Chapter 5

Ethan's POV

When Emily returned home, she went straight to the study.

I was still sitting at the computer.

She said directly, "Restore Tristan's access."

I looked up at her.

Emily, as if afraid I'd misunderstand, immediately added, "Only to the guest room and first floor. He won't enter the master bedroom."

I looked at her.

"Do you think the problem is just whether he can enter the master bedroom?"

Emily's face tightened.

"His right hand isn't convenient. When the old injury flares up, he can't even hold a cup. The access is just a precaution. If something really happens, at least someone will see."

"Then have him stay at a hospital."

"Ethan Hayes!"

Emily's voice dropped.

"He became like this because of me. When he's at his most humiliated, I can't shut the door on him."

I suddenly laughed.

"Then who will shut the door for me, your husband?"

Emily was blocked by this statement.

Soon, her face went cold again.

"You're making this too dirty, and you're making me out to be too despicable."

I didn't say anything more.

Right in front of her, I clicked "reject."

A system notification popped up.

Emily glanced at it and turned to leave.

The next day at noon, Tristan's friend called.

Last night, Tristan's old injury had flared up. He had tried to get to the hospital by himself, fell halfway there, and was sent to emergency.

The caller didn't directly curse me, but every sentence revolved around that door I had closed.

"He used to live at the Hayes place where at least someone could look after him. Now living alone outside, in so much pain, he didn't even dare to trouble Emily."

By the time Emily and I got to the hospital, the Hayes family was already there.

Tristan lay in the hospital bed, his right hand re-immobilized. Seeing her, he smiled first.

"I'm fine. Don't worry. This has nothing to do with Ethan."

Linda's eyes immediately reddened.

"You're still speaking up for him? If he hadn't closed the access and forced you out, would you have ended up falling in the street alone in the middle of the night?"

Emily stood by the bed and didn't explain for me.

Everyone looked at me.

Linda struck first.

"Are you satisfied now? Tristan is lying here, and you've finally vented your anger?"

Tristan tried to sit up.

"Stop it. It really wasn't Ethan's fault."

As soon as he moved, his face went white.

Emily immediately pressed him back down.

"Don't move."

Tristan kept his head down. While she adjusted his blanket, he glanced at me.

That glance was light but precise.

Linda pointed at me.

"Apologize."

I didn't move.

Emily looked up at me, exhaustion filling her eyes.

"Tristan has already backed down this much. Even if you're uncomfortable, you shouldn't have pushed him to the point of getting hurt."

I asked, "Have you already decided this was my fault?"

Emily was silent for a few seconds.

"You closed the access. He also moved out because he couldn't get into the house."

I looked at her and said nothing more.

I turned and left the hospital room.

That same day, I had someone pull the surveillance footage from near the old apartment and the hospital.

The footage was quickly delivered to me.

When Tristan left his place, his steps were steady, and his right hand wasn't in uncontrollable pain.

After arriving near the hospital, he deliberately went to a stairwell. Where he fell avoided vital areas but was just enough to reopen the old injury.

I saved the video.

That evening, I returned home.

Emily was sitting in the living room waiting for me. Her first words were, "Tomorrow, go to the hospital and apologize to Tristan. And restore his access."

I placed the video on the table.

Seeing Tristan walk toward the stairs himself, Emily's expression shifted for a moment.

I said, "Whether this was an accident or not, see for yourself."

Emily was silent for a long time, but finally said, "Even if his emotions spiraled, it's related to your rejection these past few days. He's already been pushed to the point where he can only prove his pain this way. Are you really going to keep provoking him?"

I suddenly understood. Evidence was useless now.

Emily could see it.

She just wanted to blame every one of Tristan's breakdowns on me.

Emily softened her voice.

"I'll go with you tomorrow. The access doesn't have to be restored yet, but at least give him an explanation."

I looked at her for a long time.

Finally, I said, "Fine. I'll go tomorrow."

Emily thought I had finally relented.

I went upstairs to the study and sent a message to my lawyer.

Move up the departure arrangements by one day.