CHAPTER 8: Chapter 8 - The Man He Chose to Be

He looked at his mother. Her face was wet with tears, but her eyes were on him now, afraid he might still choose Vanessa just to keep the peace.
That thought broke his heart.
"Mom," he said, "I am sorry."
Margaret shook her head quickly. "No, Ethan. You did not do this."
"I brought her into your life. I asked you to trust her. You tried, even when she hurt you, because you love me. That ends today."
Vanessa wiped at her eyes, but Ethan could not tell if the tears were real or strategic.
"Ethan, we can talk alone," she said. "Please. Not in front of everyone."
"You did not humiliate my mother in private," he replied. "So I am not going to defend her in private."
The room fell silent again, but this time the silence belonged to him.
He turned to the relatives and friends. "I wish I had come home to a celebration. I wish I had not seen what I saw. But I am glad I know before I made a vow I could not take back."
Ethan looked at her hand, at the diamond still on her finger.
"The wedding is over," he said. "The engagement is over. And you are leaving my mother's house now.