Clara knew this moment would come.
She just didn't think it would happen like this—standing in her apartment, Ethan's arms crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw tense as he stared at her phone screen.
Luke Mitchell's name. The unanswered message. The weight of everything she hadn't told him.
"Clara," Ethan said again, his voice lower this time. Tired. Wary.
She clenched her fists, nails pressing into her palms. She could lie—she could keep pretending the past didn't matter.
But Ethan had been right before. Trust needed honesty.
And if she didn't tell him now, Luke would.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "There's something I never told you."
Ethan exhaled sharply. "Yeah," he muttered. "I figured that part out."
She winced but pushed forward.
"It was the night before I left for college," she said quietly. "The night before I—" Left without saying goodbye.
Ethan's expression flickered, but he didn't interrupt.
She took a deep breath. "I kissed Luke."
---
The Night That Changed Everything
The memory hit her like a wave.
She had been drunk. Angry. Lost.
Her father had just told her that she was wasting her potential by staying with Ethan—that their love was nothing but a distraction. The words had cut deep, deep enough to make her question everything.
And then there was Luke—Ethan's best friend, who had been drinking too, who had his own complicated feelings.
One moment they were talking. The next, his lips were on hers.
She had pulled away almost instantly. It didn't mean anything. It had never meant anything.
But it was a mistake. One she never told Ethan about.
And one Luke never forgave her for.
---
Ethan's Reaction
The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Ethan's face was unreadable. He blinked, as if processing, as if waiting for her to say just kidding, it's not what you think.
But she wasn't going to say that.
Because it was what he thought.
"You kissed Luke," he repeated, his voice eerily calm.
Clara swallowed. "It wasn't—"
His expression hardened. "Don't say it wasn't a big deal."
She closed her mouth.
His hands went to his hips, his head tilting back like he was trying to breathe through it.
Clara's chest tightened. "It didn't mean anything, Ethan. I was scared, I was drunk, I was—"
"You were mine, Clara."
Her breath caught.
His voice wasn't angry. It wasn't loud.
But it was hurt.
And somehow, that was worse.
She stepped toward him, desperate to close the distance. "I never wanted to hurt you."
Ethan let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "You didn't just hurt me, Clara." His gaze lifted to meet hers, and for the first time in years, she saw the full weight of the pain she had left behind.
"You broke me."
---
A Relationship at a Crossroads
For the first time since they had reconnected, Clara felt something slipping between them—something that might not be fixable this time.
Ethan exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "Did Luke know you were leaving?"
Clara hesitated. "Yes."
His expression darkened. "So he knew before I did."
She nodded.
And that was the final blow.
Ethan took a slow step back. "I need time."
Clara's stomach dropped. "Ethan—"
"Please," he said, shaking his head. "I don't even know what to do with this right now."
She wanted to reach for him. To beg him to stay.
But for the first time in their lives, Ethan was the one walking away.
And Clara was the one left standing there, watching him go.
---
📚What Happens Next😊?
Does Ethan forgive her, or does this shake their relationship to its core?
Does Luke show up, forcing an even bigger confrontation?
Does Clara finally fight for Ethan, or does fear push her to retreat again?
Would you like to continue with how they handle this fallout if yes always vote for more