inches away, Anna demands, "That ring on your finger, it's not yours. Hand it over." She snaps her fingers impatiently.

Elizabeth's gaze falls to the glimmering diamond, a painful reminder of shattered dreams. With trembling hands, she reluctantly slips it off and places it in Anna's awaiting palm.

"Very well. Now be on your way," Anna dismisses her with a careless wave before turning her back.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Elizabeth flees the mansion, her breaths ragged and heart heavy with sorrow.

All of Ethan's employees watch from their various posts as the lady makes her way out of the gates, weeping like a baby.

There's nothing any of them can do. Not when they're well aware that their boss' parents are the ones who sent her out.

Alexa sobs as she watches her Madam through the kitchen window.

"Should we inform Master?" She asks Moana in between sobs.

Moana casts a cold gaze over the girl. "You want us all to lose our heads, don't you? If his parents find out we contacted him... What do you think will happen? You better get your act together," she warns sharply. "Take the trash out."

Sniffling, Alexa begrudgingly does as she's been told.

When Elizabeth arrives at her apartment, her roommate isn't home, so she hails a taxi to B'B Bakeries, where Susan works.

As soon as Susan spots Elizabeth stepping through the crowd, she senses something amiss. She rushes to her side and envelops her in a tight embrace.

Unable to contain her emotions, Elizabeth bursts into fresh tears.

Her journey with Ethan Moore has truly reached its conclusion this time.

***

ENQ Company. Nightfall.

Today has been a rather hectic day for Ethan Moore. From one business meeting to another, the day has been packed with activities.

But now, it's all finally over. He can return home to the love of his life and indulge in their intimate moments together.

Ethan smiles at the thought as he settles into the backseat of the gray Maybach. He allows his head to rest against the headrest and closes his eyes, feeling fatigue wash over him. Arthur drives smoothly out of the building.

In no time, they arrive home. As soon as the car door is opened, Ethan steps out majestically and heads inside the mansion, grinning from ear to ear.

As usual, he disregards the maids as they bow in greeting, standing in order of precedence. Unbeknownst to him, their expressions are sour as he passes by.

He swiftly ascends the stairs and heads straight to his bedroom.

Upon opening the door, he is met with emptiness. His Spitfire is nowhere in sight.

"She's in the bathroom," he mutters with a smirk, making a mental note.

Silently, he removes his tuxedo, then his tie, leaving only his black shirt and pants on. Stealthily, he makes his way to the bathroom, intending to surprise his fiancée.

However, upon entering, the bathroom is empty. Ethan's confusion is evident as he exits and leaves the bedroom altogether.

Perhaps Elizabeth has returned to her room since Anna's departure.

With this thought in mind, he heads straight to Elizabeth's room.

Anna had sent him a text message in the afternoon that she had left the mansion... Glory to the Most High.

However, upon searching everywhere in the room, Elizabeth is still nowhere to be found.

Ethan proceeds to check her workshop, but it yields the same result.

A frown etches onto his face as he makes a beeline downstairs.

"Where's Spitfire?" He inquires, heading to the dining room to check if Elizabeth's there.

"Hmm, sir," Moana swiftly follows closely behind him.

"Uh?" Ethan replies absentmindedly as he enters the dining room, which is also empty.

He turns and makes his way to the kitchen in large strides.

Moana struts after him, trying to keep up. "Sir, Lizzy's gone."

Ethan has just stepped a foot in the kitchen when he hears these words.

Momentarily, he freezes in his tracks. The frown on his face deepens as he turns to face his housekeeper.

"And what do you mean by that?" He inquires in a low voice.

Moana licks her lips feverishly under his hot, piercing gaze. "Um, she left. She said to tell you that she doesn't want to be with you any longer, that her heart belongs to someone else, so she left. This afternoon."

Ethan blinks blankly at Moana's words. They seem foreign to him, like she's communicating with him in another language entirely.

"She left you a letter," the housekeeper reaches into her chest pocket and takes out a small envelope.