My Success Is The Best Revenge, Darling

nter of his universe, and exactly seven weeks for his "bu

ts and managed his schedule, yet sh

come with a fight. It

Glass shattered, and fire erupted. In that split

his body

hispering frantically to her while I stood twenty feet away,

ologize. Instead, he let Chloe carve her

shoved me into the dirt to c

va," he screamed. "Jea

unplug and plug back in whenever he wanted. He was arrogant eno

as w

ng hero to his mis

o Portland, snapped my SIM

e in his apartment wasn't peace, b

pte

a

d floor, the initials 'E & A' encircled by a heart t

ce me that I was the center of his universe, and exactly se

at. He didn't even look up from his phone. "She's a

r, watching him text her. I knew it was her. His face had that

d not shake. I had spent all my tears in the bathroom an hour ago. "Busin

were cold, stripped of the warmth I

g suffocatin

man who ironed his shirts, who managed his schedule, who forgav

the table and sna

e asked, a hint of annoy

r parents. Like we p

h his hair. "I can't go. Chloe n

r's birthday d

er my r

his, spinning excuses for the empty chair beside me. I told th

y phone

rom Instagram. Chloe Va

the background, a man was cutting a steak for her. I knew thos

ked. "Are you alrig

eful faces around the table

," I said. "And

over me, hot and prickly. I felt

ve to

e door, Ethan was on the couch, still on his phon

joy the ste

fro

id, standing up. "About

realization was sudden, shar

tic. I was goin

am boring? That seven years means nothi

It isn't what you think, Ava. We... we have just outgro

I d

ble," he said. "S

rt crack. Not

he bedroom. I pulled my

" he asked, leaning

avi

late. You're be

nd opened the drawer. Inside was a small velvet box. The ring he had given me three ye

ok i

rd. "Ava, let's talk ab

I opened the trash can under the sink. It

e ring ov

thousand dollars

oppe

soft thud on a pi

" I said. "It suits y

bag and walke

do not expect to come back," Et

oor. The night

what I am count

didn't slam it. I j