7
439words
I braced for a fight,but he said:
"Done throwing a fit,Chloe?Come back to me."
I was floored,like witnessing a volcano erupt.Did he think,after months and all that happened,I was just sulking, just “throwing a fit”?
Feigning confusion,I said:
"Mr.Caldwell,aren’t you here to ‘deal with me’?"
"I know you didn't do it.April was raised to marry me,chained by family expectations,twisted by obsession.My mother forced her to Europe so that she would have a hard life.If not for our wedding,she wouldn't be back.She was wrong,but it's understandable.Let it go now."
I laughed:
"Ethan,open your eyes.I'm not the docile Chloe who looke up to you you anymore.Drop your superiority.'Let it go'?What about my suffering?"
"Orphaned,without parents,wasn't my life hard?Four years with you,your mother's constant torment—wasn't that hard?Learning you loved your ex just before our wedding—wasn't that hard?You defend her—who can defend me?"
He looked shocked,unused to my defiance,or the fact that I had just reject him despite my love.Sighing,he didn't snap:
"Chloe,I was wrong.I'm sorry.Come back.I'll handle everything,including April."
Not his style to apologize.A thought struck me,tentatively,I asked:
"You're not saying you love me,are you?"
"Yes,Chloe,I love you.I thought you were just a stand-in,but when April returned,I realized it was my obsession.She's now just a little sister to me."
"Without you,I couldn't sleep.When you called me for help last time,I was shaken,realizing my feelings.I left to prove I didn't love you.But seeing you leave Lucas's place later,I was insanely jealous."
It felt absurd.
Before I could speak,a woman rushed up,splashing my coffee in my face:
"Have you no shame?I'm pregnant with Ethan's child!Stay away!Yes,I drugged you,but didn't that get you Lucas?You should thank me,yet you still cling to my baby's father!"
Wiping my face,I grabbed Ethan's coffee,dousing April,she was wet head to toe.Recalling that night,I slapped her hard,saying slowly as she gaped:
"Your baby's father just said he loves me and will deal with you."
Hoping that the two would get into a fight,I didn't expect April to be so weak.She didn't fight,just stared at Ethan,crying silently.What was she thinking?
"Chloe,come back."
Ethan stood,grabbing me.I shook him off,annoyed at how he seemed to think he was entitled to my forgiveness:
"Ethan,you think loving a commoner like me is beneath you,that I'm unworthy of your love!Whether you love me or not,I'm Chloe Evans,deserving of love from any good guy in the whole world!"
He chased after me:
"Let me drive you home.It's late,hard to get a cab.You're not walking home,are you?"
At the door,Lucas stood by his Maybach,waving gently at me:
"Who said I'm walking?"
