He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 79

Samantha carried a bundle of local farm goods. When she saw Rose, she sheepishly tried to hide the eggs behind her back.

Rose pretended not to see. Back when she was Ethan’s girlfriend, Samantha had never once offered her so much as a single egg.

Looking back, she realized how foolish she’d been.

“Well, well, look who suddenly doesn’t recognize people,” Samantha snapped, annoyed by Rose’s indifference.

Rose couldn’t be bothered. She no longer had any reason to tolerate Samantha’s nonsense.

Samantha’s face twisted in displeasure.

Ethan leaned against the wall, a cigarette pinched between his fingers, exhaling slowly like a much older man. The scene reminded Rose of their early days, when he’d often wait for her outside just like this.

She walked past. Ethan stubbed out his cigarette and stared straight at her.

“You’re back?” he said politely.

Rose looked at him. He seemed older now—worn down. The arrogance once etched into his face had faded into quiet resignation.

And that version of Ethan… disappointed her.

“I heard you got promoted. Congrats,” Rose said, her tone edged with sarcasm.

Ethan gave a bitter smile and muttered, “Guys like me—we pay a price for everything we get.”

Just then, the elevator doors opened. As Rose stepped in, her footing slipped and the documents in her arms spilled to the ground.

She bent down to gather them. Ethan knelt at the same time, and their hands brushed.

For a second, he didn’t want to let go—her warmth lingered on his fingertips. But Rose recoiled as if burned.

He froze, staring at her. The way she flinched away made it painfully clear: she would never again be the Rose who once loved him.

“Ethan,” Rose said, her voice calm but firm, “you don’t need to sell yourself for what you want. With your talent, you could achieve anything, if you were just willing to fight for it. Sooner or later, it would’ve been yours anyway.”

As the elevator opened again, she turned and walked out, leaving Ethan behind.

But her words struck him like a hammer.

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