Crawling Back To Her Series Redemption and Refuse novel Chapter 109

Book9 Chapter5.

I used to desperately want him to acknowledge me publicly, but he always found excuses to avoid it.

But everyone at his company knew Vanessa. Once, I urgently went to find him, only to see a group of people teasing him and Vanessa, calling her "sister-in-law" affectionately.

Vanessa blushed shyly, standing by his side, and they really did look like a couple.

Ethan just smiled and didn't explain.

That day, I didn't know how I left the building. When I got home and confronted Ethan, he said it was just a joke that he didn't take seriously, and that I was overreacting. He even made me video chat with Vanessa to prove it.

Vanessa laughed at me during the call, using the same old excuse: "If I wanted to be with E, it would've happened a long time ago."

At that time, I doubted myself, thinking I wasn't good enough compared to Vanessa, which is why Ethan never paid attention to me.

But after that accident, looking back at those moments, I realized how shameless they were, and how foolish I had been.

They had been hiding behind the guise of friendship while engaging in ambiguous behavior, yet expected me to be the perfect, understanding partner, what a joke.

The next day, Ethan still called, asking if I would come. When I refused again, his pretense fell apart:

"Do whatever you want, Claire. I'm giving you a chance to be acknowledged publicly. If you don't appreciate it, don't come crying to me later."

Hearing his grandiose tone, I quietly hung up the phone.

If this had happened in the past, his words would have thrilled me, and I wouldn't have slept al night from excitement. But now, al I could think about was healing and preparing for the meaningful work with my mentor, helping more people.

To better engage in the project, I packed my things and moved into the hospital dormitory.

I didn't take much with me because the house I shared with Ethan was mine. Ethan had bought a house, but it was Vanessa who lived there.

He had said, "You have your own house, but Vanessa has it tough; she doesn't even have a place to stay." With that one sentence, Ethan moved into my house, while Vanessa enjoyed the one he bought.

On my way to the dormitory, I received a call from Vanessa.

"Claire, you lost. I heard Ethan is going to publicly announce his partner tonight. Guess who's wearing that dress?" Her voice was dripping with triumph. I calmly responded, "Aren't you supposed to be an independent woman? Why do you rely so much on a man?"

She was taken aback by my words, then scoffed, "You and I are nothing alike. Look at everything you've done, yet I can still get what I want with just a flick of my finger. Claire, you'll always be a loser compared to me."

I glanced at the photos she sent, showing her at an event, wearing the dress Ethan had bought for me, standing beside my boyfriend.