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Chapter 4
Nessa let out a disapproving snort. “You should have your own taste. Why go along with everything he wants?”
She grinned. “My husband lets me decorate however I want. He’s sleeping on pink sheets right now, and he hasn’t dared complain.”
I fell quiet, my mind drifting back to three years ago, when Nate and I lived together. I’d loved pink back then–curtains, pillows, even his boxers, which I bought in pale blush. He never wore them. Not once.
The pink sheets? He’d rather sleep on the floor than touch them. I finally swapped them for dark gray. Only then did he come back to
bed.
I gave a wry smile. “And does your husband ever sleep on the floor?”
Nessa smirked, cutting a glance at Nate. “Him? Not a chance.” She leaned closer and whispered, “His boxers are pink now too.”
Nate’s jaw tightened. He gave her a light tap on the head. “Enough.”
“What’s wrong with pink sheets?” she shot back. “If your man refuses to sleep with you over that, he doesn’t love you enough. Honestly, Belle, you wasted years on that jerk.”
I let the words hang before nodding faintly. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe he never loved me enough.”
The tension was palpable. Nate’s gaze was piercing.
“In that case, Miss Hart, take the hint. Stay out of other people’s lives. Better yet, disappear from his completely.”
He didn’t stop there. “Clinging to your own little fantasy only makes people despise you.”
A dull roar filled my ears. Fantasy… so that’s all my love had been?
My voice shook, but the words came hard and fast.
“You know him so well because you’re just like him, aren’t you? Disappearing without a word, letting people wait, bleeding them dry, and then making it their fault for caring. All I wanted was an explanation. Was three years of my life worth so little it can just be tossed
aside?”
His brows drew together, his tone edged with anger. “Nobody told you to wait. Love or hate–it’s your choice. You decided to hold on, so deal with it. Or do you think he owes you a ring just because you hung around for three years?”
Each word landed like a strike. My last scraps of hope tore apart, piece by piece.
I thought, love and hate are choices. No one forced me. And no one owed me a thing.
I met his stare. “Alright, I’ll disappear from his life. Forever.”
Sensing the tension, Nessa grabbed his arm and pulled him toward another room. Her voice carried back to me, low but sharp. “What is wrong with you? You know Belle struggles with depression. Why would you say something like that?”
He gave a cold, derisive laugh. “She’s just putting on an act.”
I stood frozen. After what felt like an eternity, Nate walked out without a word.
“Where’s he going?” I asked quietly.
Nessa was at the mirror, touching up her lipstick. She smiled sweetly. “He’s been abroad for over a year. He’s got a ton of company stuff to deal with, but he’ll be back soon.”
I blinked. “Wait. Nate’s been back in the States for a year?”
“Yeah,” she said casually. “He came back to plan our wedding.”
My mind went white. He was back. A year ago, while I was still waiting for him, he was here–building a future with her.
Nessa’s cheerful voice snapped me out of it. “Come on, my husband’s done with work. Change into something cute–we’re hitting the
Chapter 4
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club.”
“You go ahead. I’ll catch up,” I said.
“Don’t take too long!” she called over her shoulder, skipping out the door.
When her car pulled away, I grabbed my phone and dialed. “I’ve made up my mind. I’m coming home. Set up a meeting with the fiancé
you mentioned.”
Caleb’s voice lit up with excitement. “Belle, finally! We’ve all been worried about you out there in Portland. Everyone’s going to be so happy to have you back.”
My throat tightened. “Yeah. I’ll try to make it work with whoever you’ve chosen. I won’t worry you anymore.”
“This is great news. When do you want to meet him?”
“Anytime. I’ve booked a flight for tonight.”
I packed my suitcase and headed to the airport. Before boarding, I blocked every contact tied to Nate and powered my phone off.
As the plane lifted into the sky, Portland shrinking beneath me, I whispered to myself, “Nathaniel Carter, goodbye. For good.”
Chapter 4
