Chapter 4

To Ethan, the baby in my womb was just "baggage"?

How pathetic.

I watched his cold, retreating figure as he turned around and walked out. The pain in my stomach flared up, and I collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Chloe, oh Chloe.

For the past ten years, you really lived your life as a joke.

With a loud *slam*, the front door shut. I knew Ethan did that on purpose to show me he was angry.

For the ten years I chased him and the five years we lived together, it was always like this. He would throw a tantrum, and then wait for me to crawl back and beg for his forgiveness.

But not this time.

I dragged myself up from the floor, leaning on the sofa. I walked into the bedroom, packed my clothes, and left without looking back.

As I walked out of the building, a young girl accidentally bumped into my shoulder. I stopped. She quickly apologized with a polite bow and then ran right back into her boyfriend’s waiting arms.

I remembered the first time Ethan ran toward me like that.

I was in high school back then. On my way home, a group of girls cornered me in the woods behind the school. They had been bullying me for two years, constantly extorting money from me.

Before I met Ethan, my life was a living hell.

But that day, he appeared in those woods. He didn't just beat those bullies off; he reported them to the school board, ending my nightmare once and for all.

That single glance was the start of my ten-year obsession.

From then on, I quietly followed him. I studied like crazy just to get into the same university as him.

Every step of my youth had Ethan’s shadow in it.

I spent three years transitioning from a mere acquaintance to his friend. I watched him date girl after girl in college, until he met Amber. I knew instantly that he had fallen hard.

He was different with Amber. He overcame his extreme fear of heights to go bungee jumping with her, and he ate spicy hotpot with her even though it gave him terrible stomach ulcers.

Later, when Amber went abroad, he was devastated for months, drowning his sorrows in alcohol every single day.

That was probably his lowest point. I had never seen him sober.

It was during that dark period that Ethan proposed to me.

I knew he hadn't forgotten Amber, but I wanted to gamble. I gambled that my love would eventually touch him. I gambled that one day, Ethan would open his eyes and love me back.

During our five years together, Ethan gave me everything except a marriage certificate. He was attentive and took good care of me. Just when I thought I had finally won his heart...

Amber came back.

From the moment she set foot back in the country, Ethan started disappearing. He ignored my texts and treated me like air.

Amber’s presence was a slap in my face, reminding me that my five years of devotion were nothing but a joke.

I wanted to leave back then, but fate played a cruel trick on me.

I got pregnant.

I thought the baby was a sign from God to save our relationship. I thought the baby wanted me to try one last time.

So, I tried to have an honest conversation with Ethan. I asked him to keep his distance from Amber, but he couldn't do it.

To him, my baby and I didn't even compare to Amber's little finger.

The moment Amber shed a tear, he would drop everything and run to her, leaving me and the baby behind.

Even on the night I called him in agonizing pain, he didn't even bother to ask why. When he came home, all he did was yell at me.

I lost this ten-year gamble.

But thank God, I could still walk away with what was left of my life.

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