Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 72 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 72

Chapter 4 

327 missed calls. All from Evan. 

Plus dozens of texts. Started out annoyed. Ended in full-blown panic. 

I scanned them. Didn’t open a single one. 

Blocked his number. Then his Instagram. His Snapchat. Every possible way he could reach me-gone. 

The program coordinator was waiting at arrivals holding a folder and a French SIM card. 

“Ms. Harper! Welcome. Let’s get you settled. Orientation starts tomorrow.” 

I took the stuff, thanked her, and followed the group to our housing. 

The Parisian air hit different. Unfamiliar. Clean. 

For the first time all day, my shoulders dropped. 

The apartment was small but spotless. Big windows overlooking a tree-lined street. 

I set down my suitcase. First thing I did? Lined up my pads and Advil on the bathroom shelf. 

Only thing that made me feel safe anymore. 

My phone rang. 

Unknown number. 

I hesitated. Picked up. 

Evan’s voice came through-hoarse, frantic. 

“Claire, where ARE you? I messed up, okay? Just come home. Please.” 

My voice came out flat. 

“I’m in France, Evan. We’re done.” 

He lost it. 

Chapter 4 

“DONE? Claire, don’t do this! It’s about Gina, right? She’s just my mentee! I was being a good teacher! I’ll redo the wedding photos-better ones! We’ll upgrade the venue! Just come back!” 

I laughed. It sounded bitter even to me. 

“Your responsibility was never supposed to be another woman, Evan. Seven years. I chased you for four. Dated you for three. I thought if I was good enough, you’d finally see me. But you DID see me. You just didn’t care.” 

“I don’t need your photos. Or your venue. What you owe me? You can’t pay back. And I’m done asking.” 

I hung up. 

Blocked the number. 

I didn’t feel sad. 

I felt… light. 

Opened my laptop. Started reviewing program materials. If I was doing this, I wasn’t wasting three years. 

But Evan wasn’t done. 

Next morning, the front desk called. 

“A man is here claiming to be your fiancé.” 

I frowned. 

“Tell him I’m not here.” 

Grabbed my stuff. Left with the coordinator for campus. 

Thought that was the end of it. 

It wasn’t. 

He was waiting outside the school gates. Hair a mess. Eyes bloodshot. Crowd forming. 

“Claire! I know you’re mad! Just come out here and TALK to me!” 

This wasn’t the cold, composed Evan I knew. This was someone unraveling. 

I walked up to him. My voice came out ice-cold. 

“I already told you. We’re over. Stop following me. You’re affecting my work.” 

Chapter 4 

The coordinator stepped between us. 

“Sir, this is a school campus. If you don’t leave, we’ll call security.” 

Evan looked at me. Eyes red. 

“Claire. I’m not giving up. I’ll wait for you. However long it takes.” 

I didn’t answer. 

Just turned and walked through the gates. 

His stare felt like chains. 

But for the first time in seven years, I wasn’t wearing them anymore. 

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