Chapter 6
I calmly took off the necklace and turned to the saleswoman. “Can I return this?”
The saleswoman, a young girl, hesitated for a moment. “Well… yes, you can. But you look really beautiful in it, it really suits you. You deserve beautiful things, just like any other girl.”
he kindness of a stranger was more effective in breaking down my defenses than anything
Ethan could have said.
“Thank you, but I’d still like to return it.”
I had nowhere to go with the money. I was in a foreign city, and Ethan’s phone went straight to voicemail.
I still had my luggage at his apartment.
So I went back.
I didn’t have a key, so I sat on the steps outside, waiting.
I waited until my phone battery was down to 10%.
Ethan finally called.
The background noise was loud, like he was in a bar.
“Sorry, Sarah, can you just hang out for a bit longer? I can’t leave right now.”
“I have my luggage at your apartment, and my phone is almost dead.”
Ethan thought for a moment. “Okay, I’ll text you an address. Come here and get the key, then you can go back.”
I followed the address to a nearby bar.
I gave Ethan’s name, and someone led me to a private room.
The moment I stepped inside, I was hit with a wave of cigarette smoke and the smell of
12:28
Shattered Proruses
Chapter 6
alcohol.
I spotted Ethan among the crowd and walked over to him, asking for the key.
A guy next to him looked me up and down. “Is this your relative?” he asked Ethan.
Ethan avoided my gaze, as if he was embarrassed to say it. He stammered for a while before finally saying, “My girlfriend.”
Oh…” The guy’s eyes were filled with the same judgmental look I had seen from people
around Ethan before.
“You like… this?”
The others chimed in, expressing their disapproval. “Yeah, I thought you and Ashley were a
couple!”
Ethan lowered his head and chuckled bitterly. “Ashley is so amazing, she has tons of guys
chasing after her. She doesn’t need me.”
“We all saw that Ashley likes you. You’re the only idiot who didn’t notice.”
“Just tell her how you feel! If you dare hurt Ashley, I’ll be the first to come after you.”
I interrupted their chatter.
“We broke up. He can go after Ashley now.”
I took the key from the table and turned to leave.
Behind me, I heard a chorus of congratulations.
“Finally dumped the plain Jane!”
“We’ve been waiting for you and Ashley to make it official!”
“This calls for a celebration!”
I listened to their comments calmly, feeling numb.
12:28
Shattered Promises
Chane
I returned to the apartment, packed my luggage, and was about to leave when my ad
called
“Sarah, I saw you took leave to go to New York. Are you still there?”
“Yes, Professor, I have a flight back later tonight.”
“Can you postpone your flight and stay a few more days? We have a collaborative project with NYU, and you could represent me. We’ll cover all your expenses.”
“NYU?” That was Ethan and Ashley’s university.
“Is there a problem?” Professor Johnson asked, confused.
“No, none at all.”
“Oh, and there’s a former student of mine working in New York City now. If you need
anything, just contact him. I’ve already let him know, and he’ll look after you.”
