Part 2No Return from Regret

Ethan froze mid-stride.

He turned his head, his brow furrowed. "All because I was late for one stupid holiday?"

I was silent for a moment, then shook my head. "It's more than that."

To be honest, the word "divorce" had startled me as much as it had him. From the time I was a little girl, my mother had drilled it into my head that I was destined to be Ethan’s wife. I had chased after him for years. I'd been hurt, I'd been exhausted, I’d cried, but I had never once thought of giving up.

And yet, the word had slipped out so easily.

Ethan's face was a blank mask, his gaze chilling me to the bone. "If you're going to throw a tantrum, Chloe, at least pick a better time. I'm busy. I don't have time for these childish games."

I didn't expect him to believe me. It didn't matter.

I didn't argue. He'd know I was serious soon enough, when a lawyer presented him with the divorce agreement and a detailed division of our assets.

I changed the subject, my tone deceptively casual. "Nina got a divorce, did you know? I hear she's teaching at Leo's preschool now."

Ethan's eyes dropped. "I didn't know," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "And I don't care."

How could he not care?

I stared at the headlines on my phone, my fingers gripping the screen until my knuckles turned white. "CEO's Fiery Defense of Childhood Sweetheart." "A Love That Transcends Class."

He had helped her with the divorce.

He had personally carried her to his car.

And he had carefully chosen a job for her, placing her right under his nose.

I shoved the phone in his face, my voice trembling. "This is you 'not caring'?" I demanded. "Wasn't that you, the great CEO, playing Santa in the snow to make her smile?"

Ethan barely glanced at it, not even giving me a proper look. "Her ex was a monster. Abusive. I brought Nina back because I couldn't stand by and watch. I'd do the same for anyone." He sighed, as if explaining something to a difficult child. "Christmas is her birthday, and she's been depressed. I was just trying to cheer her up. Chloe, can't you have a little empathy? This is exactly why I didn't tell you. You always overthink things."

It was all so reasonable.

My limbs felt stiff, my chest so tight I could hardly breathe. I didn't know what expression to make.

Ethan paused, then let out a soft sigh, patting my shoulder. "Chloe, we're married now."

The words were meant to be comforting, but they were laced with a quiet sorrow, a phantom limb of a love he'd lost in his youth.

I understood his unspoken message. We're married. What more could you possibly want?

I shook his hand off, clinging to one last shred of hope. "Leo had a fever all night. Did you know?"

He flinched. I knew it. He’d put me on Do Not Disturb again, never even seeing my messages.

A bitter sting filled my nose. I was about to say more when a horrifying realization struck me.

Leo. I’d wanted to name him Theodore, but Ethan had insisted on Leo. For her middle name. Leonora. Nina was just a nickname.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Even the child we had created was just another secret monument to his memory of her.

I felt utterly defeated. I didn't have the energy to fight anymore.

Ethan looked uncertain, hesitantly reaching for me, but the sudden, sharp ring of the doorbell cut through the tension.

A moment later, the door swung open.

A frail figure peeked around the doorframe, her voice choked with tears. "Ethan... I have nowhere else to go."