Chapter 6: The First Crack

I didn’t see much of Ethan after what happened in the library.

Three days passed we hardly talked. That wasn’t strange — we never really talked, not since our wedding.

But something felt different now; every time we passed each other, I caught him looking at me just for a second then he’d look away, like he was trying to figure something out. Maybe about me, maybe about himself.

By the fourth morning I couldn’t eat anymore. My mother’s words kept playing in my head over and over, like a song I hated but couldn’t turn off.

As long as the Kingsleys are happy, our company will survive.

I sat at the table and stared at my plate. Toast, fruit, coffee, Normally I’d force it down anyway. Not today. The food might as well have been sand.

I stood up quietly I thought no one noticed.

But I was wrong, I’d barely reached the door when Ethan’s voice stopped me cold “You’re not eating?”

I turned around so fast I nearly lost my balance. Everyone at the table looked just as shocked as I felt — because Ethan Kingsley never asked me anything personal. Not once, not even on our wedding day.

I forced a smile onto my face. “I’m not hungry.”

His eyes stayed on me longer than they needed to. Then he just nodded. “Fine.”

I walked out fast, but I swear I could still feel his eyes on my back the whole way down the hall.

The next day was worse I skipped breakfast, then lunch, by dinner my stomach was cramping from hunger, but I still couldn’t eat.

The sadness sitting in my chest was heavier than any hunger could ever be, I thought no one noticed that either but I was wrong again.

That night I went down to the kitchen for water. Only one small lamp was lit. As I reached for a glass, a voice came from behind me.

“You didn’t eat lunch either.”

I almost dropped the glass, I spun around. Ethan was standing in the doorway.

My heart jumped in my chest. “What are you doing here?”

The words flew out before I could stop them.

One corner of his mouth twitched — not quite a smile but close to it. “I live here.”

I looked away my face suddenly hot with embarrassment. He walked past me to the fridge, for a while neither of us said anything.

Then he asked, “Are you trying to prove something?”

I frowned What?

The starving act.

That hit harder than it should have. I set the glass down slowly “I’m not acting.”

His eyes narrowed. Then eat…

There was real irritation in his voice and it confused me. Why would he care? You don’t have to worry about me, I said.

Something flickered across his face — there, then gone. I’m not worried, he said it too fast.

I almost laughed he looked away first this time, and a minute later he was gone. But the conversation stayed with me long after he left, like smoke that won’t clear from a room.

The next afternoon my mother called. My stomach twisted, the second her name lit up my screen, I almost didn’t pick up. Almost. But some small stubborn part of me still wanted a mother, even though mine had never really acted like one.

Have you apologized to Ethan’s family? No hello,

no how are you? Just business, like always.

I closed my eyes. “Hello to you too”

She sighed, Stop being difficult.

That old familiar disappointment sank into me, the same way it always did.

You slapped me, I said quietly.

Silence. Then, You’re still talking about that? She said.

A bitter laugh came out of me before I could stop it. Still talking about it? Like it was nothing, like being humiliated in front of an entire family didn’t matter at all.

My voice started to shake. Did you ever want me?

The question just slipped out. I didn’t plan it, then line went quiet for a long moment. Then she said, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

She never said yes, my throat closed up. Tears blurred my eyes. I hung up before she could say anything more, and the moment the call ended, I broke down completely.

I sat on the edge of my bed and cried — not loud, not dramatic, just quiet tears. The kind that come from years of trying to earn a love that was never coming.

I didn’t know someone was standing outside my door. I didn’t know Ethan had stopped there on his way upstairs, I didn’t know he heard everything.

By evening I felt awful, my head pounded. My whole body felt weak, like my bones had turned to water. I couldn’t even go down for dinner, the thought of food made my stomach turn.

About an hour later someone knocked. “Come in,” I said, barely opening my eyes. I expected a maid Instead, Ethan walked in.

I sat up fast, startled. What are you doing here?

He frowned at me, you look terrible.

I almost laughed. “Thanks.”

I’m serious his eyes moved over my face — the dark circles under my eyes, my pale skin, the tiredness I couldn’t hide. His expression hardened. “How long have you been like this?

“I’m fine.” The answer came out on autopilot, the way it always did — the way it does for anyone who’s learned that nobody’s really listening.

He just stared at me then he turned and walked out. Five minutes later he came back — and he wasn’t alone, an older man with a medical bag followed him in.

I froze. “Ethan—”

The doctor’s here.

You called a doctor?

His face closed up instantly. Don’t make it a big deal.

Twenty minutes later the doctor finished checking me, he took off his glasses and sighed. She’s exhausted, stressed, no sleep, bad nutrition. He looked straight at Ethan. Has she been eating?

Nobody answered, nobody had to. She’s severely run down the doctor said, and packed up his bag.

After he left the room went quiet again I thought Ethan would leave too but he didn’t. He just stood there, watching me, thinking.

You really haven’t been eating? he finally said.

I looked away. “It doesn’t matter.”

His eyebrows pulled together — an expression that looked strange on him, almost like worry. And somehow that scared me more than his coldness ever had. Because hate was easy to understand. Care wasn’t.

Then his phone rang, Lily’s name lit up the screen.

He glanced at it then answered, her sweet voice filled the room instantly. Ethan. Have you gotten rid of her yet?

I froze.

I know she’s pretending to be innocent,” Lily said,

laughing softly. “Don’t fall for it. She’s always been manipulative.”

I waited for him to agree, he always agreed. He always defended her, he always blamed me.

But this time — nothing.

His eyes slowly moved to me, to my pale face, to the food I hadn’t touched. To the medicine sitting on my nightstand.

His jaw tightened. And then, calm — too calm — he finally spoke. “Are you sure?”

Silence swallowed the room, even I forgot to breathe. Because that was the first time Ethan Kingsley had ever doubted Lily. And from the shocked silence on the other end of the phone, she knew it too.