Harbor of Heartbreak

Chapter 8

"Crawford, if Claire wasn't so kind-hearted, I would've tossed your sorry ass to the wolves a long time ago."

Ethan's voice was cold, sharp as a knife.

"Let me make this clear: Claire's my fiancée now. No matter how much you beg or harass her, she won't spare you a second glance."

At that, Alexander's fist froze mid-air. His face twisted in shock, and he looked at me like he couldn't believe his own ears.

"Is that true?" he asked, his voice trembling. "Claire, we've only been apart a month, and you've already accepted someone else's proposal?"

I didn't bother telling him that the day I found out about Natalie's pregnancy, I had already accepted Ethan's heartfelt proposal over a video call. Ethan, who had loved me since childhood.

Instead, I lazily leaned into Ethan's strong shoulder, a faint smile playing on my lips as I nodded at him.

Alexander's voice shook with disbelief.

"Claire, are you out of your mind? You're my wife. We never agreed on a divorce, and you're already getting involved with another man? How could you do this to me?"

Why wouldn't I dare?

I tilted my head slightly, blinking nonchalantly.

"Does your agreement even matter to me, Alexander? You really think too highly of yourself."

I paused, letting my words sink in. "Let me tell you one last time, you're nothing to me. It's over between us."

Ignoring the crushed look on Alexander's face, I intertwined my fingers with Ethan's and turned away to continue stargazing and chatting with him.

No one noticed when Alexander finally left the estate, and no one cared.

But he didn't return to China. Instead, he bought a high-rise apartment near the estate, with a perfect view of the vineyard.

His daily routine was the same: after his video calls with the management back in China, he'd drive to the gates of the estate, bringing fresh flowers or random gifts I'd once mentioned but he'd never bothered to give me. He'd wait there, hoping to catch a glimpse of me.

I didn't acknowledge him. I didn't change my plans for him.

Nine years in a degrading, mismatched marriage had taught me one thing:

A woman should never change the course of her life to accommodate a man.

Work when it's time to work. Socialize when it's time to socialize.

In this vast world, my only responsibility is to make myself happy.

As for Alexander, I figured the only reason he couldn't let go was because his father, Mr. Crawford, had likely forced him to beg for my forgiveness, hoping I'd take him back.

So I called Mr. Crawford personally. I told him I already had a fiancé and a new life, asking him not to keep pushing Alexander to waste his time waiting for me.

But, despite that call, Alexander continued to wait outside the estate for a whole month, hoping for a glimpse of me through the car window.

The first one to lose patience was Ethan.