Chapter 3

I didn't make a scene.

I just asked him in front of everyone:

"What right do you have to blame me?"

No one in the ER said a word.

Tara leaned against Ethan, crying softly.

Ethan lowered his voice.

"Sophia, don't interfere with work."

"You're the one interfering with work."

"My mom is in the observation room, and you're here celebrating your marriage."

Someone looked down, pretending to organize charts.

Tara suddenly covered her mouth.

"I feel sick..."

The ER colleagues immediately started making noise.

"Just got married and already pregnant? Dr. Hayes works fast."

Ethan's expression changed.

He immediately helped Tara up.

"Let's draw blood first and check."

My mom was still in the observation room.

But he stayed by Tara's side every step of the way for the blood draw.

I stood at the lab window and watched him personally label the blood collection tubes.

His movements were carefully precise and piercing to watch.

She touched her belly, lowering her head with a smile.

"I hope the baby grows up healthy."

Ethan said in front of his colleagues:

"Once we have a child, I'll give you a proper home."

I thought that sentence had nothing to do with me.

Until that evening, when I returned to that house and saw an agreement on the table.

Housing Arrangement Agreement.

It stated:

To facilitate Tara's pregnancy, Sophia voluntarily moves out of the master bedroom.

Holding the paper, I laughed for a long time.

The down payment for that house was two hundred thousand dollars—money I paid.

The renovation costs—I charged to my credit card.

For years, I'd transferred three thousand dollars to Ethan every month for the mortgage.

Only his name was on the deed.

Because he said doctors could get loans more easily.

He said, "Sophia, there's no yours and mine between us."

Now he was making it very clear.

The master bedroom for Tara.

I even had to give up my bed.

I asked, "What does this agreement mean?"

Ethan sat on the couch.

"Tara is pregnant. The master bedroom gets better sunlight. It's better for the pregnancy."

I spread the agreement in front of him.

"What about my two hundred thousand?"

"What about the mortgage payments?"

He frowned.

"Eight years together, don't make it sound so ugly."

Tara came out of the kitchen with a glass of water.

She was wearing an apron, looking like the lady of the house.

"Sophia, don't worry. I won't live here for free."

"I'll give you eight hundred a month. Is that okay?"

I almost laughed in disbelief.

"Eight hundred?"

"Are you joking?"

I picked up the agreement and tore it up.

Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"If you keep this up, I'll have to transfer your mom to a regular ward first."

I looked up at him.

He continued:

"And the dialysis scheduling doesn't have to go through me either."

The room was very quiet.

Tara stopped crying.

She stood behind Ethan, looking down at me.

Her expression was obedient.

And also smug.

I slowly pulled my hand away.

"Ethan Hayes, you're threatening me with my mom's life?"

He avoided my gaze.

"I just hope you'll calm down."

I nodded.

"Fine."

"I'll calm down enough to make you regret this."