My Cop Boyfriend Killed My Father

Chapter 2

Ethan had blocked me.

It took me a long time to wrap my head around that reality.

In the living room, warm sunlight streamed through the French windows, casting a soft glow over the pots of white hydrangeas.

I stared at them, my mind drifting back to the day Ethan brought them home.

It was our second anniversary. The July heat was sweltering, and he wore only a plain white T-shirt that showed off his toned arms.

Setting the flowers down, Ethan pulled me close and said, "I'm leaving these in your care. The better they bloom, the more I love you."

That was the very first gift he had ever given me. I cherished it like a priceless treasure, pouring all my energy into keeping those hydrangeas alive.

Later, I looked up their meaning. Hydrangeas symbolized hope.

And I, too, hoped Ethan would love me more with each passing day.

But the sweeter the memories, the more suffocating the present became.

Forcing myself to look away, I got up and headed to the Interpol Alderidge branch.

Inside the headquarters, I tracked down Leo Johnson, a colleague on Ethan's team.

Before I could even speak, he gave me a teasing grin. "Wow, you really can't bear to be apart from Captain Davis, can you? He just got back last night after finishing his mission, reported to HQ thirty minutes ago, and here you are already!"

He came back last night. The mission was over.

Those words echoed in my head, sending a cold shiver down to my fingertips.

So Ethan and Grace weren't on a mission this morning. They were just being intimate.

My throat felt so dry I wanted to gag. Refusing to give up hope, I pressed further, "Did Ethan go on that mission alone?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah, Captain Davis is incredible. When he's on the job, he's worth two of anyone else."

Ever since I met Ethan, I knew his team respected him immensely.

But looking at Leo's admiring face now, the only thing that flashed in my mind was the image of Ethan holding Grace's hand earlier today.

Perhaps my face had gone completely pale, because Leo's smile faltered. "Are you okay?"

I tried to force a reassuring smile, but my face wouldn't cooperate. "Where is Ethan? I need to see him."

"Sure, let me get him," Leo said quickly, jogging back into the office.

A moment later, Ethan walked out. He was in his uniform, with a buzz cut, looking exactly the same as the day we first met.

How could a man who constantly spoke of loyalty to his country and devotion to our love entangle himself with Grace while still being with me?

I couldn't find an answer, and my chest grew tighter.

"Clara, you promised you wouldn't disrupt my work," Ethan said, his voice laced with mild annoyance.

I froze for a long moment before remembering that I had indeed promised him that.

Three years ago, on the day he finally accepted my feelings, I had snuggled into his chest and sworn, "Don't worry, Ethan. I'll be the perfect partner. I'll always be understanding and never get in the way of your duty."

"But were you and Grace working today?"

My nose stung with unshed tears. Fearing he might lie to me, I quickly added, "Leo said your mission ended last night. Where were you?"

Ethan paused for a fraction of a second. "I had things to take care of."

That single sentence shattered all the tolerance and silent understanding I had forced myself to maintain over the last three years.

"You had things to take care of? What about me?" My breath hitched, my hands and feet turning icy cold. "I understand if you can't talk when you're on a mission. But you're back now. Why couldn't you call me or text me? Why did you delete me from your contacts?"

"Do you have any idea what these past three months have been like for me? I was so terrified for your safety that I couldn't sleep, but I didn't dare message you. All I could do was come here every single day just to ask if you were back!"

"Ethan, did you ever actually consider me your girlfriend?"

I stared at him with bloodshot eyes. I didn't need him to sweet-talk me or comfort me; I just wanted a single word of reassurance, some confirmation that I was still his girlfriend.

But he gave me nothing.

He just looked at me, his voice flat as he delivered a decision he had clearly made long ago. "Clara, let's break up."