(Story continues directly from Chapter 2…)
Ethan moved a bit closer, and the weight of his presence was still the same — the kind that had once drawn her into love and later into a painful silence. “I thought I was doing the right thing,” he said. “I worked hard, trying to give you everything you needed.” “What I needed was you close,” Amelia whispered. “Instead, you gave me distance. And silence. You made me spend nights wondering if I even mattered.” He flinched at her words. “You mattered more than anything.” Her heart ached at his response. “Then why did it never feel that way?” He reached out for her hand, but she took a step back. The air between them was electric, buzzing with the memories of who they used to be.
“I can’t lose you,” Ethan finally said, his voice breaking. “Just tell me what I need to do.”
Amelia shook her head slowly. “You can’t fix love like it’s a broken chair, Ethan. Sometimes, it just… stops holding weight.”
He exhaled sharply, looking down. For a moment, he seemed so small—no longer the confident man she had married, but someone weighed down by all his regrets.
Suddenly, the phone buzzed again.
Liam’s name flashed across the screen—bright, demanding, alive.
Ethan’s eyes followed the notification. “Him?” he asked quietly. “Is that who you turn to when I’m not around?”
Her silence spoke volumes.
“Did you ever love him?” he pressed, his voice trembling.
“No,” she replied, her eyes glistening. “I just forgot what love was supposed to feel like.”
Ethan looked away, his jaw tightening as if he were trying to hold himself together. “And now?”
Amelia took a shaky breath. “Now I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
Outside, thunder rumbled — and the lights flickered.
The room was briefly engulfed in darkness before a soft light returned.
Ethan’s expression softened. “I’m not going anywhere this time. Whatever’s broken… I’ll stick around and fix it.”
But before she could respond, her phone lit up once more.
This time, it wasn’t a call — it was a message from Liam.
> Liam: “You don’t owe anyone your pain, Amelia. Not even your past.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She stared at the words until they began to blur.
Ethan noticed. “He thinks he knows you,” he said bitterly. “But he wasn’t there when things got tough. He didn’t see you crying yourself to sleep.”
Amelia met his eyes. “No, he wasn’t. But at least he sees me now.”
Ethan turned away, a blend of anger and sadness in his voice. “So, that’s it? He wins just because he showed up late?”
“I’m not a trophy,” she whispered. “I’m just tired of feeling invisible.”
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the rain — a quiet rhythm of endings and beginnings. Ethan finally stepped toward the door. “Maybe you need to figure out what you really want,” he said quietly. “And maybe I do too.” Amelia watched him go, her heart a storm of guilt, longing, and relief. When the door clicked shut, she sank into the sofa, clutching her phone like it was a lifeline. Another message appeared: > Liam: “I’m outside. Can we talk?” Her pulse quickened. She stood, glancing at the closed door, then back at the phone. Outside, through the curtain, she could see a faint silhouette — Liam, waiting in the rain. She hesitated, hand hovering over the handle. The world seemed to hold its breath. If she opened that door, there would be no going back.
💔 Cliffhanger:
Amelia gripped the doorknob as the rain poured harder. Behind her, Ethan’s scent lingered. Outside, Liam waited. One step — and her future would change forever.
💬 Question to Readers:
Should Amelia open the door for Liam… or close it and protect what’s left of her marriage? 💭
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