Chapter 6

Vivian Shaw POV

Ethan's hand froze in midair, his expression shifting slightly.

He probably thought I was angry about the fire and my jumping from the building, that I resented him for not saving me first.

"Vivian," he tried to explain, lowering his voice, "when I went into the room, I didn't see you. I thought you'd already escaped, so I only took Snowball. It's not just an ordinary dog, it's..."

What? The token of his and Quinn's relationship? A witness bearing their beautiful memories?

"Since you were in the room, why didn't you call out to me?"

Why didn't I call out?

I finally raised my eyes to look at him.

My eyes were very dark, very deep, containing no resentment, no expectation either. Just bottomless calm.

"Because I've stopped counting on you."

Ethan's whole body violently trembled, as if struck hard by something. His pupils contracted sharply as he looked at me in disbelief.

"What do you mean... stopped counting on me?"

His voice was terribly hoarse.

I looked at him, my gaze calm as if I were looking at a stranger. "Exactly what it sounds like. I don't count on you to save me, don't count on you to choose me, don't count on... you to love me."

Ethan's heart shook. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

It was Quinn!

He walked to the window, his back to me, and answered.

I couldn't hear the specific content, could only see the tense lines of his profile, his tone starting with impatience and ending with suppressed compromise and "I understand."

After hanging up, Ethan walked back to the bed, his expression unpleasant. He looked at me, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"You should go." I didn't wait for him to speak first, that suffocating calm still in my tone. "I really don't need anyone here."

Ethan looked at me, his chest feeling like it was stuffed with wet cotton, so stuffy he couldn't breathe.

He opened his mouth and finally only said, "Quinn has some trouble. I'll... go handle it and come right back."

After a pause, he added, "I know you're angry about what happened before, so you're deliberately saying these things out of spite. Don't worry, that kind of situation won't happen again."

"In a few days it's your mother's death anniversary. I'll go with you to pay respects."

My lowered eyelashes trembled lightly.

"My mother's death anniversary and Quinn's birthday are on the same day." I laughed once. "Aren't you going to celebrate her birthday with her?"

Ethan clearly hadn't expected me to suddenly bring this up. His expression stiffened almost imperceptibly.

He was silent for several seconds before avoiding my gaze and replying in a somewhat stiff tone, "Her birthday... what does that have to do with me?"

I laughed again.

How could it have nothing to do with him?

Five years of marriage, and every year on that day, Ethan was "busy."

The first year, he said he had a business trip. The second year, he said he had meetings. The third year, he said he had to meet clients.

Later I learned that my mother's death anniversary and Quinn's birthday were on the same day.

Every year on that day, Ethan would fly over ten hours overseas to stand outside Quinn's house all night, then leave gifts and depart.

This year Quinn was back. He could see her in person, could express his love even better.

"Oh, really?"

I responded lightly, said nothing more, just closed my eyes again, assuming a posture that rejected conversation and showed utter exhaustion.

Ethan, frustrated by my complete lack of reaction, felt anger rise in his chest but had nowhere to vent it.

He looked at my pale face and tightly closed eyes. The words "Quinn and I really have nothing going on, don't misunderstand" rolled around on his tongue, but in the end he only said, "Rest well. I'll come see you again later."

Then he turned and hurriedly left the hospital room.