Chapter 3His "Angel," My Dying Child, His Unforgivable Choice

No matter what, I would endure it for Annie.

But I never imagined… Annie didn't make it long enough to see Ethan.

I paced the hospital corridor, checking the time over and over.

When the devastating news finally reached me, my body went rigid, as if the world had fallen away.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.

How… how could this happen…

Whether he was coming from his office or Chloe's place, it was only a ten-minute drive.

He couldn't even spare ten minutes?

My heart clenched painfully, making it impossible to breathe.

Just then, Chloe's Instagram updated again.

Her caption: "The silly goose made me a four-course meal! Told him I couldn't possibly eat it all, but he insisted I'm too thin. Cleaned my plate! "

Ethan's comment below: "Happy if you eat more."

My thumb slipped and liked the post.

She immediately sent me a private message. "Sarah, Ethan was worried I wouldn't eat, so he insisted on staying with me Sorry! He'll make it up to Annie tomorrow, okay?"

I could practically picture her smug expression.

In that instant, my heart felt like it had plunged into ice water.

I raised my hand, wiped my tears, and deleted her contact information.

My fingernails dug into my palms, the pain spreading through my core.

Overnight, I had lost everything.

I accompanied Annie's body to the funeral home. It was crowded, too many people needing arrangements. Annie had to lie alone in a refrigerated drawer, waiting.

I didn't cry. I didn't make a scene. I just sat quietly outside the funeral home all night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Annie's face contorted in pain.

I felt nothing, just numb. Only one thought remained.

Divorce.

I want a divorce.

I handled everything and went home as the sky began to lighten at the crack of dawn.

He was back.

I hadn't turned on the lights. He jumped when he saw me.

He froze for a second, his expression slightly awkward. "It got really late last night. I didn't want to wake you and Annie, so I didn't come home."

"I have to leave for a business trip soon, can you pack a couple of outfits for me?"

Always ordering me around, just like usual.

When I didn't move, he walked towards me.

My face must have looked awful.

He clearly didn't understand, stepping closer, trying to placate me. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting. Last night, she was really upset—"

I lifted my hand and slapped him across the face with all my strength.

His expression turned ugly. He raised his voice. "Sarah! Are you crazy? You hit me?"

"And you sent Annie back to your parents', didn't you? Can you stop being so unreasonable? Stop being jealous all the time! Chloe just got back, she has no family here but me."

I didn't say anything.

He lost his patience, dragging me onto the sofa, fumbling with his belt, kissing me roughly.

I bit him. "Get off me!"

The taste of blood filled my mouth.

Just then, I saw the hickey on his neck.

The blatant mark sent a sharp pain through my heart, stealing my breath.

But his face was cold. "Sarah, what's the act? You used Annie to lure me back, isn't this what you wanted all along? Fine. I'll give it to you."

He roughly tore at my dress, as if sex was some kind of compensation.

Seeing I'd stopped resisting, his movements became gentler.

"Sarah, stop being unreasonable, okay? Or I'll really lose my patience."

"Sarah, can't you just yield a little? Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

My body flinched slightly. I didn't fight back anymore. My voice was flat. "Annie's gone."

He didn't seem to hear me, still tearing at my clothes. Tears streamed silently down my face.

Just then, Chloe pushed the door open and walked in.

She wore a victor's smile, covering her mouth coyly. "Ethan, what's taking you so long? It's cold downstairs, so I came on up."

She saw us, her expression faltering for a split second, then she strutted over in her heels.

"Oh… Sarah's here too? Weren't you supposed to be at the hospital? See, Ethan? You know her so well. She really was lying to you."

Ethan seemed to tacitly agree with her.

Her casual words cut me like knives.

My head snapped towards her. I saw a matching, glaring hickey on her neck too.

Out all night, hickeys on both of them.

No explanation needed.

I snapped, biting down hard on his arm. He cried out in pain, releasing me.

I forced back tears. "Ethan, why would you humiliate me like this?"

He looked bewildered but moved to stand beside Chloe, rubbing her hand, his tone reproachful towards her. "Chloe, I told you to wear more, didn't I? Your hands are freezing, just like a little girl's."

She pouted playfully. "Ethan, as long as you're here, I'll never be cold."

"You promised you'd always protect me. When our baby is born, you'll protect them too, right?"

Ethan's expression softened incredibly. I heard him reply, "Okay."

He said okay?

He… how could he?

Baby? What baby?

I looked at Chloe, who was shyly cradling her stomach.

In that instant, my world collapsed.

He tucked her hair behind her ear, not even looking at me.

I straightened my clothes and stood up, my expression numb, my hands hanging limply at my sides.

Tears fell, fat and heavy.

"Ethan, you're sick. You're seriously sick. You didn't deserve such a wonderful daughter."

Mentioning Annie finally made him look at me.

He crossed his arms, leaning back slightly, his eyes cold, his tone impatient. "Go get Annie from your parents' house."

"Sarah, if you keep acting this paranoid, maybe Chloe should take care of her for a while. Chloe likes kids more than you do."

He called me paranoid.

Before, he would have said, It's okay, Sarah, I'll reassure you, I only love you.

Memories sliced through me like razors, leaving me bleeding pain.

Tears streamed down my face.

"Ethan, you don't get another chance. You'll never get the chance. Annie's dead."

Chloe tugged at his sleeve, still fanning the flames. "Ethan, listen to her! How can she curse her own child like that? I would never."

His expression remained cold, still convinced I was lying.

Until I pulled the death certificate from my bag. Ethan's face began to change. He took the report, his body staggering back a step.