(Story continues directly from Chapter 1…)
Amelia stared at her buzzing phone, Ethan’s name lighting up the screen. Her chest constricted, hands shaking as if the phone itself were on fire. For weeks, she'd yearned for his attention, hoped for his presence, and struggled with the emptiness his silence had left. And now, just when her world was starting to warm up with Liam’s unexpected kindness, Ethan decided to call.
Her thumb hovered over the green button, heart racing. She imagined his voice—cold, distracted, maybe even dismissive—or perhaps, just maybe, regretful. A small part of her still clung to the man she married, the one who once looked at her as if she was the center of his universe.
Then, the buzzing stopped. Silence.
Her heart sank with a mix of relief and disappointment. She set her phone down on the table, her thoughts swirling in a confusing mix.
Liam’s voice broke through the haze. “You okay?”
She looked up to see him watching her attentively, coffee mug in hand, his brow knitted in concern. His presence felt solid—comforting in a way that Ethan hadn't been for a long time.
“It was… Ethan,” she murmured.
Liam nodded slowly. “Did you want to talk to him?”
Amelia opened her mouth but no words came out. Instead, she shook her head. “Not right now.”
A Breakfast of Confusion
They sat across from each other at the small kitchen table, steam curling up from their mugs. The smell of coffee filled the air, momentarily masking the heaviness that lingered in her heart.
Liam broke the silence first. “You know, most people would say a rainy night and a cup of coffee is the beginning of something good.”
She chuckled softly, the sound tinged with both humor and hurt. “And what’s your take?”
“I say,” he leaned in, a playful grin on his face, “it depends on the company.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She quickly glanced away, staring at the swirling steam in her cup. Guilt weighed her down—Ethan was still her husband, despite his absence, despite the distance. And yet, here she was, laughing with another man.
“You’re trouble,” she said, half-teasing.
“Maybe,” he replied, “but the good kind.”
Memories vs. Reality
Later that day, after Liam left her with a polite goodbye, Amelia found herself standing in front of their framed wedding photo again. Ethan’s smile, frozen in time, looked back at her—a smile she couldn’t recall seeing in ages.
She replayed Liam’s laughter in her mind, the way he looked at her as if she truly mattered. And then, there was Ethan’s text from the night before: “Don’t wait up.”
Her grip on the frame tightened, frustration bubbling up inside. “Why is it so easy for you to forget me?” she whispered.
The phone buzzed again, startling her. This time it wasn't Ethan. It was Clara.
Clara: “You seem different today. What happened?”
Amelia: “Nothing. Just… trying to figure things out.”
Clara: “Be careful. Pain makes us seek warmth in the wrong places.”
Amelia stared at the screen, Clara’s warning cutting through her fog of confusion. Wrong places. Was Liam the wrong choice? Or was Ethan wrong for leaving her in the cold?
An Unexpected Visit
Evening settled in with soft golden hues, filling her living room with gentle light. Amelia had just snuggled under a blanket when another knock echoed through her apartment.
Her heart raced. It wasn’t Liam this time.
It was Ethan.
He stood in the doorway, suitcase beside him, tie loosened, and eyes heavy with exhaustion. He looked different—older, more worn—but still unmistakably him.
“Amelia,” he said softly.
Her heart skipped at the sound of her name coming from him. Weeks of silence, months apart, and now he was right there in her doorway.
“You were supposed to be on a business trip,” she said, her voice strained.
“I canceled,” he said. His eyes searched her face, maybe looking for forgiveness, maybe for love. “I needed to see you.”
The Storm Inside
Confusion washed over her. Part of her wanted to fall into his arms, to pretend those long months of loneliness had never happened. Another part of her wanted to scream, demand to know why he had left her heartbroken night after night.
“Why now?” she asked, bitterness creeping in.
“Because I realized I can’t lose you,” he said, taking a step closer. His hand twitched as if he wanted to reach out but hesitated. “I’ve been… a terrible husband. I thought I was doing this for us—working harder, providing more—but I see now I’ve just pushed you away.”
Tears pricked her eyes. For the first time in ages, he sounded like the Ethan she once knew. But just as her resolve began to waver, Liam’s laughter echoed in her mind, a reminder of his words: “I’m just trying to get you to smile.”
Ethan reached for her hand. “Please, Amelia. Give me another chance.”
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again on the table.
Her heart dropped when she saw the name lighting up the screen—
Liam.
She shifted her gaze from Ethan’s earnest eyes to the phone vibrating insistently.
Two men. Two choices. One heart.
Cliffhanger:
Amelia froze, caught between Ethan’s outstretched hand and Liam’s call. Whatever choice she made tonight would change everything.
💬 Comment Question for Readers:
If you were in Amelia's shoes, who would you choose—Ethan, the husband who broke her heart, or Liam, the neighbor who brought her joy?
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