The Last Time I Loved Him (Autumn and Ryan) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 2

After recording the video, I didn't go in to catch them in the act.

One video alone wasn't enough to get Ethan out of the picture.

I forced myself to stay calm as I left the office.

When the elevator stopped at the underground floor, I couldn't hold back all the emotions that had been building up inside me.

I quickened my pace and ran toward my car. The moment I slammed the door shut; tears poured down my face.

The overwhelming pain almost swallowed me whole.

Flashes of Ethan and I together kept replaying in my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more I remembered how good he had been to me.

The last image was of him and Grace kissing, and that moment kept looping in my mind, unshakable.

I felt like I was suffocating, my heart hurting as if gripped by a tight hand.

Unable to stop, I screamed hoarsely.

In the enclosed space, my cries sounded particularly pitiful.

I couldn't understand. Everything had been going according to the plans we made.

But why did Ethan cheat?

We had weathered all the hardest days together — why now, why this?

The new house had just been renovated. We had planned to have a cute baby.

Now, everything we had hoped for seemed like a cruel joke.

Ethan and I had a very ordinary story.

We met through a blind date, just like most people do.

At the time, he wasn't the boss he is today, running a successful business. When I met Ethan, he had just suffered a business failure and was deeply in debt.

It was probably the lowest point of his life.

With the help of our families, we met a few times, and we both felt things were going well.

He didn't mind that I was shy and reserved, and I didn't care that he had debt.

Six months later, Ethan confessed his feelings.

Since we both wanted the same thing — marriage- process moved quickly.

I don't know.

He would hold me when he was drunk, whispering promises in m y e a r.

"Baby, I swear, I'll make sure you live a good life."

Later, as his business flourished, with more employees and greater success, he would smile at me when I was worried.

"Through all the highs and lows, the good and bad, you've been there with me. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am now."

"If I ever let you down, let me suffer a lifetime of poverty. How about it?"

It seemed like he loved me.

But his boundaries and principles never really changed for me.

He hated it when women drank, even if I had just half a bottle.

He would get angry.

He hated anyone eating in the car, even if it was something like macarons, which don't even crumble.

He hated being disturbed while working, even if I was just bringing him a glass of water.