The best man

Chapter 11

"Thank you so much for showing me the ring, and for clearing things up," I say, my voice a bit shaky as I hug Charlotte. She wraps her arms around me gently, her warmth comforting. "You've no idea how much this means."

Charlotte smiles, her hands resting on my shoulders as she pulls back. "Of course, Lily. Anytime. And hey, good luck with everything. Ethan's a lucky guy."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat, before quickly excusing myself and stepping out of the Cartier store. As soon as I'm outside, the cold air hits my face, and I realize just how frantic I am. My mind is racing, the image of the ring still flashing before my eyes, along with Charlotte's words echoing in my head. He's been planning this. He loves you.

I need to see him. I need to find him.

I try to flag down a taxi, but none of them stop. It feels like time is working against me, so without thinking, I break into a run, my shopping bags swinging by my sides. My heart pounds, not just from the sprint but from the overwhelming rush of emotions swirling inside me—relief, guilt, and a desperate need to see Ethan.

After a few blocks, my legs start to burn, and I slow down, panting. Another taxi comes into view, and I wave it down with all my energy, praying this one stops. Thankfully, it does. I throw myself into the back seat, breathless. "The library," I gasp, "as fast as you can."

The ride feels eternal, and I can't stop glancing at my phone, half-expecting a message from Ethan, though I don't know why. Finally, we pull up in front of the library, and I nearly trip over my bags as I rush out. I swing open the door and step inside, my heart still hammering in my chest.

The library is quiet—too quiet. There's no one at the front desk. My pulse quickens. "Ethan!" I shout, my voice echoing through the rows of bookshelves. "Ethan!" I call again, louder this time, my voice frantic.

I hear footsteps, and a figure pops out from behind one of the shelves. But it's not Ethan. A young guy, probably in his early twenties, blinks at me, looking startled. "Sorry," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to scare you. Can I help you with something?"

"Where's Ethan?" I demand, my voice sharper than I intended. "I'm looking for Ethan."

The guy, clearly a newbie, hesitates, then frowns slightly. "Ethan? Oh, um... he went back to London a few days ago."

My heart drops into my stomach. "What?" The word comes out as a whisper. I feel the world around me tilt slightly. "He... he went back to London?"

The newbie nods, looking a bit awkward, as if he knows he's delivering bad news. "Yeah, he mentioned something about visiting family, I think? He didn't say when he'd be back."

I feel my throat tighten, a wave of panic rising in me. Ethan is gone.