Chapter 2

"Keep it, and then what?" I looked at him. "Wait for Evelyn to have another emotional breakdown and cause a scene? Wait for Noah to cry and say he doesn't want a younger sibling?"

"Or wait for you to weigh the pros and cons and ask me to give up this baby again?"

I shook my head. "Ethan, it's not that I don't believe you love me. I just don't believe in your love."

My voice dropped. "Your love is too busy. It has to be divided among too many people, too many things. By the time it gets to me, there's only a little bit left, and I'm still expected to be understanding, sensible, and undemanding."

"But I can't do it anymore."

"I just want to love someone wholeheartedly, and I want to be their absolute first choice. Since you can't do that, let's stop forcing it."

I walked away without looking back.

Lying in the procedure room, my consciousness gradually blurred. Yet deep inside, it still felt like something was being violently torn from my life.

When I woke up again, it was over.

I slowly got up, walked out of the surgical area, and saw Ethan sitting on a chair in the observation unit.

Hearing my footsteps, he stood up instantly. "How are you? Does it hurt?"

I walked right past him. "No."

His body stiffened. In all these years, this was probably the first time I had ever answered him like that.

He followed me, his eyes red. His lips moved, but he said nothing.

I stopped walking. "Ethan."

"Let's get a divorce."

I said it one more time. This time, my voice was completely calm. No trembling, no emotion. Just stating a decision.

Ethan paled. "Tess, let's talk about this at home. You need to rest right now—"

"I know you're in a difficult position," I interrupted him. "Your ex-wife is sick, your son is young. You have responsibilities and guilt. I get it."

"But understanding doesn't mean I can accept it."

"I can't accept always being last. I can't accept that every time there's a problem, I'm the one who has to step back."

"And I definitely can't accept my unborn child having to make way for someone else's emotions."

I looked at him. "I endured it for three years, constantly telling myself that you were worth it, that I just needed to wait a little longer."

I shook my head. "But I can't wait anymore. Because in your heart, Evelyn's illness will always be more important than me. Noah's feelings will always be more important. Your responsibilities and guilt will always outweigh our marriage."

Ethan opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Finally, he said in a low, strained voice:

"I don't..."

"Tess, you are important. You're my wife—"

"A wife shouldn't be like this," I said softly. "A wife shouldn't be the one who can be sacrificed at any moment. She shouldn't be the one constantly asked to be understanding and make concessions whenever something goes wrong."

He wanted to say more, but his phone rang.

The screen showed a call from Ms. Rivera, Noah's teacher.

Ethan instinctively looked at me.

"Answer it."

He didn't move. The phone kept ringing insistently. A woman in the next bed shot us an annoyed look.

Ethan gritted his teeth, pressed answer, and lowered his voice. "Ms. Rivera, I'm at the hospital—"

"Mr. Carter, I'm so sorry, but Noah just ran out of the school!" The voice on the other end was frantic.

"We've already called 911, and campus security is working with the police to search for him."

"He ran toward the main road. Can you come over immediately? We'll hand over his location and the security footage to the police."

"His emotions are very unstable, and we're terrified something might happen..."

Ethan stood up abruptly.

I kept my head down, my fingers gripping the white bedsheets so tightly my knuckles turned white.

"Tess, I..." His throat tightened.

"Go." I let go of the sheets. "He's looking for you."

Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, only a heavy darkness remained.

"I'll handle the situation at the school and come right back. We'll talk everything out tonight. Wait for me, okay?"

He spoke into the phone, "I'll be right there."

He hung up.

He leaned in, wanting to touch my shoulder, but his hand stopped halfway and pulled back.

I didn't answer.

Ethan stood there for a few more seconds, gave me one last look, and turned, walking quickly out of the observation unit.

His hurried footsteps faded away down the hallway.

I leaned against the cold wall and closed my eyes.

Ethan, I won't wait for you anymore.