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He Promised Me Forever, I Said There Was None 10
Two years later, of all the businesses I could have started, I opened a wedding planning studio on the south side of the city.And yet here I was, determined to make other people’s weddings better than mine had ever been.For every wedding I took on, I asked the groom, “On the wedding day, will anyone the bride doesn’t like be sitting at the head table?“Is there anyone who can override her decisions?“Can you promise that no joke will come at her expense?”Some clients laughed and said I took things too seriously.I laughed too.“A wedding should be taken seriously.”Later, someone sent me a video online.Ethan was a groomsman at a wedding.Some so-called childhood friend of the groom was holding up a glass, demanding the bride toast her first, ahead of her own mother, claiming that was how it was done in their circle.The crowd was egging it on.Ethan suddenly stood, took the glass from her hand, and poured the wine on the floor.He said, “Don’t dress up cruelty as fun.”The room wen
He Promised Me Forever, I Said There Was None 9
Before the trial, Ethan finally signed.Nathan sent me the scanned copy while I was sorting through my mom’s medical records and receipts.The edges of those papers were soft from how many times I’d handled them.I’d been so close to getting her there.On the day the divorce was finalized, Ethan was waiting outside.He didn’t bring flowers. He didn’t bring porridge.Just a bank card.“This is the money for your mom’s treatment.”I glanced at it.“I don’t want it.”His voice was rough.“It’s not compensation. It’s what I owed her.”I looked at the card.“This isn’t my mom’s treatment money.”He blinked.I said calmly, “This is the money you spent on a hotel room for Sophie and Derek.“Don’t use it to disrespect my mother.”His hand slowly dropped.I handed him a copy of the transaction records.“The originals are with Nathan.“This copy is for you.“Whenever you miss her, take a look at exactly who you lost my mother’s last phone call for.”Ethan’s eyes went red.I continued, “You will
He Promised Me Forever, I Said There Was None 8
Later, the full picture came together through materials Ethan’s own lawyers submitted.Derek’s text screenshots, what Sophie shouted outside the law firm, and the hotel’s records. Pieced together, they filled in every gap.The day Ethan went to confront Sophie, she was standing outside Derek’s apartment building.Derek had already called her three times.The transaction records showed she’d just bought Derek a new phone.Charged to a supplementary card Ethan hadn’t gotten around to canceling.Ethan stood by his car. For the first time, he didn’t open the door for her.Sophie saw him and immediately softened her voice.“Ethan, let me explain.”Ethan tossed the statements in front of her.“Explain.”Sophie’s tears fell instantly.“We broke up a long time ago.“He keeps coming after me. I was just trying to give him some money so he’d leave me alone.”Ethan looked at her.“So the love hotel was also just money?”Sophie’s mouth opened.“That night... I’d had too much to drink.”A text noti
He Promised Me Forever, I Said There Was None 7
Ethan started looking for me.He went to the apartment I used to rent, to the hospital, to the street below my uncle’s place.I wouldn’t see him.He kept transferring money. The memos went from “paying you back” to “please pick up the phone.”I had Nathan return every cent.Before the lawsuit was filed, I handed Nathan everything: the joint account statements, the hotel records, and the audio of him pressuring me to sign the statement.Nathan paused on one page.“Ms. Shaw, a few of these charges are unusual.”I looked.Before that night at the love hotel, Sophie had taken several ride-shares within the city.The destination wasn’t her home.It was a run-down apartment complex.I remembered what the receptionist had said: Two guests at check-in.Nathan said, “The transaction records and hotel booking, we can submit.“The chat logs, let’s hold off on those for now.”I was quiet for a few seconds.“That’s enough. Let’s go with what we have.”On the day of the first mediation, Ethan arrive
He Promised Me Forever, I Said There Was None 6
The day we cremated my mom, Ethan came.He wore a black suit and carried a bouquet of white flowers.In the past, he’d always been the most striking person in any room.Today, all I felt was repulsion.He walked up to the memorial hall, his voice low.“Amber.”I looked at him.“Get out.”Ethan froze but didn’t leave.“I came to see Helen off one last time.”I picked up the flowers he’d set down and dropped them straight in the trash.“She doesn’t want them.”His hand hung frozen in midair.I said, “Her last phone call. You kept it from me.“So don’t bother sending flowers after she’s gone.”Ethan’s throat bobbed.“I didn’t know it would turn out like this...”“You knew.”I cut him off.“You saw the words ‘critical condition.’ You saw that she wanted to hear my voice.“You just thought my mom could wait.“Sophie couldn’t.”His eyes reddened.Ethan said quietly, “You can hit me. You can scream at me.“Just don’t be this calm.”I looked at him.“Do you still think that as long as I cry, y
He Promised Me Forever, I Said There Was None 5
Ethan stared at the joint account card for a long time without moving.Sophie stood behind him, her voice thin.“This time... I think Amber’s really angry.”Ethan picked up the divorce agreement. When he saw the line “Amber Shaw voluntarily waives all marital assets,” his expression darkened.“What is she trying to prove?”He tore the agreement in half.“She’ll come back.”Sophie chewed her lip.“True.“Amber loves you so much. In the past, three days was the longest she ever held out.”Ethan scoffed.“Three days?“She’ll regret it by tonight.”He said it with conviction, but he was already reaching for his phone.The call wouldn’t go through.On the messaging app, a red exclamation mark sat next to his message.He tried his assistant’s number. It rang once, then was declined.He called again. Blocked.In the past, no matter how angry I was, I always left Ethan a way back in.His stomach would flare up. He’d run a low fever. He’d text “Amber, I feel terrible” after a night of drinking,
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