Building Love

Chapter 12

Vanessa had been dreading the moment she would have to face Ethan again. She had no idea what kind of person he had become after their breakup—whether he had changed, learned from his mistakes, or remained the same manipulative man who’d tried to control her.

As she entered her apartment that evening, exhaustion from the day's events clung to her body. Her mind was still buzzing with the tension from her meetings at Lowe’s Corp., and the last thing she wanted was to deal with Ethan. But as she closed the door behind her, she froze.

There, standing by the kitchen, was Ethan. His posture was stiff, his eyes wide with a mixture of guilt and something else—something she couldn’t quite place.

Vanessa’s heart sank. Why is he here?

“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice even, though her chest tightened with every word.

Ethan’s face softened at the sound of her voice, and he stepped forward, his hands outstretched as if to reach for her. “Vanessa, please... I know I messed up. I was a fool, I know that now. But I’ve changed. I swear I have.”

Vanessa felt a wave of anger flood through her, but she took a deep breath, refusing to let him see her upset. “What do you want from me, Ethan?” she asked coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I want you back,” he said simply, his voice almost desperate. “I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking for a second chance. You were right to leave me, but the girl I was seeing... she cheated on me. She turned out to be just like the others, and I realize that I only want you in my life, Nessa. Please, take me back.”

Vanessa stared at him, her mind spinning. She didn’t know how to process his words. After everything he had done, after the way he had manipulated her into giving up her career, this was the apology he thought would make everything right?

“I’m sorry, but you don’t get to come back into my life just because things didn’t work out with her,” she said, trying to remain calm despite the emotions rising inside her. “You had your chance, Ethan. You made your choice.”

Ethan’s face twisted in frustration. “I know, I know, but I’m different now. I can prove it to you. Please, just—just give me a chance.”

Vanessa felt her chest tighten, and before she could stop herself, the words left her mouth. “I’ve already moved on, Ethan.”

There it was. The truth, slipping out before she could stop it.

Ethan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? What are you talking about?”

“I said I’ve moved on,” Vanessa repeated firmly, her voice steady despite the rush of emotions inside her. “I’m not the same person anymore, Ethan. I’m done with you.”

He shook his head, his face contorting with disbelief. “No, no way. You’re lying, Vanessa. You can’t have just... moved on. You can’t have another guy.”

Vanessa felt her pulse quicken, the truth of her words setting in. She wasn’t lying, but the thought of Ethan questioning her, of him trying to dig into her new life, made her furious. She didn’t owe him any explanations, not anymore.

But then, he leaned in closer, a pleading look on his face. “Prove it to me. Show me. If you’ve really moved on, then introduce me to your boyfriend. I’ll leave you alone for good if you do that. If you can’t, though, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep coming back, begging for your forgiveness.”

Vanessa felt a sharp pang in her chest. How dare he try to manipulate her again? But she held her ground, her resolve hardening. He thought he could still control her? Not anymore.

“I do not owe you any proof. I said I moved on, and I can't take you back, so leave me alone,” she said, her voice low and steady.

Ethan’s frustration boiled over. “If you can’t prove it to me, then you’re lying, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. “I’m serious,” she said, her voice cutting through the air like ice.

“Then what is his name? Is he better than me that you moved on so quickly?”

That was it. The last straw. Without thinking much, she blurted out the first name that came to mind. “Alex, and yes, he’s a thousand times better than you. Unlike you, he treats me right. And unlike you—” She stopped mid-sentence, catching her breath as Ethan’s desperate expression grew more intense.

“Lying, lying, lying. I know you, you can’t possibly move on that quickly, Nessa,” he said, his voice laced with desperation. He was clinging to the hope that she was lying, that she hadn’t moved on.

Vanessa’s anger flared. She couldn’t think clearly, but one thing was certain—this had to end. She had to put Ethan in his place, once and for all.

She scoffed. “You really want proof? Fine. I’ll give you proof.” She pulled out her phone and dialed Alex’s number, putting it on speaker. “Hi, honey,” she said, her voice softening as she played along. “Can you come over? Someone wants to meet you.”

There was a pause on the other end before Alex’s deep, calm voice responded. “Meet me? Who?”

Vanessa glanced at Ethan, who was now pale with panic. “You’ll know when you get here,” she replied sweetly. “Okay, honey? I’m waiting.”

After ending the call, she turned back to Ethan, her eyes cold and defiant. “Your proof is on his way, sir,” she said, her lips curling into a smirk.

Ethan’s panic turned to anger, but he couldn’t hide the fear in his eyes. “I know you didn’t call anyone, Nessa. Stop fooling around. I know you haven’t moved on.”

“We’ll see,” Vanessa replied, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall. She wasn’t sure what she had just set in motion, but she knew one thing—she wasn’t going to let Ethan control her anymore.

Minutes felt like hours as they waited. Ethan paced the room, muttering to himself, while Vanessa remained calm, her exterior unshakable. Inside, however, her thoughts raced. She hadn’t planned for this. Would Alex even show up? What would she say to him if he did?

Finally, there was a knock at the door. Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat as she walked over, glancing back at Ethan, whose face was a mixture of dread and disbelief.

She opened the door, and there stood Alex, his tall frame filling the doorway. His sharp features softened as his eyes met hers. “Vanessa,” he said, his voice steady. “You called for me?”