He Kept Me Hidden Then Pushed Me To Date Others Chapter 02
I replied with a time and place, then scrolled to see Ethan’s latest Instagram post.
[Best friends by my side, the love of my life across the table.]
The photo showed him with a group of friends, Gemma front and center.
His private group chat lit up with tags.
[Damn, Ethan. Finally got Gemma back! Congrats, you two! About time you made it official.]
[Official? Everyone knew Ethan was into Gemma. That’s old news.]
[What about Claire though? Wasn’t she chasing him for five years?]
[Chasing? That’s called simping. Now that Gemma is back, why would he choose anyone else?]
[Before Gemma even came back, Ethan had a proposal and a ring ready. Still not obvious who he really wants?]
[Wait—we’re in the group chat that has Claire in it…]
A second later, I was kicked out.
A dull, aching bitterness crawled up my chest.
I’d begged Ethan to add me to that group so I could feel like part of his world.
I’d sent tons of Venmo tips to liven things up, but Ethan just frowned at me. “No need to throw money around. They don’t care about that.”
After that, the chat went dead silent. Ethan said, “Everyone’s busy. No one has time to chat.”
Turns out they did have time. Just not in the group I was in.
And all those public confessions and grand gestures I’d dreamed about for years? Gemma didn’t have to ask. Ethan offered them on a silver platter the moment she walked back into his life.
I sat by the river for a while before heading home. As I stepped out of the elevator, I ran straight into Ethan—with Gemma right behind him.
He stopped short at the sight of me, his face hardening with wariness. “Claire? What are you doing here?”
I opened my mouth to say I was just going home, but then I remembered—Ethan had strictly forbidden us from being seen entering or leaving together. Same address, but we’d never walked out the door at the same time.
As if afraid Gemma might catch on, he cut me off. “Can you stop following me around? I don’t want any misunderstandings.”
I stood frozen, speechless.
My phone buzzed with his text.
[Don’t come back for a while. Gemma just got back and needs a place to stay. I told her she could crash here. I’ve already had your things packed and moved to Westbrook. Go there for now.]
I turned back toward the elevator. Gemma asked who I was.
Ethan’s voice was flat. “Just someone from work who’s been interested in me. Apparently she followed me home. Don’t worry, I’ll have building security step it up.”
As the doors slid shut, Gemma’s teasing laugh filtered through. “Not bad, Ethan. Five years and you still haven’t changed the garage code. The day I left the country. You really did count the days, huh?”
My hand, reaching for the floor button, went still.
When I’d first moved in and learned the passcode, I’d secretly thrilled at it—our anniversary, the day we got together. I thought it was his quiet way of showing love. That he just wasn’t good with words.
Turns out even that small happiness wasn’t meant for me.
I dragged myself to Westbrook and moved my things out.
Late that night, Ethan messaged again when I didn’t reply.
[Don’t overthink this. Gemma just got back. I’m just helping out a friend. And about going public—give me a little more time.]
I didn’t respond. I just un-pinned his chat.
