After I Left, They All Regretted It

The sliding glass doors of JFK International Airport parted, hitting me with a blast of humid New York air.

"Evelyn. You finally decided to come home."

Sebastian stood at the edge of the pickup lane. My older brother shoved his hands into his tailored slacks, offering a relaxed smile.

Beside him stood Nathaniel Brooks, the man I was supposed to marry, and Daniel Foster, the boy who used to share his lunch with me in middle school. Three years ago, the sight of them waiting for me would have made me run into their arms.

Today, I felt absolutely nothing.

I adjusted the strap of my travel bag and met Sebastian’s gaze. "I am not home, Sebastian. I am here for Grandfather Edward's eightieth birthday banquet. My flight back to Paris leaves tomorrow morning."

Sebastian’s smile dropped. He pulled his hands from his pockets. "You just got off a transatlantic flight and you are already talking about leaving? Mom and Dad have the guest room prepared for you."

"I booked a hotel," I replied. "I have a schedule to keep."

Nathaniel stepped forward, his jaw rigid. "Three years, Evelyn. Are you really still throwing a tantrum over Chloe?"

I stared at him. The man wearing my engagement ring on his left hand looked more like a stranger than my fiancé.

"A tantrum?" I asked.

"She locked herself in her room the second she heard your plane landed," Nathan snapped. "She has been crying all morning. Has she not suffered enough? Why do you refuse to leave her alone?"

"Leave her alone?" I echoed.

"You refuse to answer her texts. You block her on every social media platform," Nathan listed off, stepping closer until he invaded my personal space. "She sends you birthday gifts every year, and you return them