Chapter Four Something Was Off

(Ethan's POV)

"Selena stopped by," Betty's quiet voice snapped my attention from the document I was reviewing.

My mind spiraled, half wondering what else might have happened in my absence and the other half excited for the first time since the week began.

After Selena had left the house that night, I hadn’t been able to concentrate.

I had almost driven to Maya’s house today but caught myself after the first turn.

Now thinking about it, I felt happy that I hadn’t. Still, I would have gotten the chance to see Selena’s face if I had.

I picked up my phone, which had been lying abandoned on the desk, and quickly tapped on Selena's contact.

She has finally come to her senses.

I am second from putting the call through when something landed in front of me.

My eyes narrowed at the envelope, and I raised a brow at Betty.

"She wants you to sign," she said simply.

My fingers hovered above the plain paper envelope.

A part of me already knew what was inside, but I didn't want to listen or admit it.

Selena wouldn't do it.

Whatever was inside that envelope was anything but... It must be an apology letter. Yes. That is it.

With a swift movement, I broke the seal of the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.

My face tensed, a frown forming as I read the heading on the paper.

'MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION'

I blinked once, then twice, thinking I was mistaken, that the stress and sleepless nights had gotten to me.

But nothing changed.

The writing remained bold and unmistakable.

A signature stood in one of the signature boxes, one I recognized all too well because it was the same one that binds my marriage certificate to hers. Selena's.

I shot up.

"What did you do?" My tone came out harsher than I intended.

Betty shrieked. I noticed.

Then, without a word, I left the room.

Betty’s voice called after me,

"You are going to sign, right?" But I didn't answer.

The car door slammed shut as I entered. One place popped into my mind.

~~~

I pushed the glass toward the messy-haired bartender.

"Another one," I said.

Though he opened his mouth, he poured me another glass of vodka without a word.

I drank it in one go, placing it down, signaling for yet another.

I felt my head spin and knew I was close. I stood up, staggering toward the nearest trash bag.

I barely made it when I puked, gutting out my intestines. When I finished, I just sat there, too tired and exhausted to stand, my eyes half-closed.

Then I heard it, Selena's voice.

My eyes snapped open, looking in the direction the voice came from.

"Selena?" I muttered, reaching out my hand.

My mind almost faltered when I caught nothing.

What was I expecting? That she appeared after coolly dropping some divorce papers for me? She didn’t even wait for my return.

I chuckled.

The drink had gotten the better of me. If not, why would I be thinking about that wicked woman, let alone imagine she came to find me?

But something caught my hand.

Selena's voice came again.

"Ethan, let go." I wanted to pull away, but my body betrayed me, leaning closer to sniff that familiar smell of strawberry.

It wasn't strawberry. It was another scent: lavender, lemon. But I didn’t bother thinking further. She might have changed her shampoo.

Not that it mattered.

What was important was Selena was here. She had come back for me. My eyes snapped shut as I fell into her arms.

~~~

I woke up with an encroaching headache the next day. My eyes snapped shut at the blinding beam of light.

Something softly wrapped around my waist, causing my lips to tug into a smile. Memories of last night came to mind, and I lowered my head to kiss her.

I paused. Something was off.

My eyes widened as the woman snuggled closer. Betty.

And suddenly it made sense; the scent, the voice. The woman from last night. It wasn't Selena.

That damn woman would never come for me. But that wasn’t the issue now.

I had just had a one-night stand with Betty.

FOUR YEARS LATER

The phone on the desk rang, causing a slight frown on my face. I had specifically told Sara to deflect all calls.

I reached for it, my frown deepening as I saw the name on the screen: my mum.

My finger hovered on the screen for a while before clicking the decline button. Just as I dropped it on the table, it began ringing again. A sigh escaped my lips. She would never give up until I picked up.

Silence stretched as I waited for her to speak. She didn’t. Instead, another voice came through.

"Sir?"

My brows shot up.

"Who is this?"

"Diana. Diana, your mother's maid." Great, my mum had changed her method. She now uses her maid.

"Give her the phone."

"Actually, sir, I am calling from the hospital. Madam had a massive stroke and was rushed here."

Panic sunk in. "Which hospital?"

"Best Care Hospital."

The call ended seconds later, leaving me staring into space. For four years, my mum and I haven’t seen eye to eye, ever since that day, the day she made Betty move in with me because she claimed she was carrying my child.

She didn’t deserve it. She just wanted to have her grandchild close. Now, thinking about it, I can’t help feeling unfilial.

I was going to make it right this time. With that, I grabbed my jacket.

I met Diana in the hallway, pacing. She stopped as she saw me and walked up.

"You are here."

"Where is she?"

"In the ward. Come. The nurse asked to check her vitals, and I just thought to call you." She paused. "I understand your relationship with her hasn't been great over the years, but Ethan, she needs you now."

"I understand." Just then, the door opened, and a nurse came out.

“You must be the patient’s relative?” she asked, and without letting me answer, said, “Come, there are some documents we need you to sign before we proceed with the surgery.”

"How is my mother’s condition?" I asked, following behind her.

"Stable now. But she needs surgery."

"Get the best doctor for the surgery then."

"No need. The best surgeon has been informed about your mother’s condition, and she has taken an interest in the case. She is waiting in her office. We are headed there."

After a few steps, we stopped at a door.

"Go on, she is waiting for you." She nodded, then turned and left.

I knocked on the door, and a low feminine voice called out,

"Come in."

I turned the knob, opening the door but paused as I saw a familiar face, one I would recognize anywhere: Selena.

She looked different, in a good way, more beautiful than I last saw her four years ago.

She didn't look up as I entered the room, engrossed with whatever was in the paper in front of her.

I froze as I saw the name on the coat, ‘Selena Mark,’ realization hitting me. She was the neurosurgeon the nurse spoke about.

"Selena?" Her gaze locked with mine as her name escaped my lips, but she just stared back with no trace of recognition.