Chapter 2

My mind was filled with images of them kissing.

I thought and thought, still feeling a deep sense of injustice.

I wanted to confront Ethan and get to the bottom of it.

As I reached the study door, Ethan was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought.

His eyes were fixed on the direction Serena had left.

In his hand was the ring Serena had given him years ago.

I suddenly recalled Serena's words.

I turned and looked around.

Pink curtains, juvenile decor, cherry blossoms everywhere.

This was supposed to be our marital home, paid for and decorated by me, yet there wasn't a single thing that suited my taste.

It was like how I disliked light music and Western food.

Yet Ethan would still, without fail, take me to that high-end Western restaurant.

At first, I thought Ethan simply didn't understand these things.

Now, looking back, he wasn't ignorant.

He had simply woven all his love and longing for Serena into the fabric of our shared life.

The answer was painfully clear, no need to ask further.

I wiped away my tears, a bitter understanding settling in my heart.

Just as I was about to turn back, I accidentally knocked over a nearby vase, shattering it.

The sharp crash of the vase startled Ethan, making him turn around abruptly.

The ring in his hand rolled to my feet.

I instinctively bent down to pick it up.

The man, who had just been full of melancholy, suddenly rushed over.

Roughly, he snatched the ring from my hand.

"Why are you touching my things!"

The edge of the ring cut a deep gash into my palm.

The wound was deep, but I didn't feel the pain.

Perhaps, I had grown accustomed to it.

When we first started dating, Ethan had also lost his temper with me over this ring.

I thought the ring was ugly.

I felt that its cheap, childish craftsmanship didn't suit his businessman's demeanor.

But he insisted it was his lucky charm, and no one was allowed to touch it.

A lucky charm?

No, it was plainly a memento of his longing.

I glanced at Ethan's bare finger, a bitter smile touching my lips.

"Ethan, where's our wedding ring?"

As if remembering something,

Ethan's angry expression softened a little, and he lowered his voice.

"I forgot. Maybe I left it at the engagement party."

He didn't forget.

Serena threw it away.

I saw it with my own eyes tonight.

He had carefully cherished the ring Serena gave him for ten years.

Yet, he casually tossed my wedding ring by the roadside.

"Forget it then, it's not important anyway."

Ethan sighed.

Just as I was about to turn away, he suddenly gripped my hand.

I thought he had noticed the cut on my hand.

The next second, I heard him say casually,

"Chloe, let's just cancel our wedding. We can just sign the papers."

"You've seen Serena's condition."

"She has mental health issues and can't handle any kind of stress."

It was the same excuse again.

The first time, Ethan and I were on a date.

Serena followed us to the restaurant and put something in my food.

I was sick with severe vomiting and diarrhea for days, almost ending up in the hospital with dehydration.

Ethan said she was just young and naive, telling me not to bother with her.

The second time, on our anniversary.

Serena threatened to commit suicide by jumping off a building if he didn't return to her.

Ethan said she just couldn't accept us being together.

The third, fourth, fifth time...

She killed my pet kitten, threw away my competition entry.

Every time, Ethan would tell me,

"She's just a lunatic, why bother arguing with a crazy person?"

"We just need to be more careful in the future not to provoke her."