This is the last flashback chapter thanks for staying. ***DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE STORY TO YOUR LIBRARY, #Comment #Like #SUPPORT #SherahHawke #EthanFarwell Feel free to check my other stories here: Hey, Stranger! Goodbye My Love & Alpha's Last Chance
Presently…It was Sherah's 26th birthday and Ethan had left the country without even greeting her. While Eliot who she had known for only a month had wished her a happy birthday the moment the clock struck midnight. Even Grandma had sent her a cake that morning.Later, Eliot invited her to drop by the hospital, saying he had a gift for her. Though hesitant, Sherah agreed, wanting to personally thank him for everything he had done.As the day progressed, greetings from the maids and Farwell employees who knew her contact information started to pour in. Their greetings and appreciation warmed her heart but it was not enough as she still longed for her husband and the things he used to do for her. He used to wake her up with a birthday cake at midnight while singing Happy Birthday.Sherah had finished gathering all her belongings and already called a moving van to send her things to a storage unit. Shortly, she walked into the Farwell Group’s towering headquarters, her expression unreada
After more than 24 hours on the plane, Ethan had arrived in Perth, Australia.He set his suitcase down in his hotel room, rolling his shoulders as exhaustion settled in. The long flight had done little to clear his mind, and as he unzipped his luggage, he let out a quiet sigh. He pulled out his neatly folded suits, crisp shirts, and underwear—everything seemed to be in place.Until he reached for his scarves.His brows furrowed. They weren’t there. The maid must have forgotten to pack them. Annoyed, he ran a hand through his hair, but the frustration quickly turned into something else—something heavier. It wasn’t just the scarves. He felt that he had forgotten something much more important but was unsure what it was. A strange unease settled in his chest, gnawing at him, though he couldn’t quite place it. The air in the room felt different, colder, emptier. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the open suitcase as if it held the answer.Then, his phone buzzed.Ethan glanced a
In Perth, AustraliaEthan’s hand trembled as he stared at his phone, his reflection barely visible against the dark screen.His jaw clenched in frustration as Eliot’s soft, gentle voice replayed in his mind.~Smile for me, birthday girl.~A bitter scoff left his lips. "It’s already 1 in the morning in New York. Why are they still together?" He questioned while thinking of something obscene and the idea left a sour taste in his mouth. He crossed his arms, his chest tightening at the realization. "So that’s why she didn’t even bother to check on me. Not even a simple ‘Did you arrive safely in Australia?’ Nothing. She wasn’t even mad that I had forgotten to greet her. Was it because she no longer cared?"He exhaled sharply, gripping the phone tighter. “She’s too busy celebrating… with the doctor.” His voice was laced with venom, his teeth gritting as his frustration boiled over.With a deep frown, he sent a message to Brooke. Find out everything you can about Eliot."I should have done
Sherah’s offer for Harlene to stay for dessert lingered in the air, thickening the already tense atmosphere with each passing second.Instead of relief, Harlene felt like she had been slap in the face."I called her a whore, yet instead of lashing out, she's being kind to me?" she thought while stealing a glance at Eliot. His gaze wasn’t filled with judgment or anger but concern—concern for Sherah.It only made Harlene angrier.Without thinking, she stormed forward, snatched Eliot’s cup of hot coffee, and hurled it at Sherah before turning on her heels and bolting from the restaurant, tears blurring her vision.Sherah gasped as the scalding liquid drenched her clothes, a sharp sting spreading across her skin.Eliot reacted instantly, grabbing a handful of napkins and gently dabbing at her shirt. As he wiped, his eyes widened in alarm at the redness forming on her skin.“You got burned,” he murmured, his brows drawing together in concern. “We need to go to the emergency room and get som
In Perth, Australia.Ethan sat on a bench in the hospital corridor, exhausted, jet-lagged, and drowning in emotions he couldn’t quite name. He needed space—from Sophia, from everything.His mind was a storm of frustration and confusion. Who deserved his anger and blame? His grandmother, for meddling in his life? Or the woman he had waited for, only for her to leave him behind?A sharp ping interrupted his thoughts. A notification from In$tagram."Sherah Farwell added a new story."Without hesitation, he tapped on it. It's a beautiful portrait of Sherah with Eliot's signature, posed boldly in the corner.Ethan’s grip on his phone tightened. Jealousy consumed him and just like that, he had found the perfect target for all the emotions raging inside him.Before he could think twice, his fingers moved, and started typing. His response was passive-aggressive, edged with bitterness."Seems like you had a blast with the doctor." Back in New York.Sherah could taste the bitterness in Ethan's
Even after assuring Ethan they’d leave soon, Sophia remained effortlessly wrapped in conversation, her laughter echoing through the grand ballroom as she floated from one group to the next. The glitz, the gossip, the glamour—it was her element. But for Ethan, it was suffocating.The night dragged on longer than Ethan had the patience for.With that he started drinking, savoring the burn of alcohol as it slid down his throat. A small conversation sparked with the bartender—just casual talk about his drink, and different types of liquor, nothing forced or superficial. It was the most normal, unpretentious exchange he had all night.At first, just to take the edge off. A sip of whiskey here, a glass of scotch there. But the more he drank, the easier it became to drown out the meaningless chatter, the fake smiles.The weight pressed against his chest regarding, Sherah’s date with Eliot on her birthday. Her lack of concern towards him.The way she blocked him in all possible means of c
Without hesitation, Ethan booked the earliest flight back to New York.After 24 grueling hours, he arrived at JFK International Airport, exhausted yet resolute. His secretary, Noel, was already waiting, expecting to drive him to Farwell Villa. But to his surprise, Ethan ordered the driver to take him straight to Farwell Manor instead.As the car pulled up to the grand estate, Ethan stepped out, his jaw tight, his exhaustion drowned out by sheer determination. He had been away for weeks, but now that he was back, he wasn’t wasting any time.Inside, Madam Rosalie Farwell sat in her favorite sunroom, a book resting on her lap, her silver hair perfectly styled, her expression unreadable. She had always been a step ahead of him—today was no different."You look tired," Madam Farwell remarked, flipping a page. "Traveling across the world, chasing the past, will do that to a man."Ethan clenched his jaw and took a step forward. "I’m done playing your games, Grandma." His voice was sharp, unwa
The Farwell Villa became oppressive, and he had no choice but to drive to the only place he could take his mind off things, his office—The Farwell Group.Inside his office. Ethan sat behind his massive mahogany desk, his fingers pressed against his temples as he tried to drown out the suffocating silence in the room. He glanced around only to see that Sherah had cleaned his office.The knitted cupholder neatly arranged near the coffee maker is gone. The yellow smiley stress ball on his table that he loves squeezing is nowhere to be found.The cactus that Sherah purchased from the farmers' market that she insisted would add color to his office was missing in its usual place.Even the throw pillow on the sofa is different.As he sniffs the air, it smells unfamiliar, different from the bamboo mint scent Sherah uses in the air purifier. Work was supposed to clear his mind, but no amount of reports, meetings, or endless numbers could distract him from the emptiness that followed him like
Inside the bustling corridors of New York Medical Hospital, Eliot navigated the sterile hallways with a box of freshly baked muffins and brewed coffee. He found Harlene in her office, tucked away from the frantic pace of the emergency ward. With a gentle smile, he knocked to get her attention."May I enter, Dr. Campbell?" he asked politely while showing the box of muffins and a cup of coffee to her.Harlene cheeks turned red, and she immediately gestured for him to enter. He set the cup down before her. All smiles while asking, “Morning, Harlene. How are you settling into the new office? Are you finding your rhythm here?”Harlene looked up from her stack of patient files and returned his smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of fatigue. “I’m doing alright, Dr. Carlisle."Both of them chuckle as they are acting too formal in front of each other. "It’s a lot to take in, but I’m gradually adjusting,” she replied, taking a sip of the coffee. After a brief pause, her tone softened as
Back at their table, Harlene and Sherah settled back into their seats, their faces a mix of relief and anxiety.Sherah leaned in and whispered, "I’m pregnant," and Eliot's face lit up as he immediately congratulated her. Just then, Sherah’s phone buzzed, almost making her jump off of her seat. Her phone displayed a call from Ethan. Her eyes widened, and she glanced nervously at Eliot and Harlene. "Why is he calling me?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did he already know?" she added, panic edging into her tone. Harlene reached over and squeezed her hand gently. "Of course not—it’s just a weird coincidence," she said assuringly. Eliot then leaned forward, offering quietly, "Do you want me to answer the call for you?" Sherah shook her head firmly, her voice steadier now as she replied, "No, I'll let it go to voicemail. Let's have dessert." The moment hung in the air, heavy with unspoken worries.But soon, they shifted their focus to the comforting idea of sweet treat
Harlene’s brow furrowed on the scene in front of her. She couldn’t help but feel jealous but could handle her emotions better this time.“Harlene,” Eliot muttered in concern. He could see the hurt in her eyes and despised being the reason for it. Sherah lowered her head in shame to be seen in such a position.“I think we should go to a different restaurant,” Eliot suggested, with a faint smile on his face, “Let’s try Asian cuisine.” He suggested while glancing at Harlene and then at Sherah.Harlene wanted to ask why, but seeing Sherah’s terrified look, she understood that something bad had happened before she arrived.Eliot rose from his seat and walked towards Harlene. “I’m sorry you saw that. I’ll explain everything to you later.” He whispered apologetically while lightly holding Harlene’s hand as if assuring her he didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. Sensing the awkwardness in the atmosphere. Eliot changes the topic.“Before we leave, let me formally introduce you. Sherah, this is
The pregnancy test box felt heavy on Sherah’s bag and for the duration of her journey to the restaurant, she couldn’t stop glancing at it. She was lost in her thoughts, dreaming that what if… What if everything about her and Ethan was true? Her pregnancy would be something they’d celebrate for weeks. Unknowingly, she starts caressing her belly.But her daydreaming was soon interrupted by the continued buzzing of her phone. She checked her phone thinking that it was Eliot looking for her as she was already running late. To her surprise, it was Sophia who sent another photo to her. This time it is a bouquet of red roses, Ethan was in the background smiling and the photo came with a taunting caption: “With my future husband.”Sherah’s stomach churns as if every fiber of her being is repulsing what she is seeing, and for the second time, she asks the driver to pull over. The driver scoffed, clearly unhappy that he needed to stop again.“Miss, I don’t want to be rude, but I already wa
The next evening...At JFK Airport’s arrivals terminal, Sophia and her parents stepped off the plane with heavy steps and haunted expressions. Her forced return was a bitter pill to swallow—Australian authorities had grilled her relentlessly, questioning her prolonged stay and the illegal jewelry she had smuggled into the country.The intricately crafted pieces, made from exotic African seeds designed to resemble beads, were strictly forbidden under Biosecurity regulations for their potential to introduce dangerous pests and diseases that could devastate Australia’s unique ecosystem. With her sudden exit from Australia, Sophia lost everything she had built there; she knew that if she hadn’t left, the authorities would have detained her, and this time Ethan could no longer help her since every detail of her case had been documented and escalated to the proper channels.Clutching her bag with a mix of dread and resignation, she navigated through the bustling crowd, each exhausted step w
In the quiet study of their upscale home, Eliot braced himself for a round of his father’s lectures. Instead of the expected rebuke, Anders leaned forward and, with an uncharacteristic gentleness, said, "I think Sherah and Harlene could be friends. Let her meet Harlene for dinner." Eliot’s eyes twitched in disbelief as he gripped the back of his neck, feeling as though he were caught in a dream, uncertain whether to rejoice or recoil at this unexpected kindness.Meanwhile, under the dim glow of Brooklyn streetlights, Sherah pedaled her bike home after a long, exhausting shift. Despite feeling dizzy, she pushed through the pain, determined to reach her apartment safely. But as she unlocked the door, she was met by Ethan lying on his side on her floor mattress unmoving. Her blanket neatly wraps around his body, he seems to be deeply asleep. His tailored expensive suit looked out of place in her small apartment.She rubs her eyes as if she can’t believe what she is seeing is real. “H…ho
Sherah's mouth fell open as she gasped, "What's up with these men randomly visiting me and asking me to do things for them?" she asked, her breathing coming in hitched bursts.She shook her head as she walked to the employee area of the pizza place. “I really need to leave New York. I just hope Ethan signs the paper so he can leave me alone.” The last sentence made her chest tighten, and she couldn’t help but stroke her chest as if calming the storm brewing inside her heart. “Good god you arrive early, Sher.” Dylan, one of the mid-shift waitresses, greeted her.She smiled and gave a slight nod. “Is there something wrong?” she asked, noticing Dylan following her.“Yeah, I have an early exam tomorrow morning and I need to study,” Dylan explained. “I hope you don’t mind if you clock in early.” She added while giving a pleading look. “No problem. Good luck with your exams.” She replied softly. Dylan jumped onto her and gave Sherah a warm hug, “Thanks!” She uttered while removing her uni
Ethan arrived at the pet grooming salon with a swift goal and departed just as quickly.Sherah stared blankly at the street. She could still smell the smoke his car emitted. She couldn’t help but wonder where Ethan was getting the audacity to ask her for favors.Her thoughts were soon disturbed by a message from Ethan, “Before I forget happy 25th b-day Sherah.”She scoffed and didn't respond.She continued removing her apron and rode her bike to her next part-time job.Clueless that someone is diligently observing everything that had happened earlier. Taking notes on every subtle movement, they made, and making sure everything was well documented. MEANWHILE, in New York Medical HospitalEliot found Harlene waiting in the quiet corner of the community center lounge, her eyes downcast as if weighed down by regret. He wants to continue avoiding her, but sadness and defeat in her eyes is unbearable. He sighed deeply and settled into the chair opposite her, his tone gentle but firm. “Ha
"Sherah!"Sherah almost let go of the canned food in her hands when she heard Ethan’s cold dominant voice. “Ethan, what are you doing here?” She questioned.“I want to speak to you.” He answered immediately. She nodded and then pointed at the door. Outside.The silence stretches between them.Ethan’s eyes observed every inch of her body. He sighs deeply, breaking the silence, “Your hair and nails. You cut them.” He commented offendedly. She finger-combed her hair, “I did. I can’t continue maintaining long hair anymore and my manicured nails don’t belong here anymore. I need to live the way I should have been,” she explains. He scoffed. “Is that the reason why you sold my gifts to you?” he asks.She nods. “Those items don’t belong to my world anymore. I hope you don’t mind, you insist on giving them to me after all.” He nods in defeat. “You’re right. I insist on giving them to you, and you can do whatever you want with them, but Sherah… why must you remove everything?” She gasped