Chapter 4

When we left the precinct, Ethan chased after me.

He called my name from behind.

But Melanie suddenly fainted from distress, forcing him to scoop her up and rush her to the hospital.

As he drove past me, he rolled down the window and yelled:

"Wait for me at home. I'll explain everything. Don't overthink this!"

It was always like this.

He claimed to care about me, but whenever he had to choose between Melanie and me, he would always choose her.

This miscarriage had caused heavy bleeding.

The doctor had told me to contact my family.

Before Ethan went on his trip, he had repeatedly warned me not to bother him over minor things.

But that night, the pain was so unbearable that I called him anyway.

It was Melanie who answered the phone:

"He's already asleep. It's late. If you don't sleep, does that mean others shouldn't either?"

So, I knew long before anyone else that they had been staying together the entire trip.

Even when Ethan eventually found out I was hospitalized, his concern was half-hearted:

"It's not that I don't want to come back, Chloe. I'm just swamped here. I'll have my secretary upgrade you to a private suite and hire the best private nurse, okay?"

Maybe my final wish was slowly coming true.

Because as I recalled his lies now, I didn't feel as devastated as before.

Ethan's assistant hadn't left yet.

He quickly drove up to me:

"Ma'am, Ethan asked me to drive you home."

I didn't refuse.

The assistant was a smart guy. He tried to smooth things over the entire ride:

"Miss Vance's condition is really terrifying. She has these episodes constantly. If it weren't for her grandfather's dying wish, I doubt Ethan would even want to deal with her."

"You're the best, Ma'am. While we were away, Ethan kept telling me how much he missed you and how much easier his life is with you around. He really can't live without you!"

I just smiled and remained silent.

When I got out of the car, I took the manila envelope I had felt on the backseat.

I didn't know what was inside.

But an inexplicable urge drove me to see its contents.

With trembling hands, I opened it.

My heart rate spiked, but the moment my eyes fell on the divorce agreement signed with Ethan's signature, a strange, absolute calm washed over me.

...

It wasn't until Ethan arrived at the hospital that he realized his assistant had forgotten to take the divorce papers out of the car.

He immediately called the assistant:

"The envelope I gave you this morning—is it still in your car?"

He had only signed it to appease Melanie.

Lately, her mental state had been atrocious. She was constantly threatening suicide.

One day, she had held a blade to her wrist, screaming:

"Divorce Chloe, or I'll end my life right now!"

This scenario had played out countless times.

Having no other choice, he had drafted the papers just to pacify her.

The papers were too dangerous. When he signed them, he had feared what would happen if I ever found out.

But he couldn't bear to face that reality.

He had kept the document hidden carefully, but in the chaos of today, he had made a slip-up.

The assistant said he would check right away.

Ethan's heart pounded fiercely in his chest.

He didn't dare to imagine the consequences.

A few minutes later, the assistant called back, his voice trembling:

"I'm so sorry, boss... The envelope... I think Ma'am took it..."

Ethan felt the world spin around him.

As the phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor, he knew.

It was all over.