Chapter 4

"I cooked a whole table of food for you. Stop being mad."

"They’re all your favorites."

I didn't say a word, letting him drag me to the table.

When I saw the dishes, I froze.

Ethan was still rambling on.

"I spent the whole afternoon making tomato pasta, lamb stew, and these fresh oysters."

"Come on, take a bite."

My favorites?

I am severely allergic to lamb and shellfish. And I absolutely loathe cooked tomatoes.

"Ethan, who were you thinking of when you made this?"

Looking at him, I recalled how he used to memorize my food allergies like the back of his hand.

I didn't know when he had started forgetting.

His smile stiffened, but he still put a piece of lamb into my bowl.

I raised my hand and slammed the ceramic bowl onto the floor.

It shattered into a million pieces.

Ethan’s first reaction wasn't to check if I was hurt. He screamed at me:

"Clara Miller! What is wrong with you?"

"I worked so hard to cook for you, and you just waste it!"

"You're becoming so toxic compared to Chloe."

I couldn't hear whatever else he was shouting. My ears were ringing.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from sobbing.

"Ethan, did you forget I'm allergic to lamb? Did you forget I can't eat cooked tomatoes? Did you forget that eating shellfish could literally kill me?"

"I’ve been with you for nine years. You've been with her for seven."

"Do you even have a heart?"

I turned, grabbed my suitcase, and walked away from the place I had called home for seven years.

As I passed the hallway, I noticed a pair of women's slippers that didn't belong to me.

And on the shoe rack lay a few newly printed wedding photos.

I let out a cold laugh. I just wanted to escape.

Ethan rushed over to stop me, but right then, his phone rang. The caller ID flashed: *Wife*.

Ethan instinctively looked at me. In a fit of anger, I snatched the phone.

And declined the call.

Ethan, who had never raised his voice at me before, aggressively grabbed the phone back.

"If I don't answer, she'll worry!"

"Who gave you the right to hang up on her?"

"How many times do I have to tell you it's just a fake marriage? Are you deaf?"

Was this furious man really the same person who used to treat me like his entire world?

My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

I opened the door, walked out without looking back, and booked the earliest flight out of the city.

By the time Ethan finished his call, the apartment was empty.

He searched every corner, but there was no trace of me left.

Panicking, he called me dozens of times.

I didn't answer.

I blocked his number.

This time, I was erasing myself from his life completely.