Aww Seven Exes Begged Cute Blocked novel Chapter 80

**A Promise Written on the Rusted Edge of Time by Dael Rowan Sire**

**Chapter 80**

As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Ethan finally returned home, the weight of the night still lingering on his shoulders.

He tossed his jacket onto the couch with a resigned sigh, yawning deeply as he surveyed the empty living room. The silence felt heavy, almost suffocating.

“Why did everyone blow up my phone yesterday?” he called out to the housekeeper, who was diligently dusting the shelves, her movements methodical and practiced.

She paused, glancing up at him with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. “Your parents invited the Collins family for dinner. They were—”

Ethan interrupted her, irritation flaring at the mere mention of the Collins name. The memory of their last encounter still stung, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Please, just stop! I don’t want to hear anything about the Collins family right now,” he snapped, his tone sharper than intended.

With that, he strode purposefully toward his bedroom, eager to escape the conversation.

When he finally stirred from sleep around noon the next day, the sounds of laughter and clinking dishes floated through the house. His parents were already having lunch, their voices cheerful and inviting.

“Ethan, come here! Call Avery and see if they’ve arrived—” his mother beckoned, her smile warm and expectant.

He sank into a chair, his expression cold and distant. “Oh, I can’t. I need to check out the wedding venue,” he replied, dismissing the suggestion with a wave of his hand.

His mother, sensing his reluctance, didn’t press further and instead initiated a video call herself, her fingers deftly navigating the screen.

Just as the call connected, his phone buzzed with an incoming call from Sophia.

Ethan’s demeanor shifted instantly; a smile crept onto his face as he slipped in his earbuds. “Babie, you’re up early! I’ll come pick you up for breakfast,” he said, excitement bubbling in his voice.

He stood to leave, but as he passed by his mother, a glimpse of the screen caught his eye. There was Avery, her smile soft and inviting, the backdrop suggesting a hotel room rather than her familiar home.

Why wasn’t she at home at this hour?

A nagging feeling crept into his mind, but before he could voice his concern, Sophia’s voice broke through, ordering breakfast with a hint of urgency.

“Honey, I’m craving pasta carbonara. Come over and we’ll go together,” she urged, her tone playful yet demanding.

Ethan made his way to the door, faintly hearing his mother’s voice in the background.

“Avery, did you arrive safely? How’s the weather there?”

Arrive where?

The thought flitted through his mind—perhaps the Collins family was on vacation.

But he pushed the thought aside, rushing out the door, his mind already shifting to the day ahead.

His finger hovered over the send button, uncertainty gnawing at him. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to press it.

In his relationship with Avery, he had always been the one in control, the one who set the pace.

He refused to be the first to bend, the first to reach out.

But as the night wore on, restlessness consumed him. Sleep eluded him, leaving him tossing and turning in bed.

The next morning, he awoke at 3:30 AM, the weight of anticipation heavy on his chest as he prepared for the day ahead.

After the traditional morning ceremony, where he picked up his bride and toasted her parents, they made their way to the wedding venue.

He had visited this hotel countless times before, each visit igniting a sense of excitement and hope as he envisioned his dreams materializing.

Yet today, as he stepped into the ballroom adorned with dreamy, romantic decorations, a wave of disconnection washed over him.

Was he truly getting married?

Was he genuinely taking Sophia as his wife??

The moment he had longed for was finally upon him, yet an unsettling uncertainty lingered in the air.