4

The next morning, I packed my bag to go to the hospital.

Ethan leaned against the doorframe.

“Packing again?

“Where to this time?”

I shoved the medical records and payment receipts into my bag.

“The hospital.”

My phone rang.

The screen showed the hospital’s number.

I was about to answer when Ethan snatched it away.

“Sign the statement first.”

Sophie walked in carrying a printed document.

It read: The love hotel charges were arranged by Amber Shaw herself.

Sophie merely picked up the room key on her behalf.

Amber voluntarily waives the right to pursue the matter further.

I looked at those lines and laughed.

“The photos were taken, the posts were made. That’s still not enough?”

Ethan held out a pen.

“Sign it, and it’s over for good.”

“Over for who?”

He looked away.

“Sophie can’t keep carrying this.”

I asked, “But I can?”

He frowned.

“You’re my wife.

“I know you feel wronged. I’ll make it up to you.

“She’s different.

“If this follows her around, what’s she supposed to do?”

“So I married you just so you could throw me under the bus more conveniently?”

His voice softened again.

“Amber, don’t look at me like that.”

He reached out to wipe my tears.

“Don’t cry like this. It kills me to see it.

“But feeling bad doesn’t help. Sophie’s situation needs to be dealt with first.”

My phone buzzed again. A line of text flashed across the screen.

Critical condition notice. Family members, come immediately.

My mind went blank.

“Ethan, my mom is in critical condition.”

He glanced down at the screen.

I know he saw it.

But he didn’t give me the phone.

He flipped it face-down.

“Sign it, and I’ll drive you there.”

Sophie panicked too.

“Ethan, maybe let Amber go first...”

Ethan turned to look at her.

“Stay out of it.”

The phone buzzed again.

Your mother is conscious right now. She’s asking to see you.

I threw myself at him to grab it.

Ethan held my hand down.

“You’re a mess right now. If you answer, she’ll only panic more.

“Sign it, and I’ll let you talk to her.”

My whole body was shaking.

“Ethan, give me my phone.”

He gripped my wrist.

“Don’t do this.”

Tears streamed down my face.

“Ethan, my mom only has me.”

He looked at me.

He hesitated. I saw it clearly, one whole second.

But in the end, he said, “Sophie’s situation, right now, I’m the only one who can handle it.”

I stopped talking.

In that moment, I truly didn’t want to beg him anymore.

He pressed the pen into my hand.

“Good girl.

“Sign it, and I’ll drive you.

“When we get to the hospital, you can cry all you want, hit me all you want.”

I looked at him.

He’d already planned out how I’d cry, how I’d forgive him.

I looked down at the statement.

The next second, I drove the tip of the pen into my own palm.

Blood welled up instantly.

Ethan’s face changed.

“Amber!”

He let go instinctively.

I grabbed the phone, snatched the car keys, and ran.

His furious shout came from behind me.

“Amber, if you walk out that door today, don’t expect me to come coax you back!”

I didn’t look back.

By the time I reached the hospital, the light above the emergency room had already gone dark.

The nurse saw me, and her expression softened immediately.

“Ms. Shaw, your mother passed half an hour ago.”

I braced myself against the wall. My legs wouldn’t hold me.

The nurse handed me a piece of paper.

“She woke up one last time.

“She said if you came, we were to tell you exactly this.

“‘Don’t be scared. Mom doesn’t blame you.’”

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

Her eyes reddening, the nurse said, “When she heard the phone ringing at the end, she kept looking at the door.

“She thought you were calling back.”

I never got to tell her. The bed wasn’t delayed because of me. The hotel wasn’t my idea.

My phone rang again.

Ethan.

I declined the call.

He texted.

How’s your mom?

Sophie was really shaken up earlier. Come back and apologize to her first.

I stared at that message and suddenly laughed.

The blood on my palm had dried, pulling the skin tight.

That night, I handled my mom’s arrangements.

No tears. No scenes.

I went back to the apartment Ethan had bought for our marriage and took everything that belonged to me.

Last, I cut the joint account card in half and left it on the dining table.

Three days later, Ethan finished coaxing Sophie and finally came home.

The place was empty.

Only two things were left on the nightstand.

The signed divorce agreement and the joint account card, cut in two.

[Paywall]