My Fiancé Used Our Wedding Venue for Her Promotion Party

Chapter 2

I saved screenshots and sent them to Administration and Legal.

Sienna: I didn't sign this document. Withdraw it immediately and provide a written explanation, or I will file a formal complaint.

Ethan called 10 minutes later.

"It's only an internal document. Do you really have to make this sound so serious?"

Rain streaked the windshield while the wipers swept back and forth.

"Forging someone's signature is serious."

"The administrator was just trying to save time. The document has already been withdrawn."

"Who told them to do it?"

He didn't answer.

That gave me the answer.

When the project succeeded, the opportunity belonged to Avery.

When it went wrong, the responsibility landed on me.

Ethan sighed. "You wrote the plan. You're the only one who knows all the details on-site. Keep handling it through the 4th of July holiday week, and we'll talk about your resignation afterward."

"Whose name is on the proposal?"

"Avery presents it, and you execute it. That's collaboration."

"And who gets the commission?"

He paused.

I laughed.

"She was just promoted. She needs a successful project to gain a foothold. You're capable. You'll have plenty of opportunities later."

"Using my opportunity for her to gain a foothold?"

"You're more capable than she is."

So in his eyes, capable people were supposed to absorb the losses, and reasonable people were supposed to step aside.

He called robbing me of my opportunities "valuing me" and favoring Avery "trusting me".

"You always say capable people should do more. You never said the people who do more might get none of the credit."

I ended the call.

When I reached the small condo my parents had bought for me, my mother noticed my bare ring finger and froze.

"Did you two fight? Did you break up?"

Dad took the box from me and asked only, "Are you sure?"

"I am."

He nodded. "Then welcome home."

No questions. No attempt to talk me into reconciling.

I had held back my tears the whole way there. Those few words almost made them spill.

The day before the 4th of July holiday week began was my mother's 55th birthday.

A month earlier, Ethan had promised that no matter how busy he was, he would be there.

Even after all the food was on the table, his chair remained empty.

At 7 that evening, he finally called.

"I might be a little late."

In the background, Avery asked, "Does this dress look good in pictures?"

Ethan moved farther away before saying, "The team decided to have an impromptu dinner after the retreat. I have to stay."

I stared at the location tag Avery had just posted.

"Where are you?"

"Near the office."

"Westbridge City is 1,300 miles from the office."

The other end of the call went quiet.

My mother sensed something was wrong and gently touched my hand.

Ethan explained, "It's the team's first celebration. I can't miss it. Your mother has a birthday every year, but this celebration only happens once."

"You're staying because Avery is there, aren't you?"

"Stop pushing this. Give your mother the scarf in the closet for me. I'll make it up to you when I get back."

He had bought the gray silk scarf on a business trip 6 months earlier.

He had given the red one to Avery. The gray one had originally been meant for his mother.

Even this gift had been repurposed at the last minute.

I looked at my mother as she lowered her head to cut the cake.

"We've broken up. You don't need to concern yourself with my family anymore."

"Do you have to say this on your mother's birthday?"

"You're the one who didn't show up. How did this become my fault?"

Avery urged him to open the champagne in the background.

He hung up in a hurry. I blocked his number.

Not long afterward, Avery posted a group photo from the celebration.

Ethan stood beside her, holding a bouquet.

Someone asked if they were a couple. She didn't deny it.

She replied with a single hand-over-mouth giggling emoji.

30 minutes later, the bridal boutique contacted me.

"Ms. Parker, Mr. Whitmore canceled your fitting appointment on July 2. The deposit is nonrefundable. Can you confirm the cancellation?"

That was how I found out.

He had given Avery the day that was supposed to be ours, too.