Chapter 2

After that day, Ethan visited Chloe more and more, and came home less and less.

I started calling him constantly.

Every time, his answer was the same: *I’m busy at the office. I'm in a meeting.*

But he didn't know his heavy, nervous breathing had already given him away.

When I asked him to FaceTime, he’d claim the signal was bad and hang up in a panic.

When I called back, his phone would be switched off.

Back then, I thought he was just temporarily confused. Eight years of history couldn't just vanish.

I wanted to talk to him, to give him one last chance.

But my patience only made him bolder, leading to one betrayal after another.

Thinking of this, I hardened my heart. "Ethan, if I don't see you in my room tonight, we are getting a divorce."

Ethan snapped his head up, panic flitting across his face. In all our years of marriage, this was the first time I had ever brought up divorce.

He realized I was serious. "Nora, don't joke about divorce. I'll come back right now. Don't be mad."

I watched him get up to leave, then hung up the FaceTime call. My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe.

I lay back on the bed, slowly calming down, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up, the room was empty. Ethan was nowhere to be seen.

I stared at the ceiling and mocked myself. What was I still hoping for?

Just then, the door pushed open.

It was Ethan.

He was holding a takeout container. He walked in quickly and set it on the table.

"I figured you hadn't eaten breakfast, so I went out to buy some food."

I sat up, my bitter mood softening slightly. Did he actually come back last night?

Enduring the soreness from the surgery, I sat up. But when he opened the containers, the smile on my face completely froze.

"This is all spicy food. I just had surgery, Ethan. I can't eat this."

Ethan’s hand froze mid-air. "Oh... I actually bought this for Chloe. She had a fever yesterday and lost her appetite, so she wanted something spicy."

He didn't even look at me, completely ignoring the fact that I was the actual patient here.

"Ethan, it smells so good! My stomach is literally growling."

Before she even entered, her voice filled the room. Chloe walked in, looking perfectly fine. She didn't offer me a single word of concern. Instead, she acted like she owned the place. "Let's eat together, Nora. Ethan bought extra."

As she walked past my bed, she intentionally tucked her hair behind her ear. That was when I noticed the ring on her finger.

It was the exact same design as the engagement ring Ethan had proposed to me with.

I watched them fuss over the food, flirting right in front of me as if I were invisible.

Anger flared in my chest, but this time, I didn't even have the energy to scream at them.

Once everything was set up, Ethan finally looked at me. "Nora, don't overthink this. I was worried Chloe might get another fever with no one around, so I brought her along."

"I paid for this private room, and you brought trash inside? Aren't you worried about the smell?" I snapped. Because I hadn't eaten, the outburst triggered a violent coughing fit.

Instead of showing concern, Ethan flared up. "Nora, watch your mouth!"

"Chloe is sick! How many times do I have to tell you? Can't you show some compassion? Do you have to make everything so ugly?"

"You're literally in a hospital bed and still causing drama. You act like a total shrew. Look at Chloe—she's so much more mature than you!"

I laughed out of sheer anger. A wave of sharp pain hit my abdomen, making me break into a cold sweat. But I forced myself to stand up, walked over, and slapped his face.

It wasn't a heavy blow, but it felt incredibly satisfying.

Ethan stared at me in disbelief, his eyes burning with fury. He shoved me hard. Lacking strength, I tumbled onto the floor.

"Nora! Who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on me? Who do you think you are?"