Chapter 2: The Secret Ethan Buried
I should have gone downstairs.
That was what any reasonable person would have done.
I should have walked into the ceremony, found Ethan waiting at the altar, and asked him the question burning inside me.
Who was Charlotte?
Who was Lily?
Why had I never heard either name?
But instead, I stood frozen in the bridal suite while Emma adjusted my veil and talked about flowers.
She had no idea my entire world had shifted.
“Claire?””
I looked up.
Emma frowned.
“You’re pale.””
I forced a smile.
“I’m just nervous.””
She laughed softly.
“Everyone is nervous before they get married.””
Everyone.
The word hurt.
Because everyone else was preparing for a wedding.
I was preparing for an interrogation.
When Emma left to get my bouquet, I grabbed my phone.
My thumb hovered over Ethan’s name.
Three years.
Three years together.
Three years of conversations.
Three years of falling asleep beside him, waking up beside him, believing I knew him.
Could a person hide something that big?
The worst part was not the photograph.
It was the possibility that he could look at me every day and still keep a piece of himself locked away.
The phone rang before I could call.
Ethan.
I answered immediately.
“Claire?””
His voice instantly softened me.
And I hated that.
Because even after everything, hearing him still felt like home.
“Hey.””
“You sound strange.””
I closed my eyes.
“I need to ask you something.””
A pause.
“What happened?””
I looked at the photograph.
“Do you know someone named Charlotte Hayes?””
Silence.
Not a normal silence.
A dangerous one.
“Claire…”
My heartbeat changed.
“What?””
“Why are you asking me that?””
I sat down.
“Just answer.””
Another pause.
Then Ethan exhaled.
“Where did you hear that name?””
That was enough.
The room suddenly felt too small.
“So you do know her.””
“Claire, listen to me.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“Ethan, I’m standing in my wedding dress asking about another woman, and your first reaction is asking how I found out?””
“Because there’s something you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
He didn’t.
That hurt more than anything.
“Ethan?””
Finally, he spoke.
“Not here.””
I stared at the phone.
“What does that mean?””
“It means this is not something we discuss five minutes before our wedding.””
My eyes burned.
“Maybe five minutes before our wedding is exactly when I needed to know.””
“Claire, please.””
“Who is Charlotte?””
Silence.
Then:
“She was someone from my past.””
“And Lily?””
The silence became longer.
My blood ran cold.
“Ethan?””
His voice lowered.
“Who told you about Lily?””
I stood.
The answer was obvious.
Vivian.
But I didn’t say her name.
Because suddenly I wondered if she wanted this exact moment.
She wanted me angry.
She wanted me confused.
She wanted me to destroy my own wedding.
“I have to go.””
“Claire—”
I ended the call.
A minute later, there was a knock.
This time, I knew who it was.
Ethan.
I opened the door.
He stood there wearing his tuxedo, looking exactly like the man I had dreamed about marrying.
That almost made it worse.
Because he looked innocent.
He looked like my future.
“Claire.””
His eyes moved to the photograph in my hand.
And all the color left his face.
“You found it.””
Not denial.
Not confusion.
Just fear.
I swallowed.
“How long were you planning to hide this?””
He stepped inside.
“Let me explain.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“Explain why you never told me you had another life?””
His jaw tightened.
“I didn’t have another life.””
“You had a woman.””
“I had a mistake.””
The word stunned me.
“A mistake?””
Ethan looked away.
And for the first time in three years, I saw something in him I had never seen before.
Shame.
“Charlotte and I were engaged.””
The room went silent.
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because my mind couldn’t process it.
“You were engaged?””
“Yes.””
“And you never mentioned her?””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
He had no answer.
I stepped back.
“Before or after we had children? Before or after we celebrated our tenth anniversary?””
“Claire.””
“No.””
I wiped my eyes.
“Why?””
Ethan looked toward the window.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Losing you.””
The honesty almost hurt more.
I whispered:
“You thought telling me the truth would make me leave?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“And you were right.””
His face changed.
“Claire.””
Before I could answer, the door opened.
Vivian stood there.
She looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
A small smile appeared.
“I see you finally told her.””
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“Mom, get out.””
Vivian ignored him.
She looked directly at me.
“I warned you.””
Ethan stepped between us.
“You don’t get to do this.””
Vivian smiled.
“Actually, I do.””
She reached into her purse.
Then placed another document on the table.
My stomach dropped.
“What is that?””
Vivian looked at Ethan.
“Tell her.””
Ethan said nothing.
And that was when I knew.
Whatever was inside that envelope was worse than Charlotte.
Worse than Lily.
Because even Ethan was afraid of it.
Vivian pushed the paper toward me.
“Go ahead, Claire.””
May you like
She smiled coldly.
“Read what your future husband signed before he ever met you.””
