Without the kidnapping, maybe I’d have
believed her, sympathized with Shane.
But now, I couldn’t.
I said nothing, tears streaming down my face. They stung my wounds.
“Ethan, don’t worry, I’ll marry you. About the kidnapping, could you write a statement
forgiving Shane?”
My anger exploded. I sat up.
“Chloe, you promised to put those men in jail,
make them pay.”
“But not Shane? Is he exempt from
everything?”
“Chloe, look at me! What was all this for?”
I screamed. Chloe’s gaze grew colder, until it
was pure indifference.
“Ethan Evans, what happened to you?”
Join the bookshelf
く
“Your kindness, your consideration… where is
it? Was it all an act to get married?”
“If so, I need to rethink this wedding.”
Her ridiculous accusations choked me.
Bitterness and despair washed over me. I tried to argue, but Chloe pulled out her phone, her eyes icy.
“Reflect on this.”
She left without another word.
My last shred of hope vanished.
This was the woman I loved for three years.
When a man doesn’t love you, he can’t see
your wounds, can’t hear your words.
Chloe, don’t worry.
We’ll never get married.
After that, I didn’t see Chloe. She vanished
until I saw her on Shane’s social media.
Join the bookshelf
[Reliving old dreams with my first love.]
The photos were a collage of old and new
locations, each showing Chloe – a partial
face, a back view, her right hand (with a mole
on her index finger).
Each photo was a knife in my heart.
I couldn’t resist, I screenshotted it and sent it
to her.
She replied immediately.
“Ethan Evans, the doctor said a change of
scenery helps Shane’s depression.”
“I’ll be back to see you when he’s better,
okay?”
Her familiar words felt alien and cruel.
I curled up, pain consuming me. Memories of
Chloe flashed through my mind, a masochistic
torment.