Chapter 46

General POV

"Um, I want to thank you for putting in so much effort into this, so far..." Elizabeth begins, her voice tentative.

The day she left Ethan's mansion, Derek somehow got wind that she was back in town. He showed up at her doorstep that night, his face bearing visible bruises from the other day Ethan battered his face. He apologized profusely for everything and begged for a second chance.

Elizabeth didn't agree immediately. However, after days of Derek persistently pleading with her, she finally relented.

"You have to work to earn my trust," she told him firmly.

With a mix of relief and excitement, Derek agreed to her terms, eager to prove himself worthy in Elizabeth's eyes.

"I know that for the past few weeks, you've been making an effort to show me that you've changed. And I appreciate that. It's not often you find someone willing to grow and improve," Elizabeth acknowledges.

Derek's grin widens. "Exactly! So, are you ready to give us another chance? To go back to how things used to be between us?"

Elizabeth's heart clenches with guilt.

"Derek, I don't think... I don't think I want to get back together with you. I mean, I know I don't want to. We're just not right for each other. I hope you find someone who's a better fit for you."

Derek's smile fades, replaced by a frown. "What do you mean, Elizabeth?"

"I can't pretend to be happy with you. The truth is, I don't feel anything for you anymore. I really don't. I'm sorry." Elizabeth stands up, sighing heavily. "I wish you all the best."

With that, she turns and walks away from the park, leaving Derek stunned and speechless.

Anger simmers within Derek, his grip tightening on the ice cream cone as he struggles to contain his emotions in public.

Despite his efforts, he can't shake the feeling of betrayal after everything he's done for Elizabeth in the past month. The effort he's been putting in… the money he's been spending… his time…

Gritting his teeth, he watches Elizabeth's figure recede into the distance.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth heads straight home, seeking solace in the confines of her bedroom. As soon as she enters, she collapses onto her bed, burying herself under the covers as hot tears stream down her face.

It's been weeks since she left Ethan's house, yet thoughts of him consume her every waking moment. From dawn till dusk, Ethan occupies her mind, refusing to be forgotten. He's the first thing she thinks about when she wakes up, and the last on her mind before she sleeps at night.

Elizabeth sobs into her pillow, memories of her last encounter with Ethan playing on repeat in her head.

She had just finished speaking with Derek and stepped into an elevator in her apartment building when she caught sight of him-Ethan Moore.

All she wanted at that moment was to run into his arms and hold him tight like her life depended on it, but instead, she averted her gaze.

Ethan stood motionless for several seconds, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth as if trying to memorize every detail of her face before he stepped into the elevator.

Once inside, he positioned himself beside her, the proximity overwhelming her senses with his familiar scent. To add to her torment, he reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers in a silent plea.

Despite the longing to remain locked in that moment, Elizabeth couldn't resist the urge to pull away.

As she exited the elevator, Ethan trailed behind her.

"You've gone back to him?" His question pierced through her heart like a thousand daggers.

Elizabeth knew Ethan must have seen her with Derek, and the realization shattered her into pieces.

She wished she could tell him that she wasn't back with her cheating boyfriend, that it was him she loved, that she wanted to return to his side.

But against her will, all she managed to utter was a defeated, "Yeah."

More tears cascade down Elizabeth's face as she wrestles with her emotions.

Although roughly one month has passed since that night, she finds herself unable to shake Ethan Moore from her thoughts, unable to erase him from her life.

Sniffling, Elizabeth throws off the bedcovers and sits up, determination lighting up her eyes. She can't continue like this any longer. Even if it means risking everything, she knows what she has to do. And she has to do it. Now.

With resolve coursing through her veins, Elizabeth rises from the bed and makes her way to the bathroom.

-

About an hour later, Elizabeth stands before Ethan's imposing gates, her heart pounding in her chest.

"It's not that I don't want to let you in, Ma'am... It's just that I can't," Jasper, one of Ethan's security guards, explains as Elizabeth pleads with him to be allowed entry inside.

Before Elizabeth can implore him once more, she hears a voice from behind Jasper, "Who's that?"

Standing on the tip of her toes, Elizabeth sees Moana, Ethan's housekeeper, approaching. "Thank God. Moana, it's me. Please, I just want to see him for a few minutes. I won't take long at all."

Moana sighs as she stands by the gate entrance, "Lizzy, you aren't supposed to be here. Ethan doesn't want to see you at all. He specifically told us never to let you into his house ever again. Plus, he's currently out of the country on a business trip. I'm sorry, huh? I want to help you, but there's nothing I can do-or I'll lose my job."

Elizabeth's heart sinks at the heaviness of Moana's words. He doesn't want to see her ever again...

"Thank you so much, Moana. I appreciate you," she manages, forcing back the tears brimming in her eyes and mustering a smile.

With a smug expression, Moana turns around and heads back inside, instructing Jasper, "Never allow her in. If she ever comes here again, call me immediately."

Once inside the mansion, Moana heads straight to the kitchen and picks up the glass of orange juice that Tess has just finished preparing. Then she makes her way upstairs.

Knocking softly on Ethan Moore's bedroom door, she opens it and enters.