Chapter 87: The End of the Illusion
ETHAN
Clenching my fists, I turned to face her. Her light blonde hair stood out in the dim light, framing her face.
She was just as beautiful as the first time I saw her, but for all her beauty, she lacked character. A snake. All she could stir in me now was disgust.
“Excuse me.” I looked away, ignoring her and stepping around her.
How could she be so shameless, to have the sheer audacity to speak to me?
“Ethan?” She grabbed my arm, stopping me from walking away.
Once again, I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to keep myself from doing something reckless.
“Let go of me, damn it,” I managed to say, pulling my arm free from her grip.
“I know I have no right to do this, but I’d like to talk to you,” she said, making my anger flare even more.
“Let’s go, Neil,” I said, starting to walk away, determined to ignore her.
Neil quickly caught up to me, walking by my side toward the exit, while I fought not to let the hatred consume me.
“I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now... but maybe you should listen to her,” he said, making me stop instantly.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I growled at him.
“I’m just saying it might be a good way to start leaving the past behind.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” I shook my head in disbelief.
I thought about his words for a few seconds, and deep down, I knew he might be right.
I looked back in the direction where I’d left her. I couldn’t believe I was actually about to do this. Taking a deep breath, I started walking toward her.
***
ELLIE
I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing. But it was too late to turn back. Two hours after reading the note, I boarded a flight to London. A flight that would last seven hours.
That would give me more than enough time to torture myself, wondering if I was being an idiot for following my heart once again.
The last time I did this, things didn’t end well. He just showed up with someone else to push me away, and it hurt so much it left me devastated.
Maybe this was a bad idea, but I knew I’d never be at peace if I didn’t clear things up and make one last attempt.
It might sound a little masochistic, but I needed to hear from him that it was really over, that he was truly giving up on us after everything.
There was also the fact that I felt a bit guilty for giving him an ultimatum. I hadn’t been very fair. And maybe I wanted to believe he was just feeling pressured, not really giving up on us.
He couldn’t be leaving me for work. But I had to consider the possibility that he’d simply decided to move on and didn’t care anymore.
Thinking about that was the worst. That possibility had haunted me all week. The tightness in my chest grew stronger just imagining there was no hope left.
On the other hand, a part of me was already exhausted, wondering if I’d already humiliated myself too much.
Was Ethan worth all this effort? The love I felt for him said yes, but that wasn’t my rational side talking.
*
It was early morning when I landed in London. I’d talked to Rosie during the flight and asked for Ethan’s address.
I’d thought about calling or texting him, but I decided to surprise him. I hoped my gesture alone would show him how much I cared and that I was willing to try, despite everything.
I found the nearest hotel to his address and took a cab there. Showing up in the middle of the night didn’t seem like a good idea, so I decided to wait until morning.
That would also give me more time to think about what I would say to him. Apparently, seven hours hadn’t been enough.
I couldn’t sleep once I arrived at the hotel; my mind was in turmoil, trying to find the right words to say to him.
I was so scared, but I wanted to believe we could work things out. I was willing to give in and be honest about what I was feeling so that we could come to an understanding.
I waited until dawn, feeling more nervous with each passing hour. When I finally gathered enough courage, I left the hotel after taking a shower. My nervousness only grew during the cab ride.
My heart was pounding, not just from fear, but also because I was about to see him again.
Every bend in the road left me more restless and anxious, bringing me closer to a confrontation that would determine our future. A mix of uncertainty, anguish, and hope tormented me.
When I stopped in front of his building, I had to summon new strength not to turn around and leave.
*Do this, Ellie. One last try.*
Taking a deep breath, I started walking toward the entrance of the building. With each step, I tried to remember a happy moment we’d shared, something to give me the strength to keep going.
I was trembling when I stopped in front of his apartment door. My heart was nearly pounding out of my chest, and I had to calm my breathing.
*Don’t be a coward.*
Forcing my arm to move, I knocked on the door. Each knock reverberated through me, and the seconds that followed felt like an eternity.
But when the door finally opened, I was the one caught by surprise. It wasn’t Ethan.
I must have gotten the wrong apartment. The blonde-haired, light-eyed woman smiled at me, looking a little confused.
“Sorry… I think I have the wrong apartment,” I said.
I was about to check Rosie’s message again to see if I’d made a mistake.
“If you’re looking for Ethan, you’re in the right place,” the blonde said, still smiling, catching me off guard.
Who was she?
“He’s in the shower. Would you like to come in and wait?”
I blinked, trying to process. It really was his apartment. But why was there a woman there while he was in the shower? This couldn’t be. Maybe it was a nightmare.
“Sorry, who are you?” I asked before my imagination could drive me crazy, assuming the worst.
“Oh, sorry… I’m Charlotte.” She held out her hand, and my world shattered as I heard her name.
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