Chapter 2

She told me later that if the front door hadn't been slightly left ajar, I would have died of anaphylactic shock.

I stayed in the hospital for two days.

On the second day, Ethan finally called.

"Where are you? The apartment is a mess. Why haven't you cleaned up?"

I squeezed my discharge papers tightly and replied:

"I'm at the hospital. I'm getting discharged today."

I heard Ethan let out a frustrated sigh.

"I think you mentioned the hospital a few days ago too. What's wrong with you? Are you actually sick?"

This time, he actually heard what I said.

He didn't deflect. He didn't make excuses.

But I had already lost any desire to explain.

I walked down to the lobby and picked up several copies of the divorce agreement I had requested.

This time, whether he listened or not, I was going to end this.

There was no point in dragging it out.

When I got home, I placed the papers calmly on the coffee table.

Ethan was in the kitchen cooking.

I called out to him, my back turned.

"Sign this when you have a moment."

He turned around, looking surprised.

I added:

"The divorce papers."

He finally walked over, his eyes locked onto the documents.

"Just because I didn't play along with your sick pregnancy joke, you're throwing a tantrum and demanding a divorce?"

"Audrey, we are adults. Stop being so childish."

I threw my medical reports and discharge papers onto the table, right in front of him.

"I was pregnant. But thanks to you, I lost the baby."

"Ethan, we're done. Every single day with you has been pure torture."

I sat on the floor, curling myself into a ball.

Ethan stared at the medical report, then at the divorce papers.

"You fabricated a fake miscarriage report just to guilt-trip me?"

"Think about it, Audrey. How many times have you threatened divorce this week?"

"Whatever. I'll stay at the fire station for a few days. We'll talk when you've calmed down."

He didn't want to treat me well, but he didn't want to let me go either.

Being tied to him was only dragging us both into hell.

Because of the cat rescue on the roof, Ethan was once again hailed as a local hero on TikTok.

But he didn't deserve that title at all.

Local news channels kept interviewing him.

During this time, my grief and anger only intensified.

I couldn't stop picturing how my mother died in those flames.

And I couldn't forget how Ethan had repeatedly left me in danger.

So, I made a choice.

I sent a detailed report with evidence to the Fire Department's internal affairs.

A few days later, Ethan was doing another live TV interview. He looked sharp and proud.

When the reporter asked him a question, he answered smoothly.

"I just did what anyone would do. I believe anyone who saw that kitten would have done the same."

The reporter, Jessica, changed her tone.

"So, Captain, do you think a cat's life is more important than a human's life?"

Without hesitation, Ethan smiled.

"Human life always comes first. Absolutely."

Jessica's face went cold.

"Then why, when a human and a cat were both in danger, did you choose to save the cat?"

"And let a woman burn to death?"

Ethan's hands began to sweat. His confident posture crumbled instantly.

He looked past the cameras and saw me standing in the crowd.

His eyes panicked. He looked like he wanted to beg me to save him, to make an excuse for him.

I walked forward, holding my mother's framed portrait in my arms.

"Give her an explanation, Ethan."

The cameras immediately turned toward me.

Ethan's voice shook.

"Audrey... you said Susan was alive... didn't you?"

My heart was breaking, but I kept my voice dead cold.

"You were the one who said that. I never did."

Ethan's proud shoulders collapsed. He took a weak step toward me.

"Where is Susan? She's still alive, right?"

I looked into his eyes and said, word by word:

"She is in our apartment. On the balcony. In the rose pot you dumped her ashes into."