Chapter 14 - THE LAST DINNER WITH ETHAN
Ethan asked to meet me after the groundbreaking.
We chose a quiet restaurant in Manhattan.
No photographers.
No family members.
No lawyers.
Just two people who had once promised to spend their lives together.
Ethan looked different.
Less polished.
More tired.
But strangely calmer.
He smiled when I arrived.
“Maren.”
“Ethan.”
We ordered dinner.
For a while, we discussed the project.
Warren's health.
The restructuring.
Then Ethan put down his fork.
“I owe you an apology.”
I looked at him.
He swallowed.
“I cheated on you.”
“Yes.”
“I lied.”
“Yes.”
“I treated your work like something I was entitled to.”
I said nothing.
He looked down.
“And I humiliated you in front of my family.”
My throat tightened.
For months, I had imagined hearing those words.
Now they arrived without drama.
Just honesty.
Ethan looked up.
“I was afraid of being less successful than you.”
I stared.
He laughed bitterly.
“Ridiculous, isn't it?”
I shook my head.
“Sad.”
He nodded.
“I thought if I could control the company, the money, the decisions…”
He paused.
“Then I'd finally feel like enough.”
I looked at him.
“And Celeste?”
He closed his eyes.
“She made me feel admired.”
I nodded slowly.
He continued.
“She didn't challenge me.”
A pause.
“You did.”
I looked down.
Ethan swallowed.
“I thought that meant you didn't respect me.”
He shook his head.
“Now I understand you were trying to help me become better.”
Silence.
Then he whispered:
“Are you happy?”
I thought of Adrian.
The townhouse.
The waterfront project.
The life I had rebuilt.
I smiled.
“Yes.”
Ethan nodded.
“With him?”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
His eyes filled.
Then he smiled sadly.
“Good.”
We finished dinner.
And when we stood to leave, Ethan held out his hand.
I took it.
For a moment, we were simply two people who had shared a life.
May you like
Then we let go.
And walked in different directions.
