Chapter 3

After leaving the wedding planner, I went to Ethan's office.

My stomach was still aching. I leaned against the elevator wall and swallowed two more painkillers.

The receptionist saw me and smiled.

"Ms. Grace! Mr. Carter's in a meeting—would you like me to let him know?"

I set the manila envelope on the desk.

"No need. Just pass this along to him."

She looked confused.

"You're not going to wait?"

"No."

Passing Ethan's office, the door was half-open.

Claire's voice drifted out.

"Ethan, this apartment is really nice—the guest room even has its own bathroom."

"If I stay over once in a while, it'll be convenient."

Ethan said, "Let Grace take a look. If she's happy with it, we'll lock it in."

Claire laughed.

"When has Grace ever not been happy? You could put her in a basement and she'd think you were doing her a favor."

Ethan said quietly, "Don't talk about her like that."

But there was no reproach in his voice.

Claire asked again, "So the wedding invitations are going with the version I approved this morning? Grace isn't going to suddenly change her mind, is she?"

Ethan gave a short laugh.

"What's she going to change her mind about?"

"The wedding's almost here. She'll throw a fit for two days, then get over it on her own."

Claire sounded relieved.

"I thought she was actually angry today."

"She's not like that."

Ethan's tone was certain.

"She can't let go."

I stood outside the door, and suddenly I wanted to laugh.

So it wasn't that he didn't know I loved him.

He knew it too well.

And so my concessions, my silence, my hurt—they'd all become his safety net.

He was certain I couldn't let go. Certain I couldn't leave. Certain that no matter how many times he turned around to be with Claire, I'd be standing in the same spot, waiting.

Just like the night Grandma was dying. When he turned the car around, he didn't even glance back at me.

Because he knew I'd make excuses for him, smooth things over, swallow every humiliation on his behalf.

I didn't listen any longer. I turned and walked into the elevator.

Downstairs, my phone buzzed.

A message from Ethan.

"What's the key card and keys supposed to mean?"

I didn't reply.

Soon, a second message came in.

"Grace, what are you pulling now?"

A third.

"The wedding's almost here. Don't make us a joke in front of everyone."

I looked at the screen and felt, all at once, utterly drained.

I turned off my phone and took a cab back to the apartment.

Ethan finished his meeting and the receptionist brought the envelope into his office.

"Mr. Carter, Ms. Grace stopped by earlier. She asked me to give you this."

Ethan opened it.

Inside were the key card to the new apartment, the spare keys, and the engagement ring he'd given me.

His brow creased.

Claire asked softly, "Did I do something wrong? Did Grace misunderstand?"

Ethan tossed the envelope into a drawer.

"She's just throwing a tantrum."

"She wouldn't even cancel the wedding. Where's she going to go?"

Then he texted me.

"I'm coming home tonight. You're going to explain yourself."

A few minutes later, he added:

"Enough is enough."

No reply.

Ethan stared at the chat, mildly irritated but not worried.

Every fight before this one, Grace had caved first.

This time wouldn't be any different.

Claire asked, "Ethan, are we still going to that Japanese place tonight?"

Ethan checked the time.

"Yes."

"I'll drop you off at the hospital after dinner, then go deal with her."

Claire smiled.

"Won't Grace be even angrier?"

Ethan grabbed his jacket, tone casual.

"She's loved me for seven years. She won't actually be angry."

"She can't leave me."