Goodbye to the Man I Sewed For - Chapter 3: Chapter 3
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I glanced at the suitcase and smiled to myself. Just two more outfits, and I'd be ready to go.
If Ethan hadn't been so cold, if he'd kept up his act, maybe we really would've ended up married.
He came home in the early hours, and the moment he spotted my suitcase in the living room, he stormed into the bedroom, shaking me awake. "What the hell is this? Running away? If you're really leaving, don't expect me to beg you to stay!"
I didn't get why he was so furious. If I walked out, wouldn't that be exactly what he wanted—him and Linda, free to do whatever they pleased?
"I'm not running away. I have a collaboration meeting in a few days."
Ethan loosened his grip, realizing how hard he'd been holding me, and sank onto the bed. "What collaboration? Don't embarrass yourself dragging your homemade stuff around."
He opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but when he saw my expression, he backtracked. "I've just been swamped lately, and all that online gossip is nonsense. You've always been so understanding. Don't start drama for no reason."
Then, softer, he added, "When you get back, I'll take you somewhere nice."
Bitterness coiled in my chest. I turned my face away just enough to avoid his kiss. "I need some air tomorrow."
Ethan hesitated but finally nodded.
His eyes flicked to my leg, and his frown deepened. "See what happens when you pick fights? Linda's an actress—what if she'd gotten hurt?"
I shoved him off and burrowed into the blankets. "I'm tired. night."
bye, May We Never Meet Again
Ethan actually took a day off from filming. By dawn, he was already downstairs, camping gear packed, ready to "take me out."
I barely finished packing when Linda's voice floated up. "Ethan, I've never been mountaintop camping before. Thanks for bringing me."
I froze halfway down the stairs, then quietly set down the two sleeping bags I'd prepared.
Ethan held the passenger door open for Linda. I climbed into the backseat alone.
By afternoon, it was clear—this whole trip was just another one of Linda's whims.
Ethan barely glanced at me, his attention glued to her. When she shivered, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Linda took a bite of the meat he grilled for her, eyes locked on mine, smugness dripping from her smile.
Eventually, Ethan seemed to remember I existed. He grabbed my hand, voice placating. "It's her first time. You're not seriously jealous, are you?"
Linda giggled. "Of course she's not. She didn't mind when you stayed with me all night last time, right?"
Exhausted, I walked away, down to the creek, letting the cold water rush over my fingers.
Linda followed, Ethan's jacket swallowing her frame.
"Thanks for the idea," she purred. "I never knew Ethan could be so… attentive."
Then—so fast I barely saw it—she stumbled backward into the creek, drenched, tears already streaming.
Ethan was on me in seconds. The slap cracked across my cheek before I could react. He scooped Linda up, his voice venomous. "You're disgusting. What's wrong with you? Why do you keep hurting her?"
He didn't wait for an answer, just carried her down the mountain, leaving me behind.
The icy water soaked into my wound, staining it an angry red. Pain and humiliation crashed over me. I crouched there, watching the sky bleed into dusk.
I didn't move. Just stayed in the tent, alone.
Ethan didn't text. Not until dawn, when four hollow words appeared:
Take care of yourself.
I laughed, sharp and bitter. All those years, I'd actually believed him. Believed he loved me. That he'd never let me go.
Ethan once promised he'd wear my designs when he accepted his Best Actor trophy.
Now? That love was nothing but stagnant water.
The next morning, my phone buzzed—a reminder. My flight left in two days.
Dreamscape's team called to confirm. Contracts were ready. All I had to do was show up.
I went home. Empty, of course. Ethan's side of the closet was bare.
Linda's text came through like a final knife twist:
[Mia, I'll make sure Ethan announces us on that awards stage. You'll always be the pathetic nobody no one remembers.]
I typed back, [Then I hope you're happy together.]
Then I blocked them both—Ethan, Linda, every last trace of that life.
If Ethan hadn't been so cold, if he'd kept up his act, maybe we really would've ended up married.
He came home in the early hours, and the moment he spotted my suitcase in the living room, he stormed into the bedroom, shaking me awake. "What the hell is this? Running away? If you're really leaving, don't expect me to beg you to stay!"
I didn't get why he was so furious. If I walked out, wouldn't that be exactly what he wanted—him and Linda, free to do whatever they pleased?
"I'm not running away. I have a collaboration meeting in a few days."
Ethan loosened his grip, realizing how hard he'd been holding me, and sank onto the bed. "What collaboration? Don't embarrass yourself dragging your homemade stuff around."
He opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but when he saw my expression, he backtracked. "I've just been swamped lately, and all that online gossip is nonsense. You've always been so understanding. Don't start drama for no reason."
Then, softer, he added, "When you get back, I'll take you somewhere nice."
Bitterness coiled in my chest. I turned my face away just enough to avoid his kiss. "I need some air tomorrow."
Ethan hesitated but finally nodded.
His eyes flicked to my leg, and his frown deepened. "See what happens when you pick fights? Linda's an actress—what if she'd gotten hurt?"
I shoved him off and burrowed into the blankets. "I'm tired. night."
bye, May We Never Meet Again
Ethan actually took a day off from filming. By dawn, he was already downstairs, camping gear packed, ready to "take me out."
I barely finished packing when Linda's voice floated up. "Ethan, I've never been mountaintop camping before. Thanks for bringing me."
I froze halfway down the stairs, then quietly set down the two sleeping bags I'd prepared.
Ethan held the passenger door open for Linda. I climbed into the backseat alone.
By afternoon, it was clear—this whole trip was just another one of Linda's whims.
Ethan barely glanced at me, his attention glued to her. When she shivered, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Linda took a bite of the meat he grilled for her, eyes locked on mine, smugness dripping from her smile.
Eventually, Ethan seemed to remember I existed. He grabbed my hand, voice placating. "It's her first time. You're not seriously jealous, are you?"
Linda giggled. "Of course she's not. She didn't mind when you stayed with me all night last time, right?"
Exhausted, I walked away, down to the creek, letting the cold water rush over my fingers.
Linda followed, Ethan's jacket swallowing her frame.
"Thanks for the idea," she purred. "I never knew Ethan could be so… attentive."
Then—so fast I barely saw it—she stumbled backward into the creek, drenched, tears already streaming.
Ethan was on me in seconds. The slap cracked across my cheek before I could react. He scooped Linda up, his voice venomous. "You're disgusting. What's wrong with you? Why do you keep hurting her?"
He didn't wait for an answer, just carried her down the mountain, leaving me behind.
The icy water soaked into my wound, staining it an angry red. Pain and humiliation crashed over me. I crouched there, watching the sky bleed into dusk.
I didn't move. Just stayed in the tent, alone.
Ethan didn't text. Not until dawn, when four hollow words appeared:
Take care of yourself.
I laughed, sharp and bitter. All those years, I'd actually believed him. Believed he loved me. That he'd never let me go.
Ethan once promised he'd wear my designs when he accepted his Best Actor trophy.
Now? That love was nothing but stagnant water.
The next morning, my phone buzzed—a reminder. My flight left in two days.
Dreamscape's team called to confirm. Contracts were ready. All I had to do was show up.
I went home. Empty, of course. Ethan's side of the closet was bare.
Linda's text came through like a final knife twist:
[Mia, I'll make sure Ethan announces us on that awards stage. You'll always be the pathetic nobody no one remembers.]
I typed back, [Then I hope you're happy together.]
Then I blocked them both—Ethan, Linda, every last trace of that life.
End of Goodbye to the Man I Sewed For Chapter 3. Continue reading Chapter 4 or return to Goodbye to the Man I Sewed For book page.