Episode 9
684 Words
Chapter Nine – The Confrontation
Ethan waited until Lily went upstairs before stepping out of his car. He couldn’t hold back anymore. For weeks, Claire had been circling his sister, pulling her in closer, and every moment was eating him alive. Tonight, he had to face her.
Claire was just leaving the apartment when she saw him standing by the gate. She stopped, keys in hand, her expression calm but cold.
“What do you want, Ethan?” Her voice was sharp, controlled.
“I need to talk to you,” he said.
“We already talked years ago. Or rather—you didn’t. You just disappeared.” She brushed past him, but he caught her wrist gently.
“Claire, please. Not here. Just… five minutes.”
Her eyes narrowed, but curiosity flickered. After a pause, she pulled her arm free. “Fine. Five minutes.”
They walked to a quiet spot near the street. Neither spoke at first. The air between them was heavy, filled with words left unsaid for too long. Finally, Ethan broke the silence.
“Why are you doing this?” His voice was low. “Why Lily?”
Claire gave a short laugh, one without humor. “She’s sweet. She’s kind. Unlike the rest of your family. Or maybe you don’t want me near her because you’re afraid she’ll learn how heartless you really are.”
Ethan shook his head. “Don’t twist this. You know Lily has nothing to do with what happened between us. If you want to punish me, do it directly. Leave her out of it.”
Claire folded her arms. “Punish you? You think that’s what this is?” Her eyes glistened, though she held back tears. “You shattered me, Ethan. Do you know what it feels like to be left without a word, to think you were worthless to the person you trusted most?”
Ethan’s chest tightened. He wanted to tell her the truth—that he had walked away to protect her, that every day since had been torture. But the words stuck in his throat. If he told her now, it would drag her into a storm she didn’t deserve.
“I never stopped caring,” he finally said, his voice breaking slightly.
Claire froze. For a moment, her walls trembled. But then she caught herself, her anger rushing back. “Don’t. Don’t you dare say that. You had your chance to care, and you chose silence.”
Ethan stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. “You think silence means I didn’t love you? You’re wrong. You have no idea how wrong.”
Her heart pounded, but she forced her face to stay hard. “Then prove it. Tell me why. Tell me what was worth destroying us.”
He opened his mouth, but the truth—his parents’ threats, the danger she had never seen—remained buried. If he spoke, it would only put her in more danger now. So instead, he said nothing.
That silence was her answer. Claire let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Exactly. Nothing. That’s all you ever give me, Ethan. Nothing.”
She turned to leave, but he caught her hand again, this time with desperation. “Claire—please. Don’t hurt Lily. Whatever you feel for me, don’t drag her into it. She’s innocent.”
Claire stared at him for a long moment, his grip tight around her hand. For a second, she saw the boy she had once loved—the boy who would have done anything to protect her. And that made it worse.
She pulled her hand away. “You should have thought about protecting me back then.”
Without another word, she walked off, her heels clicking against the pavement, leaving Ethan standing alone under the streetlight.
His hands trembled as he whispered to the empty night, “I’ll find a way, Claire. I won’t let this end in hate.”
But Claire, driving away, promised herself the opposite: He’ll feel what I felt. Even if it breaks me to do it.
- Writer
