Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Elena: POV

The texts started coming in less than ten minutes after I hit send.

Ethan: [What do you mean you can’t go?]

Ethan: [Elena, this is a huge opportunity. You can’t just throw it away.]

Ethan: [We talked about this. You were excited.]

I stared at my phone, sitting cross-legged on the couch with one of Julian’s oversized shirts hanging off my shoulder. My hand drifted to my stomach.

Elena: [I know. I’m sorry. Something came up. I can’t leave New York right now.]

The reply was instant.

Ethan: [Something? Or someone?]

My stomach clenched.

Ethan: [Is this about him? About Julian?]

Ethan: [Elena, are you seriously giving up your career for a man who doesn’t even respect you?]

Ethan: [You told me yourself he treats you like shit. Why are you doing this?]

The texts kept coming, one after another. Each one sharper than the last.

This wasn’t like Ethan. The man I knew was measured, controlled. He never pushed. Never demanded.

But these messages… they felt desperate. Raw.

Ethan: [lust tell me the truth. Did he convince you to stay? Did he threaten you?]

Ethan: [Because I swear to God, Elena, if he’s manipulating you—]

1 put the phone face-down on the coffee table.

My chest felt tight. Guilty, maybe. Or just… overwhelmed.

I knew Ethan cared. Maybe more than he should. But this intensity–it scared me.

Elena: [Ethan, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But I need to figure out my own life right now. I’m sorry.)

I hit send before I could second-guess myself.

The phone buzzed again immediately, but I didn’t look.

Tosterul, I pulled my knees to my chest and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the way my stomach churned-half morning sickness, half guilt.

Ethan: POV

I was three whiskeys deep when her text came through

The bar was loud-too loud. Dave from the English department was slapping my shoulder, laughing about something I hadn’t heard. Around me, the other teachers were getting progressively louder, their ties loosened and cheeks flushed.

The guys immediately started flirting. One brunette with red lipstick caught my eye-not because I wanted her, but because for a split second, her profile reminded me of Elena.

Same delicate jaw. Same way she tucked her hair behind her ear.

“That one,” Dave said, practically shoving the girl into the booth beside me. “She’s perfect for you.”

The girl smiled up at me, all sultry eyes and glossy lips. Hishe purred:

I barely glanced at her. Instead, I pulled out my phone.

Elena: [Ethan, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But I need to figure out my own life right now, I’m sorry.)

My vision blurred.

Sorry.

She was fucking sorry.

The whiskey roared through my veins, hot and vicious.

My fingers moved before I could stop them.

Ethan: [What happened to “I need to do this for myself”? What happened to “I deserve better’?]

Ethan: [Or was that all bullshit? Did you go running back to him the second he snapped his fingers?]

Ethan: [Answer me, Elena. Why won’t you go to Milan?]