He Dumped Me on a Mountaintop

New Year's Eve.

Scarlett Hayes shivered, freezing in her short skirt while hiking.

I casually remarked, Maybe don't wear a short skirt for hiking, and her eyes immediately welled up.

My boyfriend, Ethan Blackwood, instantly frowned. Scarlett, why do you have to be so cruel?

You'll stay on the peak alone and reflect. You can come down when you've apologized to Chloe Davis.

Our friends were stunned, trying to talk him out of it.

He leaned against his car door, looking at me with absolute certainty. "You're too proud. It's time you learned a lesson."

I looked at him and asked, "Are you sure?"

He nodded, then drove off with Chloe.

I stood on the peak for five minutes.

Then I called my dad:

"Dad, send a helicopter to pick me up."

Then I called my assistant:

"Also, close the mountain. Effective immediately, no one goes up or down."

Half an hour later, the helicopter landed.

Ethan's phone calls came flooding in, but I didn't answer.

Finally, he sent a text message:

"Chloe collapsed from the cold. Are you happy now?"

I told my assistant, "Let them spend the rest of New Year's Eve up there before they come down."

New Year's Eve, 4 AM, Skyridge Peak.

The wind was fierce. I stood wrapped in my down jacket at the edge of the observation deck, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance.

Chloe Davis stood beside me, shivering uncontrollably.

She wore a short skirt with black stockings, topped with a thin-looking white cashmere coat.

"Hiking really isn't suitable for short skirts," I casually remarked.

It really was just a casual comment.

The next second, her eyes welled up.

"Scarlett, I didn't mean to dress like this. I thought it wouldn't be so cold on the mountain..." Her voice trembled, as if I'd been the one to upset her.

Before I could even speak, Ethan started blaming me.

"Scarlett Hayes, it's her freedom to wear whatever she wants. Do you have to be so harsh?"

"I was just reminding her," I said, looking at him, my voice calm.

"Reminding?" Ethan sneered. "That tone of yours was a 'reminder'?"

Chloe quickly pulled his sleeve.

"Ethan, don't blame Scarlett. I'm sure she was just concerned about me. It's my fault for not dressing properly."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Ethan's expression grew even darker.

He pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Chloe, then turned to me.

"Scarlett Hayes, why can't you ever be more gentle?"

I didn't say anything.

The friends around us exchanged glances. Someone tried to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, let's not fight. The sunrise is almost here!"

"Yeah, Chloe, don't cry. Here, take my jacket."

Someone took off their waterproof jacket and draped it over Chloe.

Chloe wiped her tears and thanked them, looking as sweet and innocent as could be.

I just stood there, feeling like the villain.

Ethan didn't look at me again. He walked with Chloe to the other side of the observation deck, murmuring to comfort her, "Don't take it to heart. She's just like that, she speaks without thinking."

Twenty-three years I'd known him, and that's how he described me.

The horizon in the distance began to lighten. Someone yelled "Sunrise!" and a group of people gathered to take photos.

I didn't move.

I stood still, watching them huddle together. Chloe was protected in front of Ethan. She looked up at him and asked, "Ethan, isn't it beautiful?"

Ethan looked down at her and smiled. "Beautiful."

I couldn't tell if he meant the sunrise or her.

Suddenly, I felt a little tired.

The sunrise quickly ended. Everyone took photos on the observation deck, then discussed heading down for breakfast.

"Let's go, let's go! I'm freezing! There's a great diner at the bottom of the mountain; let's grab some brunch!"

When we reached the cars, I found Ethan's car door locked.

He leaned against the driver's side door, looking at me, his expression indifferent.

"Scarlett Hayes, you stay here."

I stopped.

"What do you mean?"

He raised his chin, gesturing toward the peak. "Go up there and be alone. When you've figured out what you did wrong, call me, and I'll come get you."

Everyone around us was stunned.

"Ethan, what are you doing?"

"Stop messing around, get in the car. Scarlett, you too."

Ethan ignored them, just looking at me.

His gaze was absolute, like he was watching a cat that couldn't escape.

He knew I didn't have a car.

He knew we were at the summit, and getting a ride was impossible.

He knew I had no other choice but to give in to him.

"Are you sure?" I asked him.

"Sure," he said. "You're too proud; it's time you learned a lesson."

I nodded.

Then I turned and walked toward the peak.

"Scarlett!" someone called after me.

I didn't look back.

From behind me, I heard Ethan's voice, "Don't worry about her. She won't go far, she'll be back. She hates the cold."

Then came the sound of car engines starting.

The convoy drove off into the distance.

I walked back to the observation deck and found a sheltered spot to sit.

I called my dad.

Half an hour later, a roar came from the sky.

A black helicopter slowly descended.

The sky was just beginning to lighten when the helicopter landed at the private helipad on the east side of the city.

The car drove out of the helipad and through the still-sleeping city streets.

I leaned back in the seat, staring out the window, lost in thought.

My phone was still off.

Twenty-three years. I knew Ethan too well.

He'd get mad, I'd coax him. He'd push me away, I'd wait. He'd come back, I'd accept him.

As if I was just supposed to stand there and wait for him.

But this time.

I didn't want to wait anymore.

"Scarlett, we're here."

I snapped out of it. The car had already stopped at my house.

The house was warm. Maria was bustling in the kitchen and looked surprised to see me back.

"Scarlett? I thought you went to the peak to see the sunrise? Why are you back so early?"

"It ended early." I took off my jacket and sat at the dining table. "Maria, I'd love a bowl of soup."

"Coming right up, dear! It'll be ready in a jiffy."

The steaming hot soup arrived. I took a bite, feeling the warmth spread through my stomach, making me feel a little better.

Maria chattered beside me. "Oh, you poor thing, it must have been freezing up on that mountain, weren't you?"

"I'm fine."

"Where's Ethan? Didn't he come back with you?"

I paused.

"He had something to do."

Maria sighed and didn't press the issue.

After eating, I went upstairs and took a shower.

The hot water streamed over me, slowly washing away the chill from the mountain.

After my shower, I wrapped myself in a robe and sat on the sofa. After some hesitation, I turned on my phone.

As soon as it powered on, it started vibrating wildly.

99 missed calls, 99 unread messages.

I opened the messages.

"Scarlett, where are you?"

"The road down is blocked. They say the mountain's closed. Was this your doing?"

"Stop messing around, hurry up and get them to open the road. We've been freezing at the base of the mountain for almost an hour."

"Was that you, the helicopter? Did you take a helicopter?"

"You're really going too far."

"Scarlett, please stop playing games, okay? It's really cold out here, Chloe's shivering."

"Scarlett Hayes, you're absolutely out of line!"

"Scarlett, I'm sorry, okay?"

"Chloe collapsed. We took her to the clinic at the base of the mountain. Are you happy now?"

Seeing that, I raised an eyebrow.

Collapsed?

Such a princess?

I didn't reply, just scrolled down.

The last message was: "I'm sorry."

Ethan Blackwood would say sorry?

In twenty-three years, he had never once said sorry to me.

When he messed up, he'd always buy gifts, take me to dinner, try to cheer me up, but he never actually said sorry.

I put my phone down and lay back on the sofa.

Outside, fireworks were going off.

I suddenly remembered my childhood.

Ethan and I were both seven or eight back then, neighbors.

Once, he broke my favorite doll. My mom told him to apologize, and he just flushed beet red, then ran home. He emptied all the money from his piggy bank and brought it over to me.

"Here, buy a new one," he said.

I asked him, "Aren't you going to apologize?"

He looked down, and after a long moment, mumbled, "I... I paid you back."

Eventually, I forgave him.

Not because of the money, but because he'd given me a whole year's worth of his allowance.

Back then, I thought he wouldn't say sorry, but he'd show he cared in his own way.

At 3 PM, my phone rang again.

Caller ID: Ethan Blackwood.

On the fourth ring, I picked up.

"Scarlett!" His voice was urgent. "Where are you?"

I didn't speak.

"Scarlett, listen to me, this morning was my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone on the mountain, I just..."

"Ethan," I cut him off.

He paused.

"How's Chloe?"

He was startled, then said, "She got some fluids at the clinic, she's fine now. She's back home."

"Good."

"Scarlett, you..."

"I'm home," I said. "I'm fine, not cold, nothing happened."

He fell silent.

"You told me to reflect, and I have," I said. "You said I was too proud, that I needed to be taken down a peg. I thought about it all morning, and you're right, I am pretty proud."

"Scarlett, I didn't mean it like that..."

"Then what did you mean?"

He fell silent again.

"Ethan, do you know what it feels like to be abandoned on a mountain on New Year's Eve?"

"I..."

"Did it ever occur to you, what if I hadn't had a helicopter to get down? What if I'd fallen on the mountain path? What if I'd gotten hypothermia?"

"Scarlett, please stop..."

"You didn't care," I said. "You only cared if I'd given in."

The phone line was quiet for a long time.

Then I heard him say, "I'm sorry."

I said, "I heard you."

"Where are you? I'm coming to find you."

"No need," I said. "Go back and be with your family."

"Scarlett..."

"Ethan," I paused. "Do you know who owns this mountain?"

He was startled. "What?"

"Skyridge Peak. Hayes Industries acquired it two years ago. It's my property. So, I don't need to beg you."

After hanging up with Ethan, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for a while.

My phone vibrated again.

Not him.

It was Chloe.

A SnapChat message. A really long one.

"Scarlett, I'm truly sorry about today. It's all my fault."

"I shouldn't have worn so little and made Ethan worry, and I shouldn't have cried and made you misunderstand."

"Ethan was actually really worried, he waited for you at the base of the mountain for so long, his hands were red with cold. You two have so much history, please don't let a small misunderstanding mess things up, okay?"

Every sentence was an apology, but every sentence was also defending Ethan.

If she sent that to Ethan, he'd probably think Chloe was so understanding and kind.

But to me?

I just found it laughable.

I replied succinctly, "Ok."

Then I put my phone down and rolled over to sleep.

I slept until six in the evening.

I got up, changed my clothes, and went downstairs. My mom was drinking tea.

"Well, hello sleepyhead, you're up?" My mom glanced at me. "I heard you came back by helicopter this morning? What, the mountain wasn't fun?"

"It was alright," I said, sitting on the sofa. "Just a bit cold."

"It's winter, going to the peak for sunrise, of course it's cold!" My mom handed me a hot mug of tea. "Where's Ethan? Didn't he come back with you?"

"He's busy."

My mom looked at me but didn't press the issue.

At 7 PM, during dinner, my dad asked me:

"How's Skyridge Peak? Is the management still up to par?"

"It's good," I said. "But I closed the mountain."

My dad paused. "Closed the mountain?"

"Yeah."

He looked at me, didn't ask why, just nodded. "Alright, it's your property, you call the shots."

My mom chimed in, "Closed the mountain? Why? Aren't there still people up there?"

"A few," I said. "Let them stay up there for another day or two."

My mom was startled, then chuckled. "You, my dear, are starting to sound more and more like your father."

My dad smiled too, but didn't reply.

Around 10 PM, my phone rang again.

This time, it was an unknown number.

I hesitated for a moment, then answered.

"Hello, Ms. Hayes? This is Chris, the administrator at Skyridge Peak!"

His voice was urgent on the other end, mixed with the sound of wind.

"Yes, that's me. What's wrong?"

"Ms. Hayes, there's a man at the base of the mountain. He's been waiting there since this afternoon, says he needs to go up and find someone. We stopped him. He's at the main gate now, and he won't leave no matter what we say."

"What's his name?"

"He said his name is Ethan Blackwood."

I was silent for two seconds.

"Let him wait."

"Huh?"

"I said, let him wait. I'll call you back in a bit."

Later that night, before bed.

I picked up my phone, walked out onto the balcony, and called Chris.

"Is he still there?"

"Yes! He hasn't moved! We told him to come warm up in the guardhouse, but he won't. He's just standing at the main gate, his face is pale from the cold."

"Is he alone?"

"Yes, just him."

I looked at the fireworks in the distance, silent for a few seconds.

"Put him on the phone."

Footsteps sounded on the other end, then Chris's voice. "Mr. Blackwood, it's Scarlett."

Then Ethan's voice, a little hoarse. "Scarlett?"

"Mm."

"Scarlett, I'm at the base of the mountain."

"I know."

"I just want to talk to you face-to-face."

"About what?"

He paused.

"To say you're sorry?" I asked. "To say you won't do this again? To say you actually care about me?"

He didn't speak.

"Ethan," I said softly. "How many times have you said those things before? Which time was real?"

"This time it's real." His voice was rushed. "Scarlett, this time I truly understand I messed up. This morning, I didn't mean to leave you on the mountain, I just... I just lost my temper for a moment, I thought you were speaking too harshly, and I wanted you to cool down."

"So you just left me alone on the peak?"

He fell silent.

"Ethan, when you were twenty-five, you also left me alone in a mall once. Remember?"