04
When I woke up, the chill on my face reminded me of the tears I’d shed, but for the first time in ages, my heart felt lighter. Letting go of the past, I threw myself into my studies with relentless determination.
In a foreign land where the language was unfamiliar and the streets felt alien, loneliness crept in during the quietest hours. But Adrian was always there. He’d chat with me to break the silence, and between experiments, he’d drag me outside for some fresh air, offering me small moments of respite.
Most of the time, though, I buried myself in the lab, working tirelessly. It wasn’t until I successfully completed my first set of experimental data that I finally earned the respect and acknowledgment of the team.
After celebrating with my lab mates, I treated myself to a rare indulgence: a night at home, lounging in bed.
That evening, I video–called a friend back home. Her mischievous grin immediately told me she had something juicy to share.
“Cate, you’re not going to believe this,” she said, leaning closer to the camera. “Ethan’s been losing his mind since you left!”
I blinked, caught off guard.
“Losing his mind? That doesn’t sound right,” I replied skeptically. “He should be thrilled I’m gone.”
She laughed, her tone dripping with amusement.
“Oh, you have no idea. After you left, Ethan practically tore the city apart looking for you. When your wedding date came around, everyone told him to cancel, but he refused. On the day itself, he stood at the venue from morning until night, waiting for you. He didn’t eat, didn’t drink, just stood there like a statue, convinced you’d show up because you promised to spend your lives together.”
Her words painted a vivid picture of Ethan’s desperation, and I found myself zoning out for a moment.
If I was gone, wouldn’t it be easier for him to focus on Vanessa? What was he trying to prove?
Before I could dwell on it, my friend’s voice pulled me back. She was clearly relishing every moment of her story.
“He wouldn’t leave, no matter what anyone said. Eventually, when the guests started leaving, Vanessa showed up. And get this. She was wearing your wedding dress! She had the audacity to blush and tell everyone she was ready to take your place and marry Ethan.”
I smiled faintly. That certainly sounded like something Vanessa would do. She probably thought she was saving Ethan from heartbreak, swooping in like some kind of hero.
But I knew Ethan better. He wouldn’t take kindly to her theatrics, not when they threatened to tarnish his image as the perfect,
grieving fiancé.
Sure enough, my friend practically squealed as she continued.
“And guess what? Ethan snapped! He pointed at Vanessa and went off on her in front of everyone.”
She mimicked Ethan’s tone, her voice dripping with mock disdain.
“Vanessa, who the hell do you think you are, wearing Cate’s wedding dress? Look at yourself. Just another gold–digger trying to leech off me. You don’t hold a candle to Cate! Get that dress off before you ruin it. It’s hers, not yours!”
The thought of Vanessa standing there, humiliated and pale–faced, almost made me laugh.
My friend chuckled, clearly delighted. “She looked like she was about to faint. They had to carry her out of there. Word is she got so upset, she ended up in the hospital for two weeks. No one’s seen her since. Probably skipped town!”
She watched me closely, and when I finally cracked a smile, she let out a sigh of relief.
“Cate, you’re better off now. Focus on your dreams. Forget about all this nonsense back home.”
I nodded, genuinely meaning it.
I thought that was the end of it, that life would continue quietly. But one day, as I approached the lab, I noticed a familiar figure standing outside.
Even before he turned, I knew who it was.
When Ethan spotted me, his face lit up with a mix of relief and desperation.
“Cate! I finally found you!”
He looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot, his frame thinner than I remembered.
Years ago, seeing him like this would’ve shattered me. But now, I felt nothing but irritation at the disruption of my peace.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice flat.
Ethan’s eyes welled with tears as he stepped closer, reaching for my hand. “Cate, please… don’t be mad at me. Come home with me. I was wrong, okay? I don’t want to lose you. Let’s get married. We can still fix this.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
“Fix this? Ethan, there’s nothing left to fix. You ruined it when you skipped our engagement party to watch fireworks with her, when you took care of her during her period, and when you brought her home. That’s when you made your choice, and it wasn’t
me.”
His face turned ghostly pale, but I didn’t stop.
“When I left your mother’s bracelet next to that pink lace lingerie, I thought you’d get the message. But clearly, I overestimated
you. Let me make it crystal clear: I don’t want you anymore, Ethan. You’re not worth it.”
His voice broke as he tried to explain.
“Cate, it’s not like that! Vanessa… she reminded me of you. She’s so much like you were when we first met, so fiery,
kindhearted, full of life. But she’s not you. She could never be you. I only love you. And that lingerie… it wasn’t what you think! She must’ve left it on purpose. Please, you have to believe me…”
I nodded, feigning understanding. “Oh, I see.”
Ethan’s eyes brightened, clinging to the hope that I might forgive him.
“I’ve already planned a new wedding,” he continued eagerly. “I even had another dress made, exactly like the one you designed.
Cate, please. Let’s fix this. I love you. I always have. I was an idiot, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
I studied his face, searching for any trace of the man I’d once loved. All I saw was a stranger.
“Ethan,” I said, my voice firm and unyielding, “you don’t know what love is. You don’t love me, and you didn’t love Vanessa. You
love yourself. You wanted the stability I gave you, but you couldn’t resist the thrill of something new. It’s disgusting.”
He staggered back, as if my words had physically struck him.
“Seven years,” I continued, my tone colder than ever. “Seven years I wasted on someone who pretended not to know what I
wanted, who reveled in the attention of two women fighting over him. The thought of it makes me sick.”
Ethan’s hands trembled as he covered his face, his muffled sobs echoing behind me.
I didn’t look back.
As I reached the lab, two notifications lit up my phone.
One was from Professor Lewis.
Professor Lewis: [Catherine, congratulations! The data looks perfect. This project will put your name in history.]
The other was from Adrian.
Adrian: [Congrats, Cate! You’ve done something incredible. Drinks are on you tonight!]
I smiled, quickening my pace toward the lab.
The sunlight kissed my face, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like the future was mine to claim.
The End
The End
