I never loved her

“I never loved her; you know.” Ethan’s voice, sharp and unflinching, sliced through the air. My breath hitched, the world around me blurring as those words struck harder than any blow.

“She is good but I can’t marry her.” he continued, his tone almost casual, as if he wasn’t talking about the three years we’d spent together. My heart pounded, but I stayed frozen closer to the wall outside the private room.

Cruel laughter followed, twisting like a dagger in my chest.

“You play well. What are you going to do about that little girl?” Someone else chimed in, their voice laced with mockery. Ethan chuckled lowly, and it made my stomach churn.

“I need to tell her about the arranged marriage my family wants for me. Soon my brother will be here and we will go back together. I don’t have much time.” he said, his tone soft but distant, like a knife wrapped in silk.  My pulse pounded in my ears, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. I pressed my palm against the cold wall, desperate to steady myself as the room spun.

“It’s impressive how bold Ethan is. Man, you’ve got guts. Stringing along a girl like that, knowing you’d always go back to your arranged marriage. Genius move, really.” The weight of his words pressed down on me, suffocating. My throat tightened, tears threatening to spill, but I forced them back. Not here. Not now.

Three years—three years of secret love, stolen moments, and whispered promises—crumbled like ash in my chest.

I stumbled back, my legs shaky as I turned away. My hands trembled as I fumbled for my phone, and before I could stop myself, I hit the number I knew by heart.

“Lena?” my brother’s voice came through, steady and warm.

“Brother, I’ve made up my mind about the arranged marriage. I agree!”

“Lena, are you sure? Did something happen?” He paused on the other end of the line for a moment before his voice filled with deep concern. I forced a lighthearted smile, despite the bitterness rising in my throat.

“No, I’ve just figured it out. I’m going to get married anyway, so does it matter to whom?” There was a silence, heavy and knowing, before he sighed.

“I’m glad you’ve figured it out. When are you coming back? Do you want to meet him before making the final decision?”

“No need, the sooner we agree, the sooner the company crisis can be resolved. You can start preparing for the wedding and let’s set the date for a week from now.”

“Got it,” he said, his tone lighter. “Oh, by the way, I heard you had a friend. You should invite him to the wedding, he might bring some good luck.”

I froze. My brother knew about Ethan. He didn’t know Ethan was more than a friend—he was the man I had dreamed of marrying. But those dreams were now shattered. I lowered my gaze to hide the pang in my heart.

“Brother, don’t bother him. I’m not close to him.” Just then, the door to the private room creaked open. I quickly said my goodbyes and hung up.

When I looked up, Ethan stood there, his eyes gleaming with a smile.

“Not close to whom?” he asked, his voice teasing.

“Not close to you!” I said honestly, but Ethan raised an eyebrow and mischievously pulled me into his embrace.

“Really? Are you sure about that?” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “You didn’t let me touch you, but you still loved me.” Disgust surged through me. I pushed against him, my vision blurred with tears I refused to shed. The burns on my body ached and I didn’t know where the pain came from, but it was so sharp it brought tears to my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, his playful tone replaced by concern as he noticed my shaking. He caught my wrist and froze when he saw the red marks there. “Lena, were you burned? When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I stared at him, the man I thought I knew, now a stranger wrapped in lies. His panic looked so genuine, his touch so gentle—but the words I’d overheard still echoed in my head.

Ethan’s hand lingered on my wrist, his eyes searching mine with what looked like real concern. For a moment, I almost believed it—almost.

“Lena, talk to me,” he pleaded, his voice softer now. “What happened?” I yanked my hand free, the weight of his touch unbearable.

“You tell me, Ethan,” I said, my voice steady but cold. “What happened?” His brows furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. But before he could answer, a faint vibration buzzed from his pocket, the glow of the screen catching my eye.

‘Brother

My stomach twisted as he glanced down at it, his lips twitching into a faint smile. How happy he was about his marriage. That was all I needed to see.

He didn’t even notice when I turned and stepped away.  I threw the phone into the passenger seat, started the car, and drove off into the night.

But no matter how far I went, the echo of his words followed me, tearing me apart.

“I never loved her.”