Chapter 18
On May 1st, the day of my surgery, Ethan Brooks had promised to be there for me. But out of the blue, he told me he had to attend his grandfather’s funeral.
Yet, after the operation, I saw a photo in our school group chat. It was him, hugging a younger girl from our school, with the caption. [Happiness is having someone who’s always there when you’re sick or down.]}
Everyone thought I’d lose my temper.”
Even his mom tried to console me. “Ethan lied because he didn’t want you to worry. He and Lily are just childhood friends. There’s nothing going on.“”
I just smiled. They might as well get married and stop wasting each other’s time.}
Fifteen days later, I was in a wheelchair, wrapping up my discharge paperwork, when Ethan finally showed up.”
He handed me a bouquet of red roses and said, “I’m sorry.“}
“Here we go again,” I thought.
A bunch of red roses and an apology were Ethan’s classic moves.>
I loved Ethan.!
I feared losing him, so I always played along.
But this time, I didn’t take the flowers.
As I lay alone at night, staring at the hospital ceiling, looking at that photo of him and Lily Summers, I finally realized that some love, no matter how humbly offered, would never bloom.§
The weather in my heart, whether sunny or stormy, was no longer under Ethan’s control.
“I’m sorry.”
“Lily has depression. She was crying and throwing fits, I…”
Ethan began to explain, but I cut him off, tired of hearing the same old excuses. “Enough, I know what you’re going to say.“}]
Every time, it was the same tale of how miserable Lily was and how much she needed help.”
But wasn’t I miserable too? Didn’t I need support?}
Three months ago, Ethan was chatting with Lily, not paying attention, and ran a red light just as a car sped by.”
I pushed him out of the way, getting hit myself, resulting in two surgeries to place steel plates in my legs.
Seeing my cold demeanor, Ethan looked taken aback, a flicker of confusion and embarrassment in his eyes.
“I’ll help you into the car.“>
“No need,” I refused.}
When I first got injured, Ethan helped with everything.}
But one time, while he was on the phone with Lily, I asked him to fetch something for me. He snapped, “Can’t you do it yourself?“}
He apologized later, but I never asked for his help again.”
Yet he never seemed to tire of caring for Lily, even using his grandfather’s funeral as an excuse.>
In the car, I closed my eyes and rested, not saying a word.
Ethan didn’t try to console me, probably thinking I’d get over it soon, just like before.}
When we got home, I walked in to find Lily wearing a nightgown, holding a spatula, coming out of the kitchen.}
“You’re back! Dinner is almost ready,” she said with a smile, grabbing a tissue to wipe the sweat off her nose, then reaching up to dab the sweat off Ethan’s forehead like a perfect wife.
It seemed they had been living together while I was in the hospital.
‘Lily gets scared being home alone, so I…” Ethan started to explain.}
In the past, I would have exploded in a fight with Ethan, but now I just nodded slightly, ignoring his excuses, and wheeled myself straight to the bedroom.}
Behind me, I heard Lily’s sweet, pitiful voice. “Ethan, is Emma mad again?”
She always played the victim, looking so delicate and mistreated.
“It’s fine, she’ll calm down soon,” Ethan reassured her patiently, spouting his usual lines.
I smirked and shut myself in the bedroom.
The first thing I saw was a photo of Ethan and me, taken when we had just started dating.”
We were sitting on a lawn at sunset, laughing and sharing dreams of the future.
All of that had crumbled the moment Lily stepped into our lives.
“Dinner’s ready,” Ethan called out.
Lignored him and started packing my things. When I emerged, suitcase in hand, Lily and Ethan were sitting together at the dining table E
“Emma.
“What’s this about?”
10:54 PM
table.
“Emma.”
“What’s this about?”
Ethan looked puzzled.§
“I’m moving out,” I said, not bothering to look at him.
“Stop being ridiculous, Emma.“}
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Ethan stood up quickly and blocked my path. He frowned and scolded slightly, “Lily is just staying here for a while. Nothing happened between us.“}]
“Whatever you two have going on, it’s none of my business,” I replied coolly.
I was the one being abandoned, yet Ethan’s tone made it sound like I was the unreasonable one.
How absurd!
Just as Ethan opened his mouth to argue, Lily started coughing dramatically.}
“It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have come… I made Emma misunderstand…“}
Lily’s eyes were filled with tears, her body trembling, eventually collapsing to the floor, clutching her head as if she was having an episode.
“It’s not your fault. Emma isn’t really leaving…“}
Ethan hurried over to comfort her, his eyes full of worry.
In the past, I had only put on a show, hoping Ethan would realize the seriousness of the situation.
But it had backfired.
Ethan thought I was easy to appease and couldn’t live without him.>
Well, he was in for a surprise this time.
I stepped outside into the sunshine and fresh air, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.}
I was finally free from the exhausting pretense.}
I had already rented a new place while I was in the hospital.}
As soon as I arrived, my phone buzzed incessantly. It was the school group chat, full of notifications.
Lily had posted a photo of Ethan feeding her with a heartfelt caption.
[Thank you, Ethan, for always being there for me. Without you, I don’t know what I would have done.]} [It’s so wonderful to have someone by your side!]}]
Ethan’s reply was casual, downplaying it as if it were no big deal.
I had just left, and they were already flaunting their closeness.
Were they mocking me for being alone?}
The group chat erupted with comments, joking that I was about to storm in and create a scene.
10:54 PM
