Episode 3
409 Words
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Chapter Three – The First Encounter After Years
Years passed, but Claire never forgot. She worked hard, built herself up, and became stronger than the broken girl Ethan left behind. Still, deep inside, the wound stayed open.
One evening, her company held a big business event at a hotel. Claire came, looking calm and confident. She told herself it was just work, nothing more.
Then she saw him.
Ethan.
He stood at the other side of the hall, dressed in a black suit, speaking with a group of people. For a moment, the noise around her faded. It was like the world had stopped.
Claire’s heart raced, but not with love—this time it was anger. Memories she tried to bury came rushing back. Nights of waiting. Tears with no answers. The silence he left her in.
Ethan noticed her too. His eyes widened. For years he had stayed in the shadows, protecting her without her knowledge. Now, she was right in front of him—strong, beautiful, but guarded.
He wanted to go to her, but his feet felt heavy. He knew he had no right. Still, when Claire turned to leave the hall later that night, he followed.
“Claire,” he said softly.
She stopped but didn’t turn around. His voice still cut deep into her heart.
“What do you want?” she asked coldly.
Ethan’s chest tightened. “I just wanted to see you. To make sure you’re fine.”
At last, Claire faced him. Her eyes burned with anger. “You left me without a word. Do you know what that did to me? Do you even care?”
He opened his mouth but closed it again. The truth was dangerous. He couldn’t explain that leaving her was the only way to keep her safe.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Claire gave a short, bitter laugh. “Sorry? That’s all? After all these years?”
Ethan stepped closer, but she moved back.
“Don’t come near me,” she said firmly. “You broke me once. You don’t get a second chance.”
She turned and walked away, her heels echoing in the empty corridor.
Ethan stood frozen. His heart ached, but he also knew one thing—he could not let her go again.
For Claire, this was the start of her revenge.
For Ethan, it was the start of his fight to win back what he had lost.
- Writer
