I Left for Seven Years, They Never Asked, I Came Back Married Novel – It had been seven years since I left the Sullivan family, and that New Year’s Eve was the first time I went back for dinner. When I saw Ethan Sullivan again, the man who had once been my brother in name, we looked at each other in silence, as if all the words we might have said had already expired.
Midway through the meal, Richard Sullivan patted my shoulder. “Natalie, asking you to move out back then wasn’t what I wanted either. Don’t hold it against me. You’ve come at the perfect time, though. Ethan is getting married next week.” I knew exactly what he was implying. Lifting my glass toward Ethan, I smiled politely. “Then congratulations in advance. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” Instead of responding, Ethan’s gaze drifted to the diamond on my ring finger, and he paused, visibly startled.
Margaret Sullivan followed his line of sight and gasped. “Natalie, where did that ring come from?” I looked around at the different expressions on their faces and let out a faint, self-deprecating laugh. “I forgot to mention it. I’ve been married for seven years.” *** Richard frowned at once. “Seven years ago you were barely out of school. Married? What were you thinking? That’s reckless.” “No matter what, we’re your adoptive parents. Getting married is a major decision. How could you not tell us?” Seven years ago, they had called it “asking me to move out.” In reality, I had been forced out for harboring feelings I should never have had.
After that, I saw no reason to inform the Sullivan family about my marriage. Even so, Richard and Margaret had raised me for fifteen years. I could not bring myself to hate them. “I know,” I said calmly. “That’s why I brought my husband back this time. I wanted you to meet him.” Sensing the tension thickening in the room, Margaret quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “It’s the holidays,” she said with a practiced smile. “The fact that Natalie showed up means enough.” She hesitated, then added, “Where is your husband?” I checked the time. “Something urgent came up.
He’ll be about two hours late.” Throughout the rest of the dinner, I could feel Ethan’s eyes on me. When I continued to ignore him, he finally broke. “Mom, Dad, my suit alterations are done. Victoria went to pick it up. I’ll go get her.” Then he tapped lightly on the table in front of me and looked down, his expression unreadable. “You haven’t met your sister-in-law yet. Why don’t you come with me?” I would have preferred to decline, but under Richard and Margaret’s careful scrutiny, I had little choice.
They were still worried that I hadn’t let Ethan go. In the garage, Ethan spoke first. “How have you been these past few years?” “I’ve been fine,” I replied without looking at him. He slowed for a moment, as if something hovered on his lips, then said nothing and walked ahead. When we reached the car, he opened the passenger door for me out of habit. I bypassed it and slipped into the back seat instead.
His brows drew together. “Do you have to be this distant?” I turned toward the window. “Isn’t your fiancée waiting? Let’s not keep her.” He sighed and took the driver’s seat. “You should call her your sister-in-law.” I didn’t respond. The city lights slid past the glass in a blur. At the bridal boutique, the passenger door opened the moment the car stopped. “Ethan, you didn’t have to come pick me up.” A woman in a beige wool coat climbed in and immediately wrapped her cashmere scarf around his neck. “It’s freezing. If you catch a cold, I’ll be the one worrying.” She smiled sweetly. “Poor husband of mine, working so hard.” Ethan brushed his cheek against the scarf, his voice softening. “I just couldn’t wait to see you.” They lingered in that easy intimacy before she finally noticed me in the back seat.
“This is Natalie, my sister,” Ethan said. “Natalie, this is Victoria Hayes.” “Nice to meet you,” I said with a polite nod. Victoria didn’t answer right away. She looked me up and down, assessing. “So you’re the sister who used to have a crush on him?” Sensing the edge in Victoria’s tone, I froze for a split second. “It’s not like that, I—” She smiled faintly. “Relax. I’m joking.” But her gaze sharpened.
“Unless you still have those… inappropriate feelings?” I shook my head and raised my left hand, letting the diamond catch the light. “You’re mistaken, Victoria. I’ve been married for a long time.”