E T H A N

I can't help but drag her outside.

Everything was ruined because of her. I didn't expect her to become the person that she is now. The sweet and caring Vanessa that I had met back in my childhood years had now been long gone. It was like she was a different person. Instead of changing, she decided to deceive me. 

"Ethan, please! Let me go! You're hurting me!" she shouted as I held her arm tightly — clearly furious at how I tried to talk to her like this. I still can't forget what she said earlier inside. Even Ray was a part of this plan of hers and I was stupid to trust him. 

"You deserve this. You know I love Claire so much. Why the hell did you lie to me?" The grip I had on her tightened and she tried pushing me away. Though, when I loosened it a bit, she didn't say a word. 

But what she said soon afterward just made my blood boil.

"I love you, Ethan. She doesn't deserve you, I do." She tried to hug me but I made sure to back away, grab her hands, and made sure that she won't be able to do so. 

"I only cared for you as a little sister, Vanessa. A little sister! Nothing more. Put that in your mind that I will never love you the way I love her," I shouted as she answered me, her voice raised this time.

"You're breaking our promise. Our promise is that we are just the two of us, there would be no one else---" Her eyes widened when I pushed her hands away when she tried to hold my hand again. 

"That's for friends, Vanessa. Not a couple! You assumed and destroyed the relationship I had? Are you really that desperate?" Suddenly, her hand made its way to my cheek and had a hard impact, making it red in a second as the sound echoed in the room. 

She glared at me with tears brimming in the edge of her eyes. "Desperate? I'm not desperate! We've been inseparable ever since we were still kids, Ethan."

"How dare you call me desperate. How many times have I saved you from Ray and this is what I got? The nerve you have!" she even added as I gave her a death stare this time. 

I won't let her try to manipulate me again. I've had enough of her lies. There was no way to end this but to make the first move to break things off with her. There was no use in sticking up around her. 

"And the nerve you have to call yourself my girlfriend," I could help but reply back, trying to throw her remark back at her. Judging by the look on her face, she wasn't quite pleased with what I did. 

She then did a thing that I didn't expect her to do. 

She sat down on the sofa, crossing her arms before she crossed her legs as she sat. "Well then, I'm not leaving."

"I will not leave this house until you break up with her. " When she noticed that I wasn't in the mood, she decided to face me. "So, Love, please. Let's stop this nonsense. You can easily dump her to get out of this mess."

I have no time for this. 

Walking away, I could hear Vanessa standing up. As soon as I reached my room, I decided to take my things right away and packed them in my suitcase. She immediately knew what I was doing since she then grabbed my arm, shaking her head in disapproval. 

"Ethan, you're not going to do this," she told me before trying to pull me away from packing. 

"Watch me." That was the only answer I gave her before trying to get past her. But, of course, she had to be persistent. 

"Please, love, please. I'll be a good girlfriend to you, I promise! Just don't leave! " she begged as I saw the tears on her face. I can't trust her anymore. She ruined everything. 

I didn't feel sorry for her right away. I took her hand and removed it from my arm. Of course, it took me a while to get rid of. She was like a cat stuck in a curtain. Unfortunately, I was the curtain.

If only she hadn't really assumed and become desperate, maybe we would've still been friends.

Right now, my main priority is Claire. I need to apologize somehow. Though, I need Benedict to help me. I mean, my guilt is eating me up but I still have no idea how to make it up to her for all the things I've done.

At first, I wanted to try my luck by taking my phone and calling Claire. After a ring, the call suddenly ended before I could even say a word. Damn, I'm such an idiot. I immediately called Benedict and waited for him to answer.

Pick up, I don't want to lose Claire. 

"Ethan? What's up? Did you call to say you won't leave Vanessa? " I heard the irritation in Benedict's voice as he told me this.

"Actually, I broke it off. I just want to know where Claire is. I need to talk to her," I opened up to Benedict as I heard Sam in the background as if she was saying they didn't know.

"About that..." he trailed off and was silent for a moment. "She doesn't talk to us anymore. We haven't been receiving any calls lately. Her last call was the time I found out about the mistake you made."

I sighed immediately as I fell silent in line. She no longer talks to Benedict and Sam. I can't believe she tries so hard not to speak to them.

But of course, I also thought they were saying this because Claire told me not to tell me that she still had a connection with them.

And I do hope that it's the latter.

"I'm sorry, Ethan. There's nothing we could do." I was immediately shaken. I have a plan to get Claire back but I really, really need their help. 

"I need to ask you guys a favor. I know how to fix the mistake I made but I need your help." They were a slight pause in the other line. No one dared to say a word. So, I had to at least find a way.

So, I begged. 

I heard Benedict sigh as he probably decided that it was for the best. "Okay. Just tell us what to do and we'll try to help you as best as we can. "

I couldn't help but smile as I replied, "Thanks, both of you. Now prepare your suitcases."

They both asked the reason and I made sure that they hear this loud and clear.

"We are going to Paris."