Chapter 3: The Engagement is Over
788 Words
Ethan’s words still hung in the air.
“I was planning to end our engagement tonight anyway.”
Luna felt as if the entire room had suddenly lost its air.
She stared at the man in front of her in disbelief.
“So… all of this was planned?”
Ethan shrugged casually.
“It’s not like I planned it this way. But since you’ve already seen it, I guess there’s no need to keep pretending.”
Every word felt like a blade sinking deeper into Luna’s chest.
Elena was still sitting on the bed, the sheets wrapped around her body, her face pale and wet with tears.
But Luna knew now.
Those tears meant nothing.
“Elena is my best friend,” Luna said quietly.
Elena lowered her head, her shoulders trembling as if holding back sobs.
“I’m truly sorry, Luna… I never meant to hurt you…”
But Ethan only sighed, as though bored.
“Stop with the drama.”
He turned back to Luna.
“You’re too naïve, Luna.”
Luna frowned.
“Naïve?”
Ethan gave a faint smile.
“Did you really think our relationship could last forever?”
Luna didn’t answer.
She simply looked at him.
For five years, she had believed in this man.
Believed every promise he had made.
Now all of it felt like a cruel joke.
“Luna,” Ethan continued flatly, “you need to be realistic.”
He took a few steps closer.
“I’m a member of the Hale family.”
His gaze lowered slightly, scanning Luna from head to toe.
“Families like ours have standards.”
Luna felt her hands beginning to tremble.
“And I don’t meet those standards?”
Ethan didn’t answer immediately.
But the small smile on his face was answer enough.
“At first I thought it didn’t matter,” he said. “I thought love would be enough.”
He let out a small laugh.
“Turns out I was wrong.”
Something inside Luna’s chest cracked.
“So Elena fits better?”
Ethan didn’t hesitate.
“At least she knows how to be part of our world.”
Luna laughed softly.
But the sound was more painful than crying.
“Your world?”
Her eyes shifted to Elena.
“A world where someone betrays her own best friend?”
Elena sobbed quietly.
“Luna, I never wanted this to happen like this—”
“Enough.”
Luna’s voice suddenly turned cold.
She looked at Elena with eyes full of hurt.
“Stop pretending.”
The room fell silent again.
For the first time since Luna entered the suite, no one spoke.
Luna finally took a deep breath.
Then said quietly,
“Fine.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“Fine?”
Luna nodded slowly.
“You want to end our engagement?”
She looked straight into Ethan’s eyes.
“Go ahead.”
The answer seemed to surprise Ethan slightly.
He had expected Luna to cry.
Or beg.
But Luna only stood there, pale yet calm.
“I will not beg a man who doesn’t even understand the meaning of loyalty.”
Those words made Ethan’s expression tighten slightly.
But Luna had already turned toward the door.
“By the way,” Ethan suddenly said behind her.
Luna stopped.
“You might want to go back to the ballroom.”
He sounded almost amused.
“All the guests are waiting for the announcement of our engagement.”
Luna slowly turned around.
“What do you mean?”
Ethan’s smile slowly widened.
“I’m not going to end this engagement quietly.”
A sense of dread crept through Luna.
Ethan continued casually,
“If this relationship ends… everyone deserves to know.”
Luna’s face paled.
“You’re not serious.”
But Ethan only smiled.
“Oh, I’m very serious.”
He looked at her coldly.
“Besides, it will be the perfect way to explain everything.”
“Explain what?”
Ethan didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he said casually,
“Why I chose another woman.”
Luna’s eyes widened.
But Ethan had already walked toward the bathroom door, as if the conversation were over.
“Meet me in the ballroom, Luna.”
He paused for a moment before adding,
“I wouldn’t want you to miss the best part of tonight.”
Luna stood frozen in the middle of the room.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
She knew.
Whatever Ethan was planning in that ballroom…
it would not end well for her.
But there was one thing Ethan didn’t realize—
tonight would not only destroy Luna.
Tonight would also introduce someone who would change all of their lives.
Someone even Ethan Hale could not control.
- Writer
