Chapter 3

By the time I got home, Ethan had already cooked dinner and was waiting for me.

"Hey, dinner's ready! Come eat."

My phone lit up. It was the landlord.

Landlord: "Hey, that second apartment will be empty the day after tomorrow. You need to put down a deposit soon if you want it."

I replied: "How is she moving out so fast?"

Landlord: "Oh, she and her boyfriend just bought a house together. They closed on it, and she's moving in by Thursday."

Chloe: "Got it. Thanks."

I stared at Ethan, who was busy setting the table. He was playing the doting husband at home, but during the day, he was out buying a house with his mistress.

Incredible.

Ethan noticed my pale face. He pulled me toward the dining table and kissed the corner of my mouth. "What's wrong, baby? Bad day?"

I stared at him for a long moment. "I went to your office today. You weren't there."

His smile stiffened visibly.

I pressed further. "Did you take the day off? Where were you?"

His smile vanished for a split second before returning, brighter than before. "Oh, I had to meet a client off-site. Why did you come to my office, baby?"

I smiled back, wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning into his chest. "No reason. I just missed you."

I pulled out my phone and pulled up the photos of the apartment from earlier. "Harper and I went apartment hunting today. What do you think of this place?"

I slid the phone in front of him. His smile became incredibly strained, though his voice remained gentle. "Why are you looking at apartments?"

I watched his facial expressions closely. "Harper wants to renovate her condo, so she needs a temporary place to lease."

He nodded quickly, sliding the phone back to me. "Looks nice."

I smiled and swiped to the photo of the girl. "I saw a picture of the current tenant. She's really pretty, so I took a photo. Look."

He glanced at it, his eyes darting away instantly. His hand trembled slightly as he picked up his fork. "Yeah, she's okay. But you're way prettier, baby."

I smiled and put my phone away. "Let's eat."

That dinner was the quietest meal we had ever shared.

That night, he tried to get intimate with me, but I coldly pushed him away. "I told you, I'm on my period."

He backed off awkwardly, pulling me into a tight embrace instead.

The day after tomorrow was my birthday. Normally, I would celebrate with Harper first, then come home to celebrate with Ethan.

But this year, Harper and I drove straight to that apartment complex.

We sat in the car, watching Ethan laugh and kiss that woman right at the entrance. They couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Harper was about to storm out of the car to confront him, but I held her back.

They were moving into their new place today. We followed them.

To my absolute shock, Ethan was bold enough to buy a condo in the exact same building where Harper and I lived.

How deeply in love they must be.

I purposely waited until 10 PM—the time I usually got home after celebrating with Harper—to walk through the door.

I didn't turn on the lights. I sat in the pitch-black living room, waiting for him.

Ethan got home at 10:30 PM. When he flipped the light switch and saw me sitting on the couch, he jumped.

But he recovered instantly. Just like always, he was holding a cake box and a bouquet of yellow tulips.

"Baby, I'm home! Happy birthday!"

I watched his performance in silence. "Thanks," I said with a light laugh.

I took the cake and flowers.

He sang the birthday song, turned off the lights, and told me to make a wish.

I closed my eyes for a long time. As the candles began to gutter out, Ethan urged me, "Make it quick, baby, or it won't come true!"

I blew out the candles. In the darkness, I asked, "Ethan, do you treat other women as well as you treat me?"

The moment he flicked the lights back on, panic flashed across his face. "Baby, what are you talking about?"

He reached out to pinch my cheek. "Are you feeling okay? Is it just your hormones?"

I lost my temper and slapped his hand away. "Ethan, are you not tired of acting? How much longer do we have to play this game?"

He froze, staring at me with wide, panicked eyes.

"Are you going to confess, or should I do it for you?"

When he remained silent, I let out a mocking laugh, stood up, and threw a document from my purse right at his face.

"I found this ultrasound report in your glove compartment yesterday."