He turned pale when he saw my expression. “What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”
Instead of the chat box, his computer screen now showed my medical report.
He instantly hugged me, looking nervous. “What happened, babe?”
I looked at him and let the tears fall. “No news either this month.”
He glanced at the screen and heaved a sigh of relief. “Geez, you scared me. Didn’t I say we could take it slow with having kids? You’re getting worked up again.”
His eyes were loving as he pinched my cheek. “You’re the only baby I need in this family.”
I fell silent, at a loss for what to say.
He wiped away my tears gently and turned off the computer without a word before leading me to the living room.
“It’s almost time for your period. I put the bed covers in the bedside drawer.
“I made beef stew for dinner. You should eat more to replenish your body’s supply of iron.
“The supplements are on the counter. I’ll check if you took them tonight, so don’t forget.”
I still did not say anything.
He tapped my forehead lightly, his tone sweet. “I bought a sweeter version this time, don’t worry.”
He had been so considerate for the past three years. He barely let me do anything, and his gaze was always overflowing with devotion.
I had no idea when his heart started drifting.
After setting me down on the couch, he took off his loungewear lazily. When he grabbed his shirt with his back toward me, I saw some red marks on his lower back.
I only realized once he had gotten dressed. They were scratch marks, but I had not left them.
It was the other woman.
Ethan took the car keys and was about to leave when he turned around to beckon me. “Jasmine, come here.”
I walked up to him mechanically.
He patted my head. “Don’t stay at home and overthink. If you’re bored, go out shopping.
“I have to meet a client tonight so I might be back late. Don’t wait for me.
“And remember to take your meds! I’ll check.”
From this close, I could see the fountain pen in his shirt pocket. My eyes trembled.
He found fountain pens annoying, so he had been using ballpoint pens for the past two years. However, the pen in his pocket looked worn, like it was well-used.
I suddenly remembered how I had praised his writing when he wrote me love notes back then. He had seemed dazed for a moment before telling me he had a great calligraphy teacher, Mr. Swann.
Mr. Swann had praised Ethan by saying his writing was even better than his daughter.
His daughter’s name… was Anna Swann.
So it was her.
His ex who ran away from the altar.
Someone seemed to be rushing him with a flurry of messages. In his haste, Ethan even forgot our daily goodbye kiss before hurrying off.
When he hugged me, he instinctively covered the fountain pen in his chest pocket, either to prevent me from noticing it… or dirtying it.
My hand around the doorknob tightened until my knuckles turned white.
I did not want to believe that my love of so many years was nothing but a lie.
However, I could not deny the truth before my eyes.
I needed more information.
When I was about to follow him, the door opened by itself.
Ethan was stunned to see me at the door. “Are you heading out?”
I paused for two seconds. “To take out the trash.”
He brought me back to the couch and sat me down. “The housekeeper will do that later. Don’t trouble yourself.”
He seemed to have forgotten something. He went into his room, took something, and then left again.
This time, I followed him. It was a little hard because he drove so quickly.
Eventually, we went into the basement parking of a condominium near his company.
He stopped his car in a corner, got out, and walked to the red Mini nearby. After that, he opened the door and got into the backseat.
A woman with chestnut curls immediately hugged his neck and started making out with him.
My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. My body was tense, my breathing rapid.
The two of them were all over each other, and soon the car started shaking.
I suddenly realized what he had gone home to pick up. It was the condom in our bedroom.
The brand he preferred was not easily available. That was why he could not wait for someone to deliver it.
He had to grab it right before my eyes and use it on someone else.
His hand pressed against the car window, the wedding ring on his slender finger piercing my eyes.
I turned my head away and wiped my tears, staring dazedly at the empty passenger seat. By the time I turned back to look at them, they were done.
The woman got out of the backseat and sat in the passenger seat.
When I saw her beautiful rosy face, I suddenly remembered.
I had seen that face before.
Three years ago, at our wedding, she sat alone in the hall next door and watched the entire ceremony.
I asked Ethan if she was his relative. He glanced at her, paused, and said he did not know her.
Seeing how devastated she looked, I thought she was here after having her heart broken. I even gave her some chocolates from our reception.
I had no idea the one who broke her heart was my newlywed husband.
My eyes lowered, I suddenly laughed.
So it turned out the relationship I treasured so much had been full of lies from the start.
My phone vibrated. I turned it on and saw a picture of Ethan’s desk.
[Babe, I reached the company. See this stack of documents? I’m exhausted, and I need your kiss to recharge.]
I fell back into the car seat, covering my face self-deprecatingly. He was exhausted, alright, but it had nothing to do with those documents.
Anna drove away, and I followed her.
I already knew everything I needed to know, so I had no intention of following her. However, the red Mini seemed to be going the same way I was.
When we reached an intersection, we waited at the red light next to each other. She seemed to glance at me.
The light turned green, and I drove with my eyes fixed forward.
Within seconds, something abruptly crashed into my car. My head smashed into the glass, and my car headed straight into the path of a large truck.
Amid the piercing horn, I lost consciousness in a world of agony.