Chapter 84. A Glimpse of the Past

Ethan’s POV

The cool night air hit me as I stepped out of the house, slamming the door behind me. My heart was pounding, my chest tight with anger and frustration. Lily’s accusations, her relentless nagging, it was too much.

How had we reached this point? How had the woman I once thought I wanted turned into someone I couldn’t stand to be around?

I fished my phone out of my pocket, staring at the screen. My thumb hovered over Victoria’s name in my contacts. I didn’t know why I wanted to call her. Maybe it was the familiar comfort of her voice or the memory of how things used to be when life wasn’t this complicated. Before I could second-guess myself, I tapped the call button.

The phone rang twice before she picked up. Her tone was clipped, and I could tell I’d interrupted something. “Ethan, what is it?”

“Victoria,” I said, my voice more desperate than I intended. “I... I need to talk to you.”

There was a long pause on the other end, and I c