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Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Ethan didn’t send me a single message all night.
The only thing I received was a fake location update.
I didn’t bother opening it–instead, I deleted the chat and wiped away every trace of our eight years together.
At midnight, my phone started buzzing relentlessly.
Madison had sent me Ethan’s real location: the same hotel they always went to.
g with it was a message:
“Ethan insists I give him a baby. Says he wants to know what it feels like to be with someone who’s pregnant. That’s something you can’t offer, Grace.”
“Maybe it’s time you bowed out gracefully before you’re left with nothing but shame.”
I read her words carefully, letting them sink in.
By the time I finished, there was no anger left–only a dull, numbing emptiness.
I didn’t reply. I turned off my phone and went to bed.
The next day was supposed to be the day we got our marriage license.
Before dawn, Ethan texted to say he was already waiting downstairs.
The registry office had been fully booked for weeks; Ethan had fought hard to secure our slot.
But I knew Madison wouldn’t let things go smoothly.
After freshening up, I walked out the door without hesitation.
On the drive, Ethan couldn’t contain his excitement.
His voice was light, his words brimming with nostalgia as he recounted every step of our relationship–from how we first met to the day I said yes to his proposal.
He remembered the tiniest details, things I’d long forgotten.
I pretended to be tired, leaning my head against the window and feigning sleep.
When we arrived at the registry office, I stepped out of the car.
My phone buzzed immediately with a new message from Madison.
It was a photo of a positive pregnancy test and an ultrasound report.
“So, Grace, which is more important? Celebrating my pregnancy or getting your marriage license?”
I closed the message without a second thought.
Ethan noticed my distracted expression and quickly walked over, holding a massive bouquet of white roses.
His face lit up as he handed them to me.
“Babe, I–uh, the company just called. There’s an emergency meeting, and-”
I cut him off with a faint smile.
“Another work dinner? Go ahead. It’s fine. We’re getting married, right? The timing doesn’t matter.”
I glanced up at the sky.
11:46
Photos, Lies, and Fire
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Chapter 4
The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, yet its light fought to break through.
Storms always pass.
Darkness is only temporary.
Ethan thought my silence was understanding.
He pulled me into a tight embrace, tears glistening in his eyes.
I wasn’t sure if he was crying from the joy of our eight–year journey–or the guilt of knowing he was about to have a child with another woman.
As his car sped away, leaving only a trail of dust, I stood alone on the roadside.
registry office was far from the city.
Before I could hail a cab, the rain started pouring, soaking me within seconds.
The downpour hid my tears as I let out the sobs I’d been holding back for too long.
I cried until I couldn’t anymore.
When I looked up, the office’s giant screen caught my eye.
It displayed a message in bold letters:
Congratulations to Ethan Wood, CEO of Wood Enterprises, and his bride–to–be.
My tears stopped instantly. It felt like the shards of my shattered heart were cutting deeper with each breath.
I managed two steps before the world spun, and everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed.
A kind stranger had brought me in.
The doctor said I’d fainted from malnutrition and extreme emotional distress.
As I left the hospital to settle the bill, I walked past the obstetrics ward–and froze.
There they were.
Ethan had Madison pinned against the wall, a report clutched in his hand as they kissed passionately.
Her gaze met mine, her expression triumphant.
Her slender fingers trailed up Ethan’s shoulder, pulling him closer.
I turned and walked away, my steps quick and unsteady.
Back at home, my phone remained silent.
Ethan didn’t even bother pretending to care.
They say the heart is small–there’s only room for one.
The next few days, Ethan didn’t come home.
Every day, I received perfectly crafted updates from him–photos, timestamps, fake locations that looked so convincing.
But I knew where he was: with her.
They’d practically emptied out the baby store at the mall.
The night before our wedding, Ethan finally came back.
11:46
Photos, Lies, and Fire
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Chapter 4
When he leaned toward me, I pretended to be asleep and shifted slightly away.
He didin’t push. Instead, he wrapped an arm around me like he used to and whispered, “Goodnight, babe,” before drifting off.
At 3 am, he left to oversee the final preparations for the wedding.
Before walking out the door, he kissed my forehead.
“Wait for me. I’ll be back to marry you.”
The moment the door closed, I opened my eyes.
He would never see me again.
moment he stepped out the door, I lit the match.
I stood there and watched as flames devoured every corner of the house we had once called home,
Before I left, I took off the engagement ring and tossed it onto the burning sofa. With my suitcase in hand, I walked out without looking back.
On the way to the airport, my phone exploded with notifications–99+ messages, one after another.
Ethan.
He’d also sent a massive money transfer–millions, meant to shower me in the kind of happiness he thought I wanted.
His messages were overflowing with excitement:
“Babe, I can’t believe it! I’m finally marrying the love of my life. Today’s the happiest day of my entire existence!”
“After we’re married, I’ll make sure you feel like it’s our first date every single day. You’ll never stop being my first love!”
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this? I used to dream about this moment, and now it’s finally coming true!”
I stared at the screen for a long time before replying.
“Is that so? I’ve been waiting for this moment too.”
Then, without hesitation, I forwarded him every single message Madison had sent me over the past few weeks.
Along with one final note:
“Loving you was the biggest mistake of my life.”
When I arrived at the airport, the team handling my staged disappearance was waiting.
They handed me my new documents, their efficiency a stark contrast to the chaos I had left behind.
As I prepared to board, my phone rang.
Ethan.
The calls came one after another, relentless, almost frantic.
Panicked, my fingers fumbled to press the power button, but my hands were trembling so much that I accidentally hit “Answer” instead.
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