Chapter 4

"Let's get divorced."

We spoke in unison.

I looked up in shock, only to see a flicker of joy in Ethan's expression.

"That's great—Natalie, you know about it?"

Confusion crossed my face.

Ethan had already pulled out divorce papers. "Here are the divorce documents. If everything looks good, just sign."

"After all, you and I have wronged Stella. I'll get a marriage license with her, and you can give her the spousal work assignment quota. Consider it compensation."

"Don't worry, you'll actually still be my wife. Anyway, I'll support you. Being a housewife from now on isn't so bad."

By the time I finished signing, I finally registered what Ethan had said.

"Ethan Smith, do you remember what you promised me?"

Ethan paused, as if trying to recall.

Clearly, he'd forgotten. Back when I'd been trying to conceive for two years, gave up my position in the capital, took countless ovulation injections to have this child, he'd promised me, "You've sacrificed so much for me. Even after you have the baby, I'll make sure you have work."

Now he wanted a divorce and to give the spousal quota to Stella.

The door opened, and Stella walked in. "Natalie, are you feeling better?"

Ethan warned me with his eyes not to say anything.

I smiled through my tears. "How can I be better with a homewrecker like you around? Seducing my husband isn't enough—now you want to steal my work quota too. Stella, you're shameless beyond belief."

Her face went deathly pale.

Tears fell like broken pearls.

Ethan's face darkened. "Natalie!"

"Am I wrong? She's barely twenty and already knows how to climb into her brother-in-law's bed! Isn't that slutty?"

I raised my voice. People around us looked at her with mockery.

Ethan shielded her in his arms and sneered at me. "Who's sluttier than you? At eighteen, you worked part-time at a bar, got drugged, and when I took you to the hospital, you refused. You insisted we do it in the woods..."

Contemptuous jeers rose around us.

My face flushed red and white with shame and anger. I rushed forward to hit him.

Stella suddenly blocked him and took the slap. "Natalie, blame me if you want. It's all my fault. Ethan already works so hard."

"Natalie, what's gotten into you!"

Ethan's eyes flashed with heartache as he pushed me back hard.

My belly slammed into the corner of the table, and blood pooled beneath me.

Ethan shouted for a doctor in shock. Stella cried and hit him.

"Natalie, I didn't mean to. Please don't let anything happen to you..."

Ethan cried as he watched me being wheeled into the operating room.

In the darkness, the surgical forceps opened, tearing pain.

I cried my heart out as my life flashed before my eyes like a movie.

It was eighteen-year-old Ethan on the grass, fingers intertwined with mine. "Natalie, I'll be good to you for a lifetime."

A lifetime turned out to be only seven years...