Chapter 5

After a sleepless night, at dawn I prepared to leave this home I'd lived in for seven years.

After taking a taxi to the airport, Ethan called, his voice filled with undisguised anxiety.

"Emma, where did you go? Didn't we agree last night that the driver would pick you up?"

"We already agreed—"

"Ethan."

My voice was hoarse.

"Three years ago, when you had the driver switch cars, what were you thinking?"

A woman who'd endured hardship with him for ten years. A woman carrying his child in her belly.

How cold-hearted did he have to be to make me get into that car destined to be crashed off the overpass?

"Emma, what are you talking about?"

Ethan's tone was confused. When he heard the airport announcement in the background, his voice unconsciously turned cold.

"Emma, where are you? Are you backing out of claiming Stella's child?"

Listening to the boarding call, I smiled bitterly.

"Where I am doesn't matter. I never agreed to your demand last night."

"But three years ago, shouldn't I have stayed in that freezing river, in that car filled with the smell of blood and water?"

"Instead of being rescued by the search team and ending up in a hospital bed, right, Mr. Foster?"

I heard the sound of a door slamming on his end, followed by Ethan's rapid breathing.

"Emma, did Stella say something to you?"

"Just wait there. I'll come explain everything."

I heard Ethan going downstairs and sighed softly.

"Goodbye, Ethan."

"Emma, wait for me—"

Before he could finish, I hung up and blocked his number.

What happened had happened. No matter what explanation or compensation he offered, it no longer mattered.

His ruthlessness back then was real.

My grief at losing our child was real.

So I would never forgive him.

...

The moment Ethan stepped outside, he was surrounded by reporters who'd been waiting.

"Mr. Foster, why were you at the maternity center?"

"Are the online rumors about an illegitimate child true?"

"Does Mrs. Foster agree to let this child return to the Foster family?"

The questions came one after another, but Ethan had no patience to deal with them.

He pushed through the people blocking his way without hesitation, letting them photograph his rough behavior.

After getting in his car, Ethan ordered the driver to head straight to the airport.

But after searching several times, he couldn't find Emma.

Left with no choice, he returned home to ask Sophia—the only person who might know where Emma went.

But before he could speak, he noticed the document on the table.

He picked it up with confusion. On the cover were five clear words: "Divorce Agreement."