Chapter 3

After work, I didn't go to the grocery store to buy the seafood Ethan liked, as I usually did.

Instead, I went straight back to the apartment we co-owned.

As soon as I pushed the door open, Lily’s giggles echoed from the living room.

She was wearing a silk pajama set I had just bought, lounging on the sofa, opening her mouth to eat grapes Ethan was hand-feeding her.

Seeing me walk in, Ethan's face immediately darkened.

"Why are you just getting back? You didn't even make dinner. Are you trying to starve Lily?"

He slammed the fruit plate onto the coffee table.

"She's a guest! Do you have any decency as the lady of this house?"

My hands paused as I took off my shoes.

The lady of this house?

He had probably given that title to Lily in his heart a long time ago.

"I'm a doctor, not your full-time maid."

I walked straight to the sofa and looked at Lily.

"Besides, Ms. Adams doesn't look like she should be eating cold, raw fruit right now."

Lily's face froze, and she instinctively pulled down the hem of the pajamas.

She glanced at me guiltily, then bit her lip, her eyes turning red.

"Ethan, does Chloe not like me wearing her clothes?"

"I'll take them off right now. I'm so sorry..."

She made a move to stand up, but Ethan held her down.

"Don't you dare! I told you to wear them!"

Ethan spun around and glared at me like I was his worst enemy.

"Chloe, don't be so ungrateful. It's just a pajama set. Do you have to be so incredibly petty?"

"Lily is fragile. Would letting her borrow your clothes kill you?"

I watched him throw a tantrum over another woman.

In my past life, these words would have broken my heart, and I would have rushed into the kitchen to cook and appease him.

But now, looking at them just made me sick.

"Since she's worn it, she can keep it."

I turned toward my bedroom.

"I find it dirty."

I wasn't just talking about the clothes. I was talking about her.

Lily clearly understood my hidden meaning. Her body trembled, her fingers digging deep into the sofa cushions.

She knew she carried three STDs, so the word "dirty" hit her like a physical blow.

Ethan was completely enraged.

He took three quick steps, grabbing my wrist tightly.

"What did you just say? Who's dirty?"

"Do you want me to slap you?!"

He raised his hand high.

I stared back at him without flinching, my eyes as calm as a stagnant pool of water.

"Go ahead, Ethan. Try it."

"If that hand lands on me, I will call the police tomorrow. And I'll send the ledger of all the kickbacks you've taken to your boss."

Ethan's hand froze in midair, his face turning an ugly shade of green.

He looked at me in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe I would threaten him like this.

"Are you crazy? We've been together for three years, and you're threatening me over this petty crap?"

I yanked my hand back with force.

"Three years is just a lesson learned. Let's call it a mistake."

"I'm moving out tonight. I'll have my lawyer handle the division of this apartment. You'd better prepare yourself."

With that, I walked into the bedroom and locked the door behind me.

Outside, Ethan's furious curses and Lily's fake, comforting whispers drifted through the door.

"Ethan, it's all my fault. I'll move out tomorrow..."

"Don't leave! If she wants to throw a fit, let her! Let's see where she can actually go!"

I pulled out my suitcase and began packing my valuables and documents.

Halfway through, my phone vibrated.

It was an informal hospital SnapChat group.

Someone had posted a blurry photo of a female patient wearing a mask, taking medication at the pharmacy window.

[Isn't this the woman who visited Dr. Vance's clinic this afternoon? Why is she sneakily picking up long-acting penicillin?]

[Look how sketchy she's being. Ten to one, she's got *that* disease.]

I looked at the screen, a cold smile forming on my lips.

Terrified of Ethan finding out, Lily hadn't gone to a specialist. Instead, she was trying to quietly suppress the disease with antibiotics.

But syphilis and genital warts weren't things you could just wave away with a few pills.

She was playing with fire.

I stuffed a few everyday clothes into the suitcase and opened the door.

In the living room, Ethan was holding Lily, comforting her.

Hearing the door open, he turned and saw my suitcase. A flash of panic crossed his eyes, quickly masked by anger.

"Chloe, look at you, acting all tough. Moving out in the middle of the night?"

He stood up, blocking my path.

"I'm telling you, once you walk out that door, don't you ever think about coming back!"

I stopped and looked at his pathetic, blustering face.

"Fine."

I walked right past him without a second thought.

At the door, I glanced back at Lily, who was huddled on the sofa.

"Ms. Adams."

Lily snapped her head up, her eyes filled with sheer terror, afraid I would spill her secret.

I gave her a sweet smile.

"Remember to take your meds on time. Ignoring your illness will only lead to bigger problems."

Ignoring Ethan’s furious shouting, I stepped out into the night and never looked back.

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