My Fiancé Chose His Friend’s Pregnant Widow And Lost Me Forever Chapter 02
She Takes Over Our Condo
I go to the condo to get my things.
There’s another pair of women’s slippers by the door.
Prenatal vitamins are on the entry table.
My perfume has been pushed into a corner.
Sophie is sitting on my couch.
She’s wearing my lounge set.
“Claire? You’re back?”
I walk into the bedroom.
Our wedding photo is gone.
A maternity portrait of Sophie hangs in its place.
My clothes have been packed into two cardboard boxes.
A note on top says:
Claire’s things. Put in storage for now.
I turn to Sophie.
“Who packed my clothes?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Your perfume makes me nauseous. Pregnancy has made me really sensitive to smells.”
“So you packed up my closet.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d mind this much.”
She follows me into the living room.
“I’m only staying temporarily. I get scared when I’m alone at night. Ethan is just worried about the baby.”
The front door opens.
Ethan comes in.
He looks at Sophie first.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Please don’t blame Claire. I shouldn’t have stayed here.”
Then he turns to me.
“Claire, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“This is my home.”
“I know. But Sophie just got back from the hospital. She doesn’t need more stress.”
I point toward the bedroom.
“Where’s our wedding photo?”
“I put it away.”
“Why?”
“Seeing it makes her think about Daniel.”
I look at him.
Yesterday, he left our wedding for her.
Today, I’m being told to be careful in my own home because she might get upset.
“I’m taking my things.”
“Claire, can we talk first?”
“About what?”
“Yesterday. I know I screwed up.”
“Yesterday was our wedding.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
I pick up one of the boxes.
Sophie starts crying.
“I can leave. I don’t want the baby and me to become a problem between you two.”
Ethan turns to her.
“You’re not a problem.”
I pick up the second box.
Then I take our wedding photo off the floor beside the dresser.
Ethan follows me to the door.
“Claire.”
I don’t stop.
The next morning, Sophie posts again.
I know I shouldn’t be staying in someone else’s home, but I was scared to be alone.
The photo is taken on our balcony.
People start asking who the home belongs to.
Then someone uploads the video from our wedding.
Ethan leaving.
Me standing there after him.
The comments spread quickly.
People call me jealous.
Cruel for making a pregnant widow feel unwelcome.
By afternoon, people at work have seen it too.
One of my clients jokes about it during a meeting.
I shut him down and finish the presentation.
When I leave the office, Ethan is waiting downstairs with my favorite takeout.
“I told Sophie to delete the post.”
“Did she?”
“Not yet. She’s emotional right now.”
“Are you going to explain what happened?”
“If I say something publicly, it’ll bring more attention to her. She can’t handle that kind of stress.”
“What about me?”
He looks at me.
“You’re stronger than she is.”
I take the food from his hand and drop it into the trash.
“Don’t bring me anything again.”