Chapter 3

During my entire hospital stay, Ethan never showed his face again.

He called Maria, our housekeeper who had been on vacation, and had her come back early. He ordered my favorite fresh flowers, having them arranged differently every day, and had my favorite meals prepared. But I didn't touch any of it.

I iced him out completely. Realizing his half-hearted gestures weren't working, he settled into a cold war with me.

"Sweetheart, before I arrived, Mr. Miller kept reminding me to look after you," Maria said gently. "He has always loved you more than anything. Don't stay mad at him forever."

Maria had no idea what had actually transpired between Ethan and me. She had watched us grow up together.

Over the years, she had witnessed firsthand how devotedly Ethan cared for me. But she didn't know that I was no longer his top priority.

It was like a scale: on the other side, there was always something far more important than me.

"Maria, I'm divorcing Ethan."

Saying the words out loud was surprisingly easy.

Yet the suffocating weight in my chest surged like a tidal wave, threatening to swallow me whole, leaving me struggling for breath.

I closed my eyes, blinking away the bitter moisture.

"Every couple has problems they can talk through! Please don't do anything reckless!" Maria gasped, her voice pitching up in shock.

"Does Mr. Miller know about this?"

I thought about the divorce agreement he had signed years ago, which was still sitting in the home safe. I offered a faint, hollow smile. "He knows."

Back when he married me, he had said: "If you ever find yourself unhappy living with me, you can walk away whenever you want. This is my guarantee to you."

On the day I was discharged, Ethan still didn't show up.

Maria wheeled my chair up to our front porch. Before we even opened the door, cheerful laughter drifted out from inside.

"Ethan, seriously, what kind of magic do you have? My dog adores you, and now her puppies love you just as much!"

"Does that mean I have to fall in love with you too?"

Chloe wore a bright, coquettish smile. When their eyes locked, an undeniable spark of flirtation passed between them.

Noticing the open affection in her gaze, Ethan froze for a split second before quickly averting his eyes.

She wasn't breathtakingly gorgeous, but she had youth and an infectious charm.

When she smiled, two shallow dimples showed on her cheeks, radiating a warm, lively energy.

Ethan casually toyed with one of the puppies, turning back to give her a gentle, indulgent smile. "Jealous already? You're such a lightweight."

"Hmph," Chloe pouted, crossing her arms playfully. "I'm jealous of the puppies, okay?"

As Ethan looked up, his eyes finally landed on Maria and me sitting in the doorway.

"Summer." Ethan scrambled to his feet, looking completely caught off guard, his hands hovering awkwardly.

"Summer, you're back! Are you tired? Let me have Ethan pour you some water," Chloe chimed in effortlessly, acting like nothing was wrong.

Her smile was radiant, but the subtle smugness in her eyes was unmistakable.