Chapter 5

A huge sense of absurdity struck me head-on.

Ethan's voice was indulgent.

"Go home. I'll stay here with her."

He turned and walked into the hospital room without looking at me again.

Through the glass window, I saw Ethan patiently blowing on the cream of mushroom soup to cool it, feeding it to Natalie spoonful by spoonful.

To outsiders, they looked as sweet as lovers deeply in love.

I sat stiffly on the bench in the hospital corridor.

My mind was filled with thoughts of Ethan.

He would drive hundreds of miles to take me to eat a bowl of borscht I'd been craving.

Though he was an heir to a wealthy family, he learned to cook well for me, saying he married me to give me happiness.

When I stayed up late drawing blueprints, he would brew energizing tea and silently keep me company.

The Ethan who at eighteen swore he only liked me.

Now casually says he's fallen for someone else.

The next morning, Ethan carried Natalie out of the hospital room, looking at me in surprise.

"Melissa, you sat here all night?"

I didn't answer. I just stood up silently and followed behind them.

Stubbornly wanting to see why they could develop such intense feelings without me noticing.

Back at Natalie's place, Ethan moved skillfully through every corner.

I used to see the razor at her place and foolishly asked Natalie if she had a boyfriend.

She winked slyly.

"Sometimes when I get drunk at bars, strange men send me home."

I worriedly told her to be careful.

Natalie hummed smugly.

"No need to worry. My man is super clean!"

It turned out her man was Ethan.

Natalie changed into a soft white dress and sat on the sofa, ordering Ethan around.

Seeing my dazed expression, she laughed.

"Melissa, don't blame me. You can't control feelings."

"Besides, I'm not asking for any title or status."

"We're best friends. There's nothing wrong with me having a taste of your man, right?"

Every sentence Natalie spoke was light and casual, but they fell heavily on my heart.

Ethan heated up bread and milk and brought it to Natalie.

Natalie acted coquettish, wanting him to feed her.

Ethan looked at me.

"Melissa, go home first."

My throat was hoarse. I couldn't say a word.

Natalie hooked her lips and tugged at Ethan's sleeve.

"No need. Melissa is just stubborn. Once she figures it out, she'll leave on her own."

My eyes became sore, but not a single tear fell.

Yesterday, I had cried all my tears for them.

I turned and left.

In the evening, I rang Natalie's doorbell.

Ethan, wearing matching couple's loungewear, opened the door.

Seeing me, he smiled gently and pulled me into his arms, nuzzling affectionately into the crook of my neck, teasing in a low voice.

"So, Melissa, have you thought it through and accepted that Natalie and I—"

I pushed him away and walked straight to Natalie.

Solemnly, I removed the wedding ring from my hand and the necklace from my neck—the one Natalie gave me after earning her first bucket of gold.

Ethan sat back on the sofa, looking at me like a child throwing a tantrum, amused.

I lowered my head and pulled out a document from my bag, placing it in front of him.

Ethan took it. After seeing the title, the nonchalance on his face instantly froze. He jerked his head up.

His voice trembled.

"Melissa, you want to... divorce me?"