Chapter 3

I didn't sleep well that night.

I dreamed of years ago, the first time Ethan ever held my hand.

His OCD had just begun to spiral; his palm was soaked in nervous cold sweat, yet he refused to let go no matter what.

My heart had ached for him as I looked up into his eyes. "If it hurts this much, why don't you let go?"

He pressed his lips together, his eyes brimming with tears. "Because I'm terrified you'll walk away."

Then the dream shifted to our wedding day.

When we exchanged rings, he stood in front of everyone and declared into the microphone, "Serena, out of everyone in the world, you were the person my mind fought hardest not to touch."

Laughter rippled through the guests.

He paused, then squeezed my hand with all his strength, declaring fiercely, "And you are the only person I want to spend the rest of my life learning to hold!"

When I woke up, sunlight was filtering through the blinds.

A large patch of the pillowcase was soaked through.

I sat up and wiped the dried tears from my cheeks.

Right then, the door swung open. Ethan stood on the threshold.

Seeing my red, swollen eyes, he froze.

Without hesitation, he crossed the room and pulled me into his arms.

My body stiffened.

"Serena, I'm sorry. I've been handling things poorly these past few days."

"Once Chloe's arm is fully healed, I'll find her an apartment immediately."

Buried against his chest, a fresh wave of stinging sadness hit my nose.

Right at that moment, the violent sound of dry heaving echoed from the hallway outside.

Ethan went rigid. He dropped his arms and pulled away instantly.

"I need to check on her."

The warmth vanished from my arms in a split second.

I sat on the edge of the mattress for a few seconds, then stood up and walked to the door.

The moment I pulled it open, I heard Chloe's hushed, trembling whisper from the bathroom:

"Ethan... I'm pregnant."

"It's yours."

Every trace of residual warmth in my veins evaporated into ice.

I pushed the door fully open. Ethan flinched and instinctively took a step toward me.

"Serena, let me explain—"

"So it's true?"

He looked down, unable to meet my eyes.

A cold, hollow laugh escaped my lips. I walked over to the desk, pulled the divorce agreement my lawyer had prepared out of the drawer, and laid it on the table.

"Sign it."

Ethan read the bold header on the page, and his face instantly turned pale. "I'm not signing this."

He shoved the papers back toward me. "Serena, that night was a complete accident!"

"You're the one I love! I never meant to betray you!"

The sheer absurdity made me laugh out loud. "She's carrying your child, and you're standing there telling me you never meant to?"

Ethan stood frozen, completely at a loss for words.

Beside him, tears streamed down Chloe's face. "Ethan... if this baby is causing you so much trouble, I'll just leave with him. I won't ruin your life."

She turned to walk away.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Ethan grabbed her arm. "Who said you could leave?"

He finally turned back to look at me, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Serena, the baby is innocent."

I pointed at the document on the table. "Then that's all the more reason for you to sign."

His expression darkened completely, shifting from guilt to defensive irritation. "Why does it have to end in divorce?!"

"Serena, even if I made a mistake, I am your husband, and you are my wife!"

"Can't you show a little understanding? Do you really have to blow up our entire marriage over this?"

"Chloe saved my life! Do you really expect me to abandon her and force her to be a struggling single mother?!"

I glanced at Chloe's flat stomach, the light in my eyes fading into complete apathy.

"So you want the baby."

"You want to play the savior to the woman who rescued you."

"And you still want to keep your wife."

"You want to keep every single thing in your perfect little world."

"And I'm the only one who has to suck it up and accept it, right?"

I reached up and unclasped the diamond necklace from my throat.

He had given it to me for our third anniversary.

When he fastened it around my neck, he had whispered, Don't you ever take this off.

I dropped it on top of the divorce papers.

"Starting right now, I'm not your wife anymore."

Ignoring the desperate shouts echoing behind me, I walked out the front door.