The Seven Days That Set Me Free

After I left the house, Ethan didn't come after me.

Behind me, our friends were still egging him on.

"Ivy's really stepping up her game this year."

"Ethan, don't give in too soon."

Ethan chuckled. "She can't let go of me. Give her three days. She'll come back on her own."

That night, he started another bet in the group chat and put down 30,000 dollars that I wouldn't last 72 hours.

To make sure I gave in first, he added Samantha's fingerprint to the door lock and gave her the spare house key that had always been mine.

Wearing my slippers, Samantha posted a photo of the key beside her breakfast in the group chat.

"Day One as Mrs. Glenn."

Our friends immediately chimed in.

"Take the master bedroom tonight."

"And if you're Mrs. Glenn now, shouldn't you get to wear her nightgown too?"

Ethan didn't stop them. He even told Samantha, "Her nightgown's on the second shelf in the walk-in closet."

I saw the message while unpacking at the small place Mom and Dad had left me. No one had lived there in years. Dust covered the windowsills, and the faucets were starting to rust.

But at least no one there was turning my place as Ethan's wife into a game.

The first year, I cried in front of everyone when Samantha walked off wearing my nightgown.

Ethan held me and comforted me for a long time. He said he only wanted to see if I'd get jealous and even promised, "This is the first and last time."

Now Samantha was going through my walk-in closet, trying on one thing after another. She even went live and let our friends vote on her best "Mrs. Glenn" look.

She put on my silk nightgown and spun around for the camera. "How about this one?"

Ethan was sitting beside her when he glanced up. "You make it look less boring."

The livestream chat filled with laughter.

Then someone asked why I wasn't there, and Samantha's eyes immediately welled up.

"Ivy really can't take a joke. This is just a challenge, and I'm only doing Ethan a favor. I never thought she'd get so upset that she'd actually move out, but we all know she'll come back sooner or later."

Ethan handed her a tissue, then texted me.

"Every marriage needs a little excitement. There's no reason to get this upset over a joke. If you're really moving out, take the rest of your stuff too."

When I went back, the lock no longer recognized my fingerprint.

Samantha had to let me in. She was wearing my nightgown and slippers.

The master bedroom now had the pink bedding she liked, and my skincare had been dumped into a cardboard box.

Our wedding photo had been taken down from above the bed and propped up in a corner. The box in front of it covered half my face.

Ethan pushed the box toward me. "Walking out again isn't going to work, Ivy."

Samantha bit her lip. "Maybe I should sleep in the guest room instead."

But she stayed right there in the master bedroom and made no move to leave.

Sure enough, Ethan caught her by the arm. "Mrs. Glenn sleeps in the master bedroom."

Then he looked at me with that same amused look. He was probably waiting for me to fight for my bed or break down and ask which one of us he really loved.

Instead, I picked up the box. "Did I leave anything else?"

For the first time, Ethan stopped smiling.

He looked at me for a few seconds before his voice turned cold. "You're really selling it this time, Ivy. Let's see how long you can keep it up."

I didn't answer. I turned around and closed the door behind me.