Chapter 4

His words made everyone step back simultaneously, looking at me as if I were a hijacker.

I closed my eyes heavily.

Three years of dating, six years of marriage — this was the man I defied my parents for, sacrificed my career for, risked my life to have a child for, and loved my whole life...

My hands clenched into fists, trying to control my emotions.

"Ethan, you keep saying I'm faking illness, but you can surely believe the words of my attending physician, right?"

I called Dr. Miller.

"Dr. Miller, hello, could you please take a few minutes to explain my condition to my husband? He's not letting me go to Florida for treatment."

Dr. Miller's voice immediately rose several octaves upon hearing this.

"That's outrageous! Your condition absolutely cannot be delayed. You must go to the hospital immediately!"

Ethan snatched the phone, sneering.

"Stop acting! I don't care if you're Dr. Miller or Dr. anyone else. How much did my wife pay you to act along with her?"

He hung up the phone and turned to leave.

"The plane is about to take off. Olivia, I'm warning you, go rebook your ticket, and stop disturbing everyone here!"

I tightly clutched his sleeve, pleading with a last shred of hope.

"Ethan, we've known each other for so many years. I swear on our relationship, I'm really sick and I have to go to Florida."

My voice carried the desperation of someone at the end of their rope. A subtle softening appeared in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

Chloe's sweet, coy voice carried from the phone.

"Ethan, when does the plane take off? She's already rebooked, right? If she knew you specifically reserved her seat for me, I wonder what she'd think."

My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Why would you do this?! What did I ever do to you?! You'd rather give the ticket to Chloe, who arrived late, than let me get medical treatment. Ethan, you're a monster!"

My desperate roar made passersby stare. Seeing the truth exposed, Ethan whispered to me.

"Yes, I gave your seat to her. So what? She had a difficult upbringing, didn't have much of a family. Today is her birthday, why can't you be a little kinder and let her have this?

And don't you ever look in a mirror before you leave? Even if you're faking illness, don't look like a homeless person. It's an embarrassment!"

I looked down at myself: a sweatshirt stained with milk, loose pants, and mismatched shoes.

But what could I do? He was never home, always focused on his promotion.

Leo had a high fever last night. To avoid affecting his work, I stayed awake at the hospital all night by myself.

By the time my mother came to take over at the hospital, I rushed to the airport non-stop. Where would I have had time to wash up and get dressed?

Watching his retreating figure disappear into the boarding gate, my heart felt dead.

Ten minutes later, the plane I should have been on soared into the sky.

For Leo's sake, I knew I couldn't give up. I called Dr. Miller again. After understanding the situation, he immediately helped me contact the Florida specialist.

Learning that an afternoon slot had opened up due to a last-minute cancellation, I thanked him and rushed to the train station.

On the way to Florida, I saw Chloe's SnapChat updated.

She was smiling radiantly in front of a Disney parade float, gently embraced by a man.

The caption read: "My first time celebrating my birthday with the one I love most, in my favorite place. So happy!"

Although the man's face wasn't visible, that figure, that hand... I'd recognize it anywhere. It was Ethan.

The scar on his wrist from being bitten by a wild dog when he protected me years ago — I'd never forget it.

I silently exited SnapChat and immediately turned off my phone.

I don't know how I arrived at the hospital, or how I signed for the surgery. All I know is that I woke up the next day.

When I turned on my phone, besides my mother's worried messages, there was not a single message from Ethan.

It was clear he was lost in his new "paradise," completely forgetting about me and his responsibilities.

Just after I replied to my mother, Chloe's message came in.

"My boyfriend invited me to his promotion party on the 25th. What do you think I should wear to match my style?

After yesterday's boarding incident, I'm sure you've guessed who my boyfriend is, right? I advise you to step aside quickly, and stop deluding yourself."

I replied coldly,

"Chloe, only decent people deserve to dress up. You're worse than an animal!"

After that, I blocked her. A moment later, Ethan furiously called.

"Olivia, you're getting more and more out of control! Your mother said Leo is sick and hospitalized, and you don't even care. Do you even act like a mother anymore?"

I didn't respond to his accusation. I just said, seemingly out of the blue,

"Our son's birthday is in three months; he wants to go to Disney. You take him."

He paused for two seconds before demanding,

"You're his mother, why don't you take him? Don't you know I'm in a critical period for my promotion? And I'll be on a business trip on the 25th. You better get back from Florida before I leave..."

I hung up before he finished.

The surgery was successful. The specialist advised me to stay for a few more days, but I insisted on being discharged early.

After being discharged, I immediately had a private investigator track his and Chloe's every move. I also found a passenger who was at the boarding gate that day.

The next day, I went to a law firm with the evidence. Then, I sent the full account of the rebooking incident to a media contact.

Soon, the 25th arrived.

I quietly arrived at the banquet, put on a mask, and found a quiet corner to sit in.

Chloe, dressed in a beautiful, elegant gown, affectionately linked her arm with Ethan's. They moved through the banquet like a perfect couple.

Everyone who saw her smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mrs. Thorne."

Ethan didn't deny it, and Chloe accepted it readily.

As the banquet began, he stood confidently on stage, sharing his flying experience and thanking his superiors for their mentorship.

Applause erupted when he finished his speech.

Just then, his superior, Director Thompson, quickly came on stage, announcing with a serious face:

"We just received the latest notice from the board of directors: all of Captain Thorne's work is suspended, effective immediately."