The Lover Who Destroyed Her

ago, but I stayed. I stayed for Ethan. In my previous life, afte

ather the few personal items I had left. My body was stil

gry executives from the board confronted

room for argument. "Are you truly willing to take the

or Ethan. He stood a few feet away, his express

o take her on as a partner. She has a brilliant future ahead of her. W

into a million pieces. I had expected them to get together, I knew

his hand. The executives pushed a stack of papers into my chest. A harsh s

looked down at the devastating terms, the clauses that would profes

gave out. I slid to the floor, m

e walked over, feigning co

y. "Ethan just couldn't bear to see me get hurt by all this. He was so w

ng a delicate, vintage watch. It wa

s is Ethan's mother's watch. He told me it' s his mos

revious life, on the day he proposed. I tried to smile, to say somethi

going to wish us well? Ethan and I are getting

the words. My voice

you... both.

id, annoyed, crossing her arm

single, perfect tear from Sarah's cheek. Then he turned to me, his face contorted wi

muttered, his voice low and m

He didn't see my broken spirit, my shat

presence, their counterfeit love story built on my ruin. I tried to leave, to crawl away from them. I col

ar from my bitten tongue. For a fleeting moment, a flicker of so

rling, don't you understand profes

ck to Sarah's side, his moment of h

ached my old office, the one I had before they moved me to the storage room. I pulled myself

med my work, what little was left of it, counting the days, wait

d through the office like a wildfire. Et