|Ava|
I opened my eyes slowly. My body felt heavy—too heavy. Like something was pressing me down, holding me in place.
My head throbbed with pain, and my throat felt dry, like I hadn't had a drop of water in days.
I sat up, holding my head with both hands, trying to breathe through the dizziness.
When I moved my legs off the bed, a sharp pain shot through me—between my legs. I gasped, and tears immediately gathered in my eyes.
Then last night came rushing back into my mind.
The way he touched me. The way he handled me.
It wasn't love.
It wasn't gentle.
It wasn't the Ethan I once knew.
I sat there, frozen, staring at nothing, my heart breaking all over again.
This is my husband, I thought. The man I gave everything to. The man I begged just to look at me. Talk to me. Love me.
And all I got… was this.
I had convinced myself that if he was close—even if just for one night—it would be enough. That maybe, somehow, his touch would remind me of the man I used to know. That I'd feel like his wife again.
But it didn't.
He didn't stay.
He never does.
He left, like always. As if I meant nothing.
I reached for my phone, my fingers shaking. I called him.
One ring. Two. Three.
No answer.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
I pressed the phone to my chest, curling into myself as quiet sobs escaped my lips. My head hurt. My body hurt. My heart hurt most of all.
Why am I still holding on?
Why can't I let go of this hope that he'll come back, that he'll be the Ethan I once loved?
My breathing became faster. Shallow. Something was wrong.
The room spun. My vision blurred. It felt like someone was squeezing my throat, cutting off my air. I gasped, my hands clutching at the sheets, trying to pull myself back.
I whispered his name, barely able to speak.
"E-Ethan…"
But he wasn't here.
No one was.
My head dropped against the bed.
And everything went dark again.
...
Ethan sat on a restaurant, his mind was mess as Natalia sat before him, her eyes was full of life as she had no remorse or shame that last night her wife Ava found them at the most intimate position.
"Thank you for coming this early," she said sweetly. "I missed you so much. I almost called you last night, but I wasn't sure… Did she cause any trouble?"
Her tone was soft, almost caring. But it made something in him twist.
Ethan shut his eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm inside his chest. "It's fine," he said shortly. "Tell me, Natalia. Why did you want to see me so early?"
Natalia smiled awkwardly, tucking her hair behind her ear. She moved closer, reaching for his hand across the table. Her touch was warm, familiar—but right now, it only made him feel colder.
"I don't know," she admitted with a laugh. "I just… missed you. Like crazy. I felt like I was going to go mad if I didn't see you. I'm sorry if I bothered you."
She rested her head gently on his shoulder. Ethan didn't move.
The silence stretched until she spoke again, her voice quieter this time.
"Ethan… can I ask you something?"
"Hm?" he replied, not really wanting to hear it.
"I think I… I love you."
The words hit him hard.
He turned his head and looked at her, really looked at her for the first time this morning.
"Do you even know what you're saying?" he asked, voice tight. "I told you from the beginning—this wasn't love. There was never anything real between us."
"I know," she whispered. "I know you said that. I'm not asking you to love me back or to leave her for me. I just… I had to tell you how I feel."
She pulled her hand away slowly, looking down at the table.
"If you don't want me to say it again, I won't. I promise."
"I am sorry."
Ethan's attention was pulled away from Natalia when his phone rang again.
He glanced at the screen—Mia.
His jaw tightened.
Ava must've tried calling him, and when he didn't answer, she must have used Mia's phone.
He sighed in frustration and hit the red button, ending the call. Then, without hesitation, he turned his phone to silent and shoved it into his pocket.
"Such a nuisance," he muttered under his breath.
Natalia noticed, but said nothing. She just kept smiling, as if she had already won.
Back at home
Mia paced the hallway, phone pressed tightly to her ear.
"Sir is still not picking up," she said, panic in her voice as she looked toward Ava's room. "I don't know what to do."
Ava hadn't come out since earlier that morning. When Mia finally went to check on her, she found Ava unconscious on the floor, her skin cold and her breathing shallow.
Terrified, Mia flipped through the emergency contacts in the household diary and quickly called Dr. Josh, who arrived within minutes.
"She's exhausted," he said after examining her. "Her blood pressure is low. She's dehydrated and emotionally drained. I've given her IV fluids and some medication. Keep her rested. No stress."
Just as Dr. Josh was about to leave, the front door opened.
Ethan stepped inside, loosening his tie, still thinking about Natalia's words. His eyes narrowed when he saw Josh at the door.
"Josh?" Ethan asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
Josh looked at him for a moment, serious. "Ava fainted. Mia called me."
Ethan's stomach dropped.
He didn't wait for more.
He rushed past them, heading straight for the bedroom.
There she was.
Ava lay on the bed, pale and lifeless, a thin IV line attached to her arm. Her chest rose and fell slowly, but she didn't open her eyes. She looked fragile—like glass that had already been cracked too many times.
Ethan slowly walked to her side and sat on the edge of the bed.
His hands trembled as he reached for hers.
Mia stepped into the room quietly. "I tried calling you, sir. Several times. She kept asking for you before she fainted."
Ethan didn't answer only staring at her face.