Twisted Vows

chapter 8 : haunted by the past

The silence that followed Samantha's departure was deafening. Ethan stood motionless in the living room, staring at the closed door, his mind numb. The reality of her leaving hit him harder than he expected. Samantha had always been the one person he could count on, and now, she was gone—at least for now. The weight of his indecision settled heavily on his shoulders.Unable to stay in the empty house any longer, Ethan grabbed his jacket and left, needing to clear his head. The cool night air provided some relief, but it did little to ease the chaos swirling inside him. As he walked aimlessly through the quiet streets, his phone buzzed again. It was Olivia. **"I'm leaving town tomorrow. I'd really like to see you before I go."**Ethan's heart raced. This was it—the moment he'd been dreading and anticipating at the same time. If he met Olivia, he'd be opening the door to something he wasn't sure he was ready for. But if he didn't, would he regret it? His heart pulled in two directions—toward the woman who had been his everything in the past, and the one who had built a future with him in the present.He hesitated for a few moments, staring at the message, before typing a response.**"Okay. Where?"**A minute later, her reply came through.**"At the park by the river. Midnight."**Ethan knew the place well. It was where he and Olivia had spent many late nights during their relationship, talking about their future, their dreams, and everything in between. The memories of those moments flooded his mind, making it hard to breathe.When he arrived at the park, it was nearly deserted. The river glistened under the moonlight, and the gentle sound of water flowing added to the stillness of the night. Olivia was standing by the edge, her silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. She looked almost the same as she had back then—beautiful, confident, but with a hint of something deeper in her eyes.Ethan approached slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. "Olivia."She turned to face him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Ethan. I didn't think you'd come.""I wasn't sure if I would," he admitted, standing a few feet away from her. "But I couldn't just leave things unresolved."Olivia sighed, looking out at the river. "A lot has happened between us, hasn't it?""Yeah," Ethan replied quietly. "A lot."There was a long pause, both of them lost in their thoughts. Finally, Olivia turned to him, her expression more serious. "I didn't come back just to stir things up, Ethan. I came back because... I never really let go of you. I know leaving was the worst thing I could have done, but at the time, I didn't feel like I had a choice."Ethan felt his chest tighten at her words. "You didn't just leave, Olivia. You disappeared. You left me without a word, and I had to pick up the pieces of my life on my own.""I know," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "And I regret that every day. But my parents... they threatened you. They told me if I didn't leave, they would ruin you. I couldn't let that happen, Ethan. I thought I was protecting you."Ethan's mind spun as the full weight of her confession hit him. He had always wondered why Olivia had left so abruptly, but he'd never expected this. Her parents had been behind it all. They had torn them apart."I didn't know," he said, his voice strained. "You should have told me.""I couldn't risk it. They were watching me, and I was scared for you," Olivia explained, her eyes brimming with tears. "And when I finally had the courage to come back, you were already married. I didn't want to interfere in your life, but when I saw you again... I realized I never stopped loving you."Ethan felt a surge of emotions—anger, sadness, confusion—all colliding at once. His love for Olivia had been real, deep, and all-consuming. But now, so much had changed. Samantha had entered his life and helped him rebuild when everything had fallen apart. How could he just throw that away?"I don't know what to say," Ethan whispered, his throat tight. "Everything's different now."Olivia stepped closer, her hand reaching for his. "I know. But I had to tell you the truth before I left again. I don't expect anything, Ethan. I just... I needed you to know that I never wanted to leave you. I still love you."Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Ethan looked down at their hands, his heart aching with the weight of his decision. He had longed for this moment for years, to understand why Olivia had left, to have closure. But now that he had it, he wasn't sure what to do."I loved you too," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But things are complicated now. I'm married, Olivia."Olivia's eyes filled with sorrow, but she didn't pull away. "I know. And I'm not asking you to leave your wife. I just needed to tell you how I feel. Whatever happens next, it's up to you."Ethan pulled his hand away, stepping back as the emotions swirled inside him. He couldn't deny that part of him still cared for Olivia, that part of him had never fully let her go. But there was Samantha—his wife, the woman who had been there for him through everything. He couldn't just abandon her, not after all they had been through."I need time," he finally said, his voice raw. "I need to figure things out."Olivia nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I understand. Just know that I'll always love you, Ethan. No matter what happens."With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Ethan standing alone by the river. The weight of his choice pressed down on him, heavier than ever.As he watched Olivia disappear into the night, Ethan realized that no matter what decision he made, nothing would ever be the same again.