Chapter 20
Clay like his heart was being ripped apart, like he could barely breathe. He just couldn’t accept it. He went out and bought himself a little knife, and right there on his desk, he carved out, “Maya and Clay will be together forever!”
Then he started making the rounds, hitting up every spot that used to mean something to us.
He went to the Lover’s Bridge; our lock was gone.
No matter; he could buy a new one.
At the Blessing Church, Clay found the pastor.
“Where are the ribbons Maya tied up back in the day? Can you show me?”
He’d only heard me mention them; but he’d never known what I wished for.
He hadn’t cared.
The pastor hesitated, his expression complex. After a long pause, he sighed.
“Sorry, Mr. Sterling, you paid five hundred thousand dollars to remove and discard all Ms. Moore’s ribbons. They’re gone, and there’s nothing we can do.”
Hearing that, Clay’s ears start ringing. What had he done? All my feelings, all my wishes, just trashed by him like they were nothing.
No wonder I left.
He slapped himself, filled with self–reproach.
After a while, he calmed down, speaking earnestly.“Pastor, I’ll pay ten million to take down every wish ribbon I ever tied up with Riley, and replace them with wishes for Maya.”
The pastor shook his head, sighing.“Alright!”
He didn’t refuse; he knew he couldn’t. Clay was determined.
After a long time, Clay wrote thousands of unique wishes and hung them. The ribbons fluttered. in the wind, each one a testament to his sincerity.
“May Maya forgive Clay, and they reunite.”
“May Clay and Maya grow old together, in love.”
After the church, Clay rested overnight and flew to Aspen.
He’d battled Ethan numerous times, narrowly losing. Several times, he recognized my tactics. I just didn’t want to see him.
So what could he do? He had to come find me himself.
15:47
Chapter 20
Below Ethan’s company, Clay parked a car loaded with gifts and waited by the curb. He arranged tens of thousands of flowers to spell out, “Maya, forgive me,” and filled the trunk with luxury jewelry and gifts like they were nothing.
The whole scene was so over–the–top, it drew a crowd in seconds.
He’d paid people to apologize on his behalf–ten thousand dollars for each apology delivered to
- me.
As soon as Ethan and I walked out of the company, we ran right into this circus. Both our faces dropped.
“Maya, Clay’s here to ask for forgiveness. Will you go back?”
Despite their happy, simple life, Ethan felt insecure. After all, I’d loved Clay for so many years. He couldn’t help but worry.
I
gave him a reassuring smile, lacing our fingers together..
“I won’t go back. I never want to see him again.”
“Ethan, have more faith in yourself. My only regret is not leaving Clay sooner, not being with earlier.”
you
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