It's not that time anymore

My fianc, Mark, was trying to force me to call off the wedding, so he bankrupted my dads company, leaving us with millions in debt. Dad, already struggling with heart issues, had a massive attack and was rushed into the ICU.

I was on my knees, begging Mark for money to cover the surgery when my childhood best friend, Ethan, showed up out of the blue. He got my dad a top-notch surgeon, and was by our side at the hospital, day and night.

A week later, Dad had another heart attack. To try and give him some peace, Ethan got down on his knees at Dad's bedside and swore hed marry me and take care of me forever. Dad seemed to find some calm before he passed.

After the funeral, I was numb and heartbroken. I officially called off the engagement with Mark and, in a kind of daze, I married Ethan.

Five years later, I accidentally overheard a conversation between my ex, Mark, and Ethan.

"Man, you're a genius, letting her break up with me so willingly. If she ever found out you were the one who killed her dad, she'd probably try to kill you, right?"

...

I froze, my hand still on the door of the private dining room. Mark's mocking voice carried on.

You're really cold-blooded, Ethan. She's known you her whole life, treated you like a brother. I bet she never even considered that you'd be the one to bankrupt her father's company.

"I wouldnt have taken the heat for this all these years if it wasn't for Ava. I may not like her, but I'm not evil enough to kill someones dad, Ethan retorted, his voice tight with anger, the sound of his glass slamming on the table.

I'll spend my whole life making it up to Claire. I helped you then because I wanted Ava to be happy. If you ever hurt her or make her cry, I will end you.

Mark chuckled, "Man, you're so devoted. Too bad Ava picked me first. Go be a knight in shining armor for your Claire, after all, you did kill her dad. Hope she doesnt come back to haunt you at night."

I spun around and the glass Id been holding shattered against the door.

The sound of approaching footsteps sent me running. I bolted to the bar downstairs and downed a shot of whiskey in one gulp, the unfamiliar liquor bringing tears to my eyes.

My mind was spinning. It wasn't Mark, it was Ethan, the guy who paid for Dad's surgery. He must've said something to Dad that day that caused that second heart attack. No wonder Dad stared so hard at Ethan, with such a piercing look.

And all these years of marriage, his tender love, it was all just his twisted way of trying to pay me back? How pathetic.

A wave of pain and anger flooded through me.

Just as I was reaching for another glass, Ethans arms wrapped around me from behind, his face buried in my neck, his voice thick with drunken tenderness.

"Claire, where have you been? I missed you so much Come home with me, Claire, I love you... I love you so damn much..."

Every time Ethan got drunk, hed mumble his love for me, his friends all claiming it was liquid truth and that he loved me fiercely. But now, it all felt so wrong.

I pulled away from him as casually as possible, steering him to the car.

Ethan slumped against my lap, his breathing even, seemingly asleep.

Ava Ava why didnt you pick me, why

I finally heard it, the name that had haunted his dreams so many times.

Ava. Ava Reynolds.

The woman who stole my fianc, also Ethans one who got away.

So Ethan never got over her, not even when he was pretending to be in love with me. Id underestimated his obsession with Ava.

His phone slipped from his pocket. I bent to pick it up and saw a message pop up on the screen.

Ethan, thanks for helping me out with the wine tonight. I really can't accept that necklace, it's way too expensive.

Then I saw Avas Instagram post: Love has no price.

Attached to it was a photo of a gorgeous necklace, the one that news reports said had just been bought at auction by a mysterious billionaire for 0-00 million.

Ethan was swamped with work this past week and got so sick from not eating. He had to be rushed to the ER. But as soon as he was released, he flew to England, and I was angry and heartbroken thinking he was putting work ahead of his health.

Now I realized it was the auction he had been going to. Even sick, he had to get the most expensive necklace in the world for his one and only."

I entered his lock screen password, almost in a trance.

It was Ava's birthday.

Ethan always said he wanted to give each other space, which meant I wasnt allowed near his phone.

The screen lit up with Avas smiling face. No wonder he got all soft and dreamy whenever he unlocked his phone.

I opened his photo albums; they were all organized:

[Ava at Ten] [Ava at Eleven]. [Ava at Twenty-Five].

Each album chronicled a different chapter of Avas life, filled with happy pictures.

There was no picture of me in any of those albums, not even one of him. Just Ava.

Just like his heart, which had been hers the whole time.

Then I found his notes app, filled with journal entries.

[20XX Cloudy: Ava hurt her leg on a branch. Its my fault, I shouldnt have trees in the yard.]

[20XX Sunny: Ava is getting married. As long as she's happy, it's worth it. My life is about making her happy.]

[20XX Raining: I got married. I saw Ava standing there and all I could think was how she should be the one standing beside me.]

The car pulled into our driveway. I looked at the barren yard, my body icy cold.

There used to be two peach trees in our yard that Ethan had transplanted from my childhood home. My dad planted them for me when I was ten. They always made me feel like he was still here with me.

One day, the peach trees had suddenly rotted at the roots. Ethan spent three days and nights consoling me.

And now I realize, it was him, who destroyed the only link to my dad.

A message popped up from his assistant:

[Mr. Ethan, per your instructions, your will is finalized. All your assets will go to Ms. Ava Reynolds.]

[Just need your signature to go into effect.]

Through a blur of tears, I thought I saw the man at my Dad's funeral, holding me close, promising a lifetime of love.

"Claire, I'll give you a home, everything I have is yours."

I helped Ethan into bed, unlike my usual routine, and went straight to the guest room.

As I closed my eyes, all the years he had pretended to love me played in my mind.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows. I opened my eyes to Ethans loving gaze. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"Claire, were you upset last night? I'm sorry, I had a little too much to drink. I promise I won't let it happen again.

His usual tender act, as if nothing had happened.

I simply said ok and got up, washing off the remnants of his kiss.

The table was covered in breakfast foods, which would have made me happy before.

But now, knowing about his secret journal, I couldnt be happy.

This was all stuff Ava loved.

The sound of a key in the lock startled me. Ava walked in, wearing a pristine white dress.

She sat down at the table, smiling.

"Sorry to bother you, Claire. Ethan called me to have breakfast since we have a photoshoot this morning."

I stared at her key chain, the exact same as mine.

Ethan sensed my mood and whispered to me.

"Avas our best friend. It's normal for her to have a key..."

He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly standing up and taking Avas juice glass from her.

"Ava, you can't drink orange juice. After all these years, why cant you remember that?

Ava giggled, her tone flirty.

"Oh, you're so right. It's a good thing I have you to keep me straight.

They stared into each other's eyes, acting like a couple.

I had no desire to watch their little show and was headed for the door when Ava stopped me.

"Claire, I remember you're a photographer. Would you mind helping us out with the shoot today? I don't really trust this new photographer."

I hadn't touched a camera since Dad's death. Every time I picked one up, I'd think of him teaching me, and I'd see that haunting, heartbroken look on his face when he passed away.

Ethan knew this. He had locked all my cameras away, telling me not to push myself and that I would come out of it when I was ready.

But now, without even asking me, he was pushing me into the car.

"Ava gets car sick. Claire, youll be fine in the back."

He conveniently forgot that I was the one that got car sick, far worse than Ava.

I hadnt even finished my breakfast, and I spent the whole drive with my stomach churning.

When we finally arrived, Ethan was doting on Ava, making sure not to wrinkle her dress, before escorting her into the studio.

I was trying to catch my breath by the car when Ethan pulled me inside.

"Claire, the shoots about to start. Don't be difficult. This shoot is really important for Ava and the company."

Ethan practically shoved me into the studio. I almost fell.

It had been five years since I held a camera, it felt strange and terrifying. My hands trembled slightly.

I tried my best to control my emotions, forcing myself to keep pressing the shutter button.

During the mid-shoot break, Ava and I were left alone. She looked over the photos, a sardonic smile spreading across her face.

"Claire, you're just as useless as your father. You cant do anything right.

"Like father, like daughter."

My fingernails dug into my palms, I was shaking, trying to contain my rage.

Slap! A stinging pain exploded on my cheek.

Ava smirked at me, her hand dangling in the air.

"Claire, you're so pathetic. I cant believe you chased after Ethan so quickly after Mark dumped you. You're not good enough for him. I'll have you know that either him or Mark, theyre both mine."

"You're not worthy."

My head was turned from the impact, I was still trying to process what had just happened.

Ava suddenly grabbed my hand and slapped herself with it, falling dramatically to the ground.

Her eyes filled with tears, she looked like a wounded deer, a completely different person from a second ago.

"Claire, I wasn't saying your work is bad, I was just hoping you could shoot from a different angle. If you don't want to that's fine..."

Ethan rushed in, a glass tumbling to the floor as he saw Ava. He shoved me aside and was by her side, looking her over.

Ethan, Im fine, dont be mad at Claire, its my fault I wasnt careful.

Ava, youre just too kind. You always look out for others, when I was watching this unfold.

Ethan carefully helped her up, treating her like she was made of glass.

He put his arm around Ava and glared at me.

It was the first time in five years that hed looked at me like that.

"Claire, apologize to Ava! Ive been too soft with you these past years. Youve become this evil woman."

"You know how much her face matters to her!"

Ethan was livid, but he didn't seem to see the redness on my cheek.

I lifted my head and met his gaze.

"The one who needs to apologize is Ava, not me. She mentioned my father. Ethan, what about what you did to my father? You have nothing to say?"

I saw the surprise flash through his eyes.

"If it weren't for me, Dad would've died even sooner. Claire, I promised Dad I would take care of you for the rest of your life, but not if you keep hurting Ava."

I gave a hollow laugh. It was stupid of me to expect anything from him.

Then everything went black. I collapsed onto the floor.

When I woke up, the smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, a nurse was removing the IV from my arm.

"Congratulations, you're pregnant. But you are weak, so you need to watch your emotions and eat well."

My hand instinctively went to my stomach. For the past five years, I wanted a baby with Ethan.

I never thought it would happen at this moment.

My phone buzzed, a message from Ethan.

[The doctor says you're just tired. You'll be fine if you rest.]

[Ill come pick you up when you apologize to Ava.]

I laughed humorlessly and turned off the phone.

"Ms. Claire, the doctor scheduled some tests for you, please come with me."

I followed the nurse, not thinking much of it, until we got to the stairwell.

"I heard you're pregnant. Color me impressed. But you should know that for the last five years, we havent had kids, because I told Ethan I didnt want you to have any. Ava said.

I turned to see Ava, full of smug satisfaction.

"The vitamins he fed you every day? Those were birth control pills."

Ava examined my expression, trying to find any sign of despair.

"Okay," I said, my voice calm.

I brushed past her to walk away when a hand shoved me from behind.

I was pushed down the stairs.

A sharp pain pierced my body. I turned to see the bloodstain on the floor, spreading rapidly.

I had lost the baby.

After being discharged from the hospital I left the divorce papers on my bed.

I hailed a taxi for the airport.

Just before boarding, I saw a message from Ethan on my phone.

[Claire, I can't believe you haven't changed. You still cause trouble for Ava. Apologize, dont push me.]

I pulled out the SIM card and tossed it into the trash can at the airport.

Ethan and Ava, were at a mountaintop watching the sunset when his phone rang.

"Mr. Ethan, Ms. Claire is gone! She left a document... on the bed, you need to come here and see it."