Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Elena: POV

A week later, I was on a flight to Florida.

I stared out the window as the New York skyline shrank and anished into the clouds. Finally leaving At last.

The divorce was done. The court notice would arrive in thirty days, but wasn’t going to wait around. I just needed to-go.

My carry-on was stuffed with painkillers and antibiotics. Fresh bandages wrapped around my wrist, hidden under a black sweater. I looked like hell-pale skin, dark circles like bruises under my eyes.

But at least I was moving. At least I’d escaped that cage.

Even before takeoff, I felt hollow.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”

I

looked up.

My stomach dropped.

Ethan Blackwell. Of course. Like the universe would ever let me leave in peace.

He stood in the aisle, boarding pass in hand, that easy smile on his face.

No. Not now, please, not now.

“Elena?” His smile faltered. “Holy shit. What are the odds?”

My mouth opened, but nothing came out.

He frowned, scanning my face,

“Are you okay?” His voice was quiet.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Just… surprised, I guess.”

He hesitated, then slid into the seat beside me.

“So,” Ethan said carefully, “Florida?”

I nodded. “Visiting my mom. She just moved down.”

“I’m heading to Miami for a design summit.” He smiled. “Small world, huh?”

Small world. My gut twisted. Mom lived in West Palm Beach-way too close to Miami.

Too close.

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Chapter 123

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“Erab Isaid softly. “What a coincidence.“

The platre climbed into the clouds. My ears started to ache.

“Elena.” Ethan said quietly, “can I ask you something?”

I was too tired to care. “Go ahead.”

“Are you… really okay?”

I let out a short laugh. “I just finalized my divorce last week.”

His eyes widened. “You-what?”

“You heard me.” My voice was flat. “We signed the papers. It’s over.”

“Jesus Christ. I’m so sorry, Elena-”

“Don’.” I cut him off. “Don’t say you’re sorry. Everyone says that, but nothing ever changes.”

He was quiet for a long time before finally saying, “You know that job offer’s still open, right? Milan. You can go whenever you want.”

I closed my eyes. Milan. The chance I’d once turned down now sounded like an escape hatch.

He hesitated, then added, even softer, “If f you want… I’d like to try with you. For real, this time.”

I opened my eyes. His expression was too earnest, too gentle-like he wanted to swallow me whole.

Why now? Why always when I’m at my lowest?

“Ethan…” My voice was hoarse. “I can’t. I have nothing left to give anyone right now. I’m barely holding myself together-I can’t handle someone else’s

feelings on top of mine.”

He looked like I’d slapped him, but I couldn’t care.

“You don’t owe me anything,” I said, voice harder. “You don’t need to save me.”

He looked at me,

hurt and confused.

I turned back to the window. Just clouds.

Why does he care so much?

Everyone wants something from me. Iulian wanted a secret wife, and now Ethan wants to be my savior.

I don’t need saving. I just want to be alone.

“So… can we still be friends?” Ethan asked quietly.

I sighed. “We’ve always been friends, Ethan.”

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Chapter 123-

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“Lood. He let out a breath. “That’s good.”

I leaned back, exhaustion sinking into my bones. My eyelids grew heavy.

Sleep. Just disappear for a while.

I suddenly saw Julian. He stood in the garden, sunlight on his face, smiling.

“I love you,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I realized it too late.”

Flash.

I was ten again, running through the woods in the Hamptons. Someone was screaming. My legs wouldn’t move fast enough. Branches scratched my face.

Too slow.

White walls. The sharp sting of antiseptic. A doctor’s voice: “I’m sorry, the pregnancy couldn’t be saved.”

I looked down-my hands were covered in blood.

Julian was on his knees, sobbing. “Forgive me. It’s my fault, I killed him, I=”

My voice was like shattered glass: “You killed him. You killed our son.”

But I felt nothing.

Nothing at all.

“Elena, wake up.”

1 opened my eyes.

Ethan was looking at me, worried.

My face was wet.

I was crying.

“Shit.” I muttered, wiping at my cheeks, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

“You were whimpering in your sleep,” Ethan said softly.

“Just a nightmare.” My voice shook.

Liar.

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Not just a nightmare memories, everything I’d lost, replaying out a loop.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe,

In out. In out.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ethan’s hand landed gently on my arm, careful, almost hesitant.

“I’m fine.” I managed a weak smile. “Really.”

He didn’t believe me, but he didn’t push.

The plane started to descend. The captain announced we’d be landing in Miami soon.

I looked out the window. Blue ocean, white sand, Florida sunlight-so bright it almost hurt.

A new start. Blank slate.

&

After we landed, we walked to baggage claim together.

“Where’s your mom’s place?” Ethan asked.

“West Palm Beach. About an hour north.”

“Oh, so we’re not headed to the same place after all.”

“Yeah.” Relief loosened something in my chest. Maybe it really is just coincidence.

We waited by the carousel.

“Elena,” Ethan said, a little hesitant, “do you want to grab dinner this week? Just as friends.”

I looked at him. He seemed hopeful, but there was something about his insistence that pressed on me-a weight I couldn’t name.

Why does he care so much?

r

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