Chapter 4

Sensing the heavy tension, Chloe stepped closer and wrapped her arms around my neck, using her usual whiny tone.

"Ethan, babe, I know you love me. Yesterday was totally my fault. I didn't realize how important it was to you, and I made you wait. But look, I bought you chowder to make it up to you! Stop being mad, okay?"

I brushed her hands off my neck. I couldn't even look at the takeout box on the table.

"Where did this chowder really come from, Chloe? You know the truth."

Just because she put it in a restaurant bag didn't mean it was takeout.

Our relationship was just like that bag—wrapped in a sweet package, but completely rotten on the inside.

My words struck a nerve. Chloe’s face turned incredibly cold.

"Ethan Carter, are you done throwing your tantrum? I apologized, and I explained. What else do you want from me?"

"I'm still young! I don't want to bind myself to a marriage so early. Is that a crime?"

I let out a bitter laugh. Looking at her self-righteous face, I felt deeply exhausted.

Sure. Why not?

A suffocating silence filled the living room.

I just stared at her familiar yet unrecognizable face.

Before I could speak, her phone rang.

Even though she quickly turned away, I caught the caller ID flashing on her screen.

"Hubby ❤️"

That used to be my exclusive contact name on her phone.

And now, I was standing right in front of her.

It wasn't hard to guess who was calling.

Chloe picked up, and Julian’s voice echoed through the speaker. "Chloe, I accidentally broke the ceramic figurine you gave me. My wrist is bleeding pretty badly..."

"Oh my god, are you okay? I'm coming over right now. Wait for me!"

She hung up and immediately rushed to grab her coat.

Even a fool could see through this. I stepped forward and grabbed her arm.

"Don't go, Chloe."

But she didn't even pause to look at me as she shoved her feet into her heels.

"You heard him, Ethan! Julian is hurt. He's an artist—his hands are his livelihood! Nothing can happen to them. I'm just going to check on him, and then I'll be right back."

Something snapped inside me.

The last thread of my patience broke.

Five years of love couldn't compete with a single lie from Julian.

I watched her coldly pull her arm out of my grip and pick up her purse.

I said quietly, "If you walk out that door, don't bother coming back."

"What?"

She spun around, looking genuinely confused.

I met her gaze. "I said, if you go to Julian today, we are done. Let's break up."

"Ethan! How long are you going to keep acting like a child? How can you be so incredibly petty? You can't just throw the word 'breakup' around every time you're annoyed! I have an emergency right now. We'll talk when I get back tonight!"

The door slammed, and her shadow disappeared into the elevator. I calmly locked the door and sat back down on the sofa.

Let it be.

I had invested so much time, energy, and money into this relationship. I had treated her like a queen, carrying all the burdens alone.

And in the end, my queen stripped bare for another man’s camera.

I had given her so many chances.

But I finally had to admit—she was no longer the girl I fell in love with.

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