[4]

In the end, Ethan chose Anna.

He left Auri standing there, clutching her stomach as it tightened painfully, her body trembling—not just from the pain, but from the choice her husband had made.

“Slowly,” Ethan said as he supported Anna. “You’ve been on your feet too long. I told you, you should’ve asked Ms. Sonia for help.”

Anna clung to him, almost childishly. “I just wanted to show Mommy what I cooked. You know how much I missed her.”

“But you’re putting yourself at risk, Anna,” Valencia said, her concern obvious. She even stepped closer to Anna, leaving Auri alone to endure the pain.

“Take Anna to her room right now, Ethan. Let her rest properly.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Suddenly, Auri laughed.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The sound of her laughter made all three of them turn toward her.

“What are you laughing at?” Valencia asked coldly.

“Nothing, Mom. It’s just…” Auri forced herself to stay calm. “Honestly, I’m just curious—who exactly is your wife, Ethan?”

The room fell into a heavy silence.

“Don’t make this uncomfortable, Auri,” Ethan warned, his tone sharp.

Anna quickly loosened her hold on Ethan, trying to stand upright despite the difficulty. “Please don’t fight because of me,” she said softly. “I shouldn’t have complained about the pain and made things difficult for Ethan. But—”

“Don’t say that,” Ethan cut in quickly. “You’re not a burden to anyone.”

Anna shook her head faintly. “No, Ethan. I know my presence makes Auri uncomfortable. I just… I don’t want to make things in this house even more tense.”

Auri looked at Anna steadily. “I never said that, Anna.”

“But I can feel it,” Anna replied quietly. “I disturb your peace too often. I make you share Ethan’s attention far too much. But what choice do I have? My condition forces me to accept that attention. And I know you’re angry with me because of tonight’s dinner… aren’t you?”

Ethan let out a heavy breath. “Anna, you don’t need to explain anything.”

“I do,” Anna replied quickly. She turned to Auri, her eyes glistening. “I don’t want you to think I’m deliberately trying to take Ethan’s affection… or Mommy Valen’s attention. I don’t want to be misunderstood like that, Auri.”

“Anna,” Valencia called sharply.

“No, Mom.” Anna gave a bitter smile. She took a breath, then stepped back. “I’ll go to my room on my own. I don’t want to trouble anyone.”

“I’ll walk you there,” Ethan said reflexively.

“No need,” Anna refused softly. “I can manage by myself. You should stay with Auri, Ethan. Your wife needs you. She’s in pain, isn’t she? I can handle this. I’m used to being in pain anyway.”

She took a step. Then another—her movement suddenly became unsteady. Her body tipped forward and—

“Anna!” Ethan and Valencia cried out at the same time.

Ethan caught her before she could fall. Anna sagged against him, her breathing shallow and labored.

“See?” Ethan shot Auri a hard look. “Do you see her condition now? She’s really weak.”

Auri froze.

“If you were just a little more understanding about Anna’s situation, this wouldn’t have happened,” Ethan said coldly, his gaze filled with displeasure.

“I—”

“That’s enough, Auri.” Valencia’s voice rose sharply. “Ethan, take Anna to her room. Now.”

Without hesitation, Ethan lifted Anna into his arms, holding her carefully to make sure she was comfortable. Anna wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him just as he guided her to do.

And God help her—Auri hadn’t imagined it.

As if that weren’t enough, Valencia followed them, her voice cut as she went. “You’ve gone too far, Auri. Do you have no sense of decency at all?”

They left her there.

Only then did Auri realize tears were sliding down her cheeks. Her hands clenched so tightly her palms stung, her nails digging into her skin.

“What is this supposed to be?” she whispered.

***

Inside her bedroom, Auri sat on the edge of the bed. Her hands trembled as she pressed them to her stomach. The pain hadn’t eased. It stayed—pressing, constant, stretching on minute after minute until she lost track of time. Her tears fell silently, one after another.

It was only when the door opened that she realized how long she had been sitting there.

Ethan came in carrying a cup of warm tea.

“Drink this,” he said shortly, setting the cup on the bedside table.

Auri turned her face away. Her disappointment in Ethan was still too deep. She used the moment to wipe away the traces of her tears, not wanting him to see what she’d been doing.

“I know you’re still angry about what happened earlier,” Ethan said with a quiet sigh. “But you need to understand—I didn’t mean anything by it. Anna needed my help.”

“Don’t I need you too?” Auri demanded, her voice tight. “Since Anna arrived, all your attention has been on her.”

Ethan let out another long sigh and pulled her into his arms. “You’re overthinking this,” he said softly. “Let go of those negative assumptions about Anna. It’s not good for your pregnancy.”

Auri looked down at the cup, then slowly raised her eyes to meet him. “It’s been almost three weeks since Anna started living here, Ethan.”

“So?” he replied.

She stared at him in disbelief. “You said she would only stay for one month.”

“Anna just came out of a bad marriage,” Ethan said gently, stroking the top of his wife’s head with affection. “A little compassion won’t hurt you, Auri.”

Auri turned to him, her gaze thoughtful. “But sometimes I feel like you go too far in the way you treat her.”

Ethan exhaled. “You don’t need to worry. To me, Anna is like a younger sister. And it’s only natural for an older brother to protect her.”

The words left Auri silent. She didn’t respond right away—only stared at the ceiling, her hand resting lightly over her stomach. If Anna was only a sister, then why had so many boundaries been crossed?

“But I can’t keep accepting this,” she said at last. “This is the limit for me, Ethan.” Tears slipped down her cheeks before she realized it. “You remember your promise, don’t you?”

“Auri, trust me.” Ethan cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumb, the touch gentle and achingly familiar.

For a moment, Auri leaned into that hand—soaking in the warmth she still longed for, the warmth she still missed.

“Ethan? Are you inside? Could you help me for a moment?” Anna’s voice called from outside the bedroom.

The warmth Auri had just felt vanished the instant Ethan’s hand fell away.

“Anna needs me. You shouldn’t stay up too late. I’ll be back soon.”

And then Ethan walked out of the room—just like that. Without a second thought, without realizing how deeply his actions cut. Once again, Ethan left Auri alone, her emotions shattered beyond repair. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but this time, she didn’t bother wiping them away.

“So then…” she whispered into the empty room, “what am I supposed to be to you, Ethan?” Auri lifted her head, forcing herself not to let the tears fall again.

Her fingers slowly curled into fists, her nails biting into her palms once more, as if the pain could somehow make her stronger. In that moment, she made a silent decision—she could not remain trapped in a situation like this any longer.