Chapter 5

Joanna POV

After finishing the visa paperwork, I didn't go to work. I called the hospital to request leave and went home.

As expected, that evening Ethan sent a message saying the company had an urgent project to discuss, he wouldn't be coming home tonight, and told me to rest early.

I glanced at the message and tossed my phone aside.

I didn't care anymore.

I pulled out a cardboard box and started collecting my things from around the house bit by bit.

In the bottom drawer of the cupboard was a pair of couple's mugs.

Those were from our third year dating. I had seen them while shopping.

I happily brought them home. Ethan glanced at them and smiled helplessly. "Joanna, you're already working. Still playing with these childish things."

Later, I placed the pair of mugs in the most prominent position on the shelf, but Ethan never used them.

I used the pink mug until now. The rim was somewhat worn.

The blue one had never been used. It looked brand new.

I threw both mugs into the box.

On the bookshelf were our photo albums.

One per year, from dating to marriage, seven albums total.

I randomly opened one and happened to flip to our wedding day. Ethan rarely wore the light blue shirt I had picked out, his eyes curved in a smile.

That day, he held my hand tightly and whispered in my ear, "Joanna, I'll be good to you for a lifetime."

The album was thrown into the box.

In the vanity drawer was a pair of couple's rings.

Those were bought with my first month's salary.

I picked for a long time and chose a beautiful pair of silver rings.

I brought them home with such joy. Ethan really liked wearing them at first.

After he took over the company, he stopped wearing his. He said it affected his signing.

Later, only when I got angry would Ethan take it out and put it on to make me happy.

There was also the scarf I had knitted by hand for two months. It was Ethan's treasure. He wore it for several years.

But at some point, it became something he never used again.

There were also couple's shoes, couple's pajamas, keychains, and so on.

I took them out one by one and threw them into the box one by one.

I had no more tears. Being sad over these expired things wasn't worth it.

The box quickly filled up.

I sat next to the box, not knowing what I was thinking. After a long time, I leaned against the box and fell asleep.

Suddenly, I was awakened by a sound. Groggily lifting my head, I heard movement coming from the master bedroom.

My heart tightened. I quietly walked to the master bedroom door.

The door was ajar. The scene through the crack made me instantly freeze in place.

Ethan was pressing Sophia onto the bed. Their clothes were scattered on the floor.

"Darling." Ethan's voice was hoarse and low, carrying some playfulness. "You love excitement so much, you had to come play at my house."

Sophia tilted her head back, hooking her arm around his neck, smiling seductively. "Don't you like it? She's on night shift tonight anyway, not home."

A crisp slap sounded. Sophia cried out softly, but her face carried a smile.

"You'll change the sheets yourself later." Ethan leaned down, biting her earlobe. "If my wife finds out, I'll really punish you."

I thought I wouldn't be emotionally affected by these two people anymore, but my legs felt like they were filled with lead.

I hadn't expected these two people to keep disgusting me like this.

"Got it." Sophia responded in a low voice.

The bed started shaking rhythmically. Sophia's broken panting spilled from her lips.

My gaze fell on their wrists.

Both wore identical watches that looked particularly glaring under the light.

"I bought this especially for you. You're not allowed to take it off."

"Okay, I won't." Ethan agreed without thinking.

So it wasn't that he was unwilling to use all couple's items.

Sophia's watch overlapped with my bracelet like that, as if mocking me.

I closed my eyes, turned and quietly left the house, stayed at a hotel outside for the night, and didn't return until the next afternoon.

The house had already been cleaned spotlessly. No trace of last night remained.

Ethan was wearing an apron, cooking in the kitchen.

Seeing me come in, he immediately came over, a gentle smile on his face. "Joanna, you're back. You haven't had much appetite lately, so I specially made your favorite cream mushroom soup. Try it."

I didn't speak. My gaze fell directly on his wrist.

The bracelet was still there. That watch was still there too.

They were both filthy.

Ethan followed my line of sight, instinctively pulling his hand back, explaining with a smile, "All company employees have this. I'm the boss. I have to set an example."

He gently pressed me down onto a dining chair, personally ladled soup for me, and arranged the utensils.

I pulled at the corner of my mouth, thinking mockingly, who would have thought that the seemingly gentle Mr. Parker was actually that kind of person in private?

After eating, Ethan went to the study to handle business.

I also entered the study, moved out the box I had organized last night, and prepared to throw it away.

Ethan heard the noise and looked up. "Joanna, what's in there?"

"Some old things I don't need. They're just taking up space."

Ethan nodded and didn't ask further, lowering his head to continue reading his documents.

I carried the box out and threw it into the trash.

Those things that carried all my expectations and love were thrown away by my own hands.

Just like my marriage with Ethan.

I would never love him again.