Chapter 3

Natalie Smith POV

The next day. The architecture firm.

I sat at my desk, stared at the final blueprints for the villa on my screen, and pressed delete.

"Natalie." My mentor knocked on my desk and slid a document in front of me. "The joint project in Zurich just got approved. They specifically requested you as lead designer. Three-year commitment. Are you interested?"

I looked at the document and fell quiet.

This was one of the most prestigious projects in the global architecture world. If I took it, my career would reach an entirely different level. But two weeks ago, I had turned it down.

Because Ethan had said. "Natalie, three years is too long. I can't be without you for three years. Stay here with me. You can have your pick of any project in New York."

I had been so happy then. I thought giving up that opportunity for him was the most natural thing in the world.

But now...

"Professor, I..." My phone rang. Ethan.

"Natalie, I'm sorry about last night." His voice came through the speaker, low and gently apologetic. "I've reserved the entire rooftop at Altitude tonight to celebrate our anniversary. I'll pick you up myself."

My grip on the phone tightened.

"Okay," I heard myself say, calm as still water.

After I hung up, I turned back to my mentor. "Give me one day to think about it. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

Seven o'clock that evening. Altitude.

It was New York's most exclusive rooftop restaurant, the kind of place where you could sit above the whole city and watch a million lights flicker to life below you.

I wore the black velvet dress Ethan loved most and sat by the window. The table was set with red roses and an uncorked bottle of wine.

Seven-thirty. No Ethan.

Eight o'clock. Still nothing.

At nine, one of the waitstaff approached carefully. "Mrs. Finch, would you like us to begin serving?"

"Not yet. A little longer." I kept my eyes on the glittering city below, my voice quiet.

Ten o'clock.

I picked up my phone and called him.

It rang for a long time before someone picked up, but it wasn't Ethan's voice. It was Vivian's, fragile and breathless.

"Natalie..." Vivian's voice was laced with a kind of strained suffering. "Ethan is in the bathroom wringing out a hot towel for me. I had a sudden stomach cramp tonight. The pain was so bad I was on the floor. He panicked. He refused to leave the hospital..."

The air left my lungs. Something invisible had my heart in a fist and wouldn't let go.

"Natalie, I'm so sorry for ruining your anniversary." Her voice was soft with innocence, and yet every word landed like something tipped in poison. "Ethan was about to leave, but I grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go... I was just so scared to be alone in the hospital. You'll forgive me, won't you?"

I said nothing. From the other end of the line I heard footsteps, and then Ethan's voice, urgent and tender. "Vivian, the towel's ready. Here. Does that help? Are you still in pain?"

"Ethan, Natalie's on the phone."

Two seconds of silence.

Then Ethan's voice: strained, vaguely guilty, edged with impatience he couldn't quite hide. "Natalie, it's a bad stomach cramp. I can't leave right now. We'll reschedule the dinner. Head home, okay? Be good."

He didn't wait for a response. The call ended.

I sat there listening to the dial tone, and then I started to laugh.

I laughed until tears ran down my face. I laughed until my shoulders were shaking.

Be good.

What did he think I was? A pet he could set aside whenever it was inconvenient, toss a treat to and expect gratitude?

I stood up, picked up my bag, and turned to the nearest server. "Check, please."

Outside, the night air was cool against my skin.

I stood on the sidewalk, watching the endless stream of headlights pass, and pulled out my phone. I typed out a message to my mentor.

"Professor, I'll take the Zurich project."

The moment I sent it, the weight that had been sitting on my chest for months finally cracked apart.

Ethan Finch. Your world is full enough without me. So I won't stay.