I grabbed her arm and held her back.

Ethan was... he had been the most important person in my life.

No matter what the truth was, I didn't want to make a scene or embarrass him in public.

My mind was a complete mess.

I barely remember getting home.

That night, the boyfriend who was "swamped with work" surprisingly came back.

I'd known his face my whole life, but looking at him now, he felt like a total stranger.

"Ethan," I said from the sofa.

"Can we talk?"

"Sorry, May," he said, walking over apologetically.

"I've got to work late again tonight."

He leaned down like he was going to kiss me.

As he got closer, the faint, sweet scent of another woman's perfume hit me.

My stomach churned.

I turned my head away, only asking, "How did you cut your lip?"

Ethan froze for a second.

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes before he said, "Oh, I just bumped it."

We met at the orphanage as kids.

Coming this far together hadn't been easy.

Everything he had now, we'd built it side-by-side.

Unless there was no other way, I didn't want to just give up the life we had... It felt like a betrayal of all the tough years I'd been through.

"Ethan," I said softly.

"Do you remember the promise we made? To never lie to each other?"

People make mistakes.

No one is perfect.

We'd known each other for almost thirty years, in love for ten.

If he'd just slipped up, I was willing to give him one chance.

Ethan sighed and pulled me into a hug.

"Of course I remember."

"May, I've just been swamped with work lately. Please don't overthink things."

"Once the company goes public, we'll finally get married."

I'd been waiting for him to say "married" for so many years.

Hearing it now, all I felt was a deep sadness.

He... he still wasn't telling me the truth.

Ethan saw the look on my face.

His brow furrowed with what looked like concern.

He hesitated, then said gently, a touch of helplessness in his voice, "Okay, don't be upset."

"I won't go back to work tonight. I'll stay here with you."

"Okay," I managed, the word feeling heavy on my tongue.

"I'll ask my housekeeper to prepare dinner."

"Perfect," he said.

I planned to lay it all out during dinner.

If he didn't love me anymore, we could have a clean break.

No need for the lies, just give me what's owed to me.

But just as the food was set on the table, Ethan's phone rang.

His whole attitude changed.

"I'm so sorry, May," he said, urgency in his voice.

"Something just came up at the office. I have to go."

"I can't stay for dinner!"

He snatched up his jacket and hurried out, his face etched with haste.

I stared at the full table, my appetite completely gone.

Ethan Miller, are you really trying to fool me like I'm some kind of idiot?

I wanted a dignified exit, a simple conversation, but he wouldn't even give me that chance.

He was barely out the door, but I'd been close enough to his phone to hear it.

It was a girl's soft, tearful voice on the other end.

After he left, I went into his home office.

I opened his computer.