Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 62

When I returned to the apartment I shared with Jason, the first thing I saw was the wedding dress I had bought, lying in a heap on the couch.

I hadn't come back here in days, thinking that avoiding it would make all the pain go away.

As I looked around the apartment, I realized, too late, that Jason hadn't returned either.

Of course, now that he and Grace had confirmed their relationship, they must have moved into a new place.

I packed the wedding dress into a bag and began collecting my things.

There were many things I could take, after all, this place held seven years of memories.

Except for the things he had bought for me, I took everything that belonged to me.

When I finished, the room was almost half empty.

I took one last look at the place and then, without hesitation, shut the door and left.

I booked a flight to Toronto that night.

I thought that if I could clear my mind, I could finally stop these terrible emotions.

Toronto is my hometown.

I had only been here a few days when an invitation to a class reunion popped up in the group chat.

With nothing else to do, I decided to go.

I arrived late, and everyone joked that I should drink three shots as punishment.

Just as I was about to take a sip, the door behind me opened.

"Sorry, I'm late, there was traffic."

The person who entered exuded a chilling aura, his tall figure and handsome face standing out.

Someone started to tease, "Oh, isn't that our genius violinist Ryan Walker!"

"Didn't think you'd come to such a small gathering."

"Quick, quick, both you and Elena are late, you each owe three shots."

Just as I was about to drink, Ryan took the glass from my hand.

"I'll drink for her."

He didn't ask for my consent and immediately downed six shots in one go.

Since we were the last to arrive, the two remaining empty seats were next to each other, so we sat down together.

During the meal, he didn't speak to me again, as if his earlier gesture was just out of politeness.

I reached for a shrimp I liked, but the table had already been spun.

Frustrated at how slow my hands were, I suddenly noticed a shrimp appeared in my bowl.

I looked at Ryan beside me, and he smiled at me.

"I used the serving chopsticks, you don't mind, do you?"

I shook my head and quietly ate the shrimp, wondering what his actions meant.

...

After a few more rounds of drinking, even though Ryan had helped block some drinks for me, I still felt a little dazed.

People at the table began to leave one by one.

When I stood up to leave, Ryan grabbed my sleeve.

I don't know what came over me, but I asked,

"Would you like to come up for some tea to sober up?"

He seemed surprised but quickly nodded, as if afraid I might change my mind.

...

I don't know who made the first move.

By the time I realized what was happening, our lips had already met.

The dim, flickering lights in the hallway made the atmosphere even more ambiguous.

"Heh, youth is truly great."

Someone seemed to walk by and teased us.

Embarrassed, I buried my face into Ryan's arms, and he held me tightly.

After a long while, a sigh escaped from above us.

We kissed as we walked, his way of kissing forceful and intense, leaving me breathless several times.

If he hadn't tightly held my waist, I would have already collapsed from weakness.

We soon reached the door of the room, and I swiped the card to open it.

Once inside, he picked me up and gently placed me on the bed.

Ryan held my soft waist, his eyes reddened, yet he was trying to hold back.

"Elena... are you sober now? Do you know who I am...?"