Chapter 9
“I always thought it was Sabrina who saved me,” Ethan choked out, tears streaking down his face. “But when I saw the scars on your body the day you left… I realized it was you. It was always you.”
He wept openly now, voice cracking with remorse.
“The doctor said the person who saved me was seriously injured that day… but I still chose to believe Sabrina’s lies. I’m sorry, Claire. I was blind.”
I looked at him, stunned.
Five years had passed… and he was still holding on to this?
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I said gently, smiling as I shook my head. “I’ve already let it go.”
But the more I smiled, the harder he cried.
“That night after you left, I had a dream,” he said, voice hoarse. “I dreamed I was a monster. Tha
I married you… but used Sabrina’s eggs to have a child through IVF. That I-”
He trembled.
“I dreamed I let you burn to death with my own hands.”
His gaze searched mine in desperation.
“I- I wouldn’t really do that, would I?”
But I didn’t answer.
Because the truth was… he already had.
“I looked for you,” he continued, his voice growing faint. “I searched for you for five years after you disappeared. But by then… Sabrina was already pregnant. I had no choice but to marry her. But not a day went by that I didn’t miss you.”
His pain was real. Of that, I was certain.
But real pain doesn’t undo the past.
I exhaled slowly and met his eyes, calm and resolute.
‘There’s no need to say any of this. When I walked out of the Linwood family, I severed every tie- emotionally, financially, spiritually.”
‘I never demanded what I was owed. I left in silence. So after all these years, let’s not disturb each other anymore. That’s the kindest thing we can do.”
Ethan stood frozen, as if my words had knocked the air from his lungs.
‘I understand,” he finally said, voice trembling. “But you don’t know what happened after you left…”
He stepped forward, almost pleading.
“After you were gone, Sabrina took over the company. She didn’t understand your research at all. You warned us not to let her interfere-that if we just followed your process, we could finish what you started.”
“But she insisted on taking credit. She tampered with everything. The experiments failed. We
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had to pay massive compensation.”
He wiped at his face, tears still flowing freely.
“The company collapsed… she started drinking, bringing different men home. My father was hospitalized multiple times from the stress.”
“She hit me, Claire. Every time I tried to speak out, she lashed out-like I wasn’t even human.”
His voice cracked again.
But I didn’t respond.
Because none of it mattered anymore.
I turned to Julian, took his hand, and began walking forward.
“Oh, by the way,” I said calmly over my shoulder, “I’m getting married next week. If you’d like to stop by for a drink, you’re welcome.”
Ethan went silent behind me.
I didn’t look back.
I don’t know when he left.
The next time I heard about him, the Linwood Corporation had gone bankrupt. Sabrina had fled overseas with what little money remained.
Mr. Linwood was so furious, he suffered a stroke and was left paralyzed.
Ethan-broken and alone-jumped from the top floor of the company building.
I turned off the news, sitting quietly for a long time.
It was tragic-two people who were once like family had met such bitter ends.
But today… today was my wedding day.
The hall was filled with friends, colleagues, and mentors. Applause thundered around me, and blessings poured in from all directions.
The past? It no longer had anything to do with me.
As I stood beside Julian, I knew:
My future would be bright, full of peace, and filled with the kind of love that never asked me to suffer for it.
This time, I would love-and be loved-on my own terms.
