Chapter 2

Ethan's call finally came.

I lay silently on the hospital bed, watching his name flash across the screen. After a brief internal battle, I swiped to answer.

Half an hour later, Ethan found my room.

To my surprise, Chloe was right behind him.

The moment he saw the cast on my leg, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. He dropped to his knees beside my bed, gently taking my wrist into his hands just like he used to.

Yet I knew he was no longer the Ethan who loved me with his whole heart.

"Summer, I'm so sorry I'm late. What did the doctor say about your leg?"

I stared down at him. The exhaustion on his face was undeniable.

He had taken Chloe's call in the dead of night, rushed out to deliver her dog's litter, and stayed up until dawn.

The moment he finished, he hurried over to the hospital. He was still wearing the same shirt from last night, and dark stubble shadowed his jaw.

"A fractured fibula," I said, my voice eerily calm. "One month of bed rest, then the cast comes off."

Hearing that, Ethan breathed a massive sigh of relief. "Thank God it's nothing too serious."

I glanced down at my broken leg. Nothing too serious?

He stood up, sat on the edge of the mattress, and pulled my hands into his tight grip.

"Last night was an absolute emergency. Chloe's dog was having severe complications during labor. I couldn't just sit by and let them die. Every life deserves a chance, you know?"

I watched him defend himself so earnestly and asked, "Are you a vet now?"

Choked by my question, Ethan froze. Beside him, Chloe suddenly spoke up.

"Summer, I am so, so sorry!"

Her face went pale, tears welling up in her eyes, making her look utterly fragile and helpless.

"There weren't any emergency vet clinics open at that hour. I was totally out of options, which is why I begged Ethan for help. It's all my fault. Please don't be mad at him."

"I didn't mean for this to happen!... I was just terrified."

"Maybe to you, an animal's life doesn't mean much, but he's everything to me! Buster has been with me for years. He means the world to me, and I honestly couldn't go on living without him. So please, if you want to blame someone, blame me."

With that, she gave me a deep, dramatic bow.

Her apology sounded so noble and reasonable, yet it instantly painted me into a corner as a cruel, cold-hearted monster.

Ethan glanced at her, raw sympathy flashing in his eyes.

"Chloe, stop. You don't need to apologize."

I pulled my hand back from Ethan's grasp without an ounce of emotion. Snapping back to reality, Ethan rubbed his temples, looking drained.

"I get that you're hurt and feeling upset, but it was an emergency."

Ethan looked at Chloe with pity, but when he turned back to me, irritation took over.

"Summer, you're being really selfish right now."

"It might just be a dog, but it's still a living breathing creature!"

"As a doctor, saving lives is my duty. The entire world doesn't just revolve around you!"

His words hit me like a slap across the face. I stared at him in disbelief.

The chill in his eyes made me feel like I was plunging into ice water.

From the very beginning, I hadn't said a single harsh word to Chloe.

She simply stepped forward, shed a few performative tears, and suddenly everything was my fault.

Strangely, a bitter laugh escaped my lips. I shifted my gaze toward Chloe.

"If you were actually sorry, you wouldn't have shown your face in front of me."

Chloe's face flushed crimson. She bit her trembling lower lip, muttered a quick "I'm sorry," and bolted out of the room.

Ethan glared at me furiously.

"Summer!"

He turned on his heel to chase after her.

"If you walk out that door," I called after him, "we're getting a divorce."

He glanced back over his shoulder. "Stop throwing tantrums. You're acting like a lunatic right now."

Watching his frantic silhouette disappear down the hallway, I felt an overwhelming wave of irony. Even though I forced a smile, the tears spilled down my cheeks uncontrollably.

I knew right then that Ethan and I could never go back.