“No. Way.”

The air froze.

Others rushed to mediate.

“Come on, Ethan, she didn’t mean it.”

“Yeah, man, don’t lose your temper.”

But no matter what anyone said, Ethan still gripped my arm tightly, his eyes dark in a way I had never seen before.

Not until Chloe walked over and tapped his palm.

“Hey, champ, what have I always taught you? Be patient with girls. You’re not being a gentleman at all.”

Then she turned to me.

“Sophia, let me apologize for him. My bro’s a good guy, but he’s always hated seeing me get bullied. That’s why he lashed out at you.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to teach him properly when we get home.”

As soon as she finished, Ethan finally released me, the malice in his eyes vanishing.

Three years married, and I’d never once seen him lose his cool.

Even on our honeymoon, when someone tried to grope me, he just casually asked the guy to apologize.

I always thought he was just emotionally detached. But now I understood—he could care deeply.

Just not about me.

In a daze, I saw Chloe walk over with a glass of wine.

“Sophia, a toast. Let’s just put today behind us.”

She shoved the glass into my hand. I resisted, and she suddenly let go.

The red wine spilled down her neckline, soaking her dress, and the glass shattered on the floor.

Ethan’s rage exploded. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”

He shoved me to the ground, shards of glass cutting into my arm.

Blood streamed down, and Ethan froze, instinctively reaching to help me.

But Chloe sneezed behind him.

“Ugh, so cold…”

Without a word, Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Then he turned to glare at me like I had committed some unforgivable crime.

“Happy now? You’ve caused enough trouble!”

He scooped Chloe into his arms and stormed out.

I gritted through the pain, trembling as I said:

“Ethan Miller, if you walk out that door today, we’re finished.”

His steps faltered—but he never turned back.

Clenching my jaw, I pushed myself up. One of his buddies looked guilty.

“Sophia, maybe I should drive you to the hospital. Ethan—”

Before he could finish, I glanced at my bleeding arm and laughed.

Even an outsider cared about me more than my husband did—who had just carried someone else away without a glance back.

I shook my head. “No need. I’ll manage.”

So I limped out, hailed an Uber, and went to the hospital myself.

Every bandage stung, my whole body trembling.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification.

It was Chloe’s new social media post:

[Compensation from my champ. Look how happy we are as a family of three!]

In the picture, a Maltese sat in the middle, with Ethan and Chloe smiling behind it.

Yes, they looked just like a family of three.

I gave it a like.

A second later, Ethan called.

“Sophia, what’s that supposed to mean? I just bought Chloe a puppy, why the sarcasm?”

I ignored him. He continued:

“Her clothes got soaked, so I’m taking her home to change. Don’t forget—this was all thanks to you!”

Before I could answer, the call ended with a sharp click.

I let out a bitter laugh and contacted a lawyer about divorce.

But right after I sent the email, the nurse gasped.

“You’re bleeding.”

I looked down and saw a patch of red on my white pants.

The nurse hurried me to a doctor, but the words that followed hit me like a hammer.

“Congratulations—you’re pregnant.”

I froze, instinctively placing a hand on my stomach.

Ever since losing my parents, I had longed for a child of my own.

But why now, of all times…

After much hesitation, I withdrew the email.

I decided to give Ethan one more chance.

And give this baby one too.

By the time I finished at the hospital, it was late at night.

Even before I opened the door, I could hear laughter inside.

Ethan’s face and body were covered in foam.

Strange—this man who once couldn’t stand a drop of oil splattering on him during dinner was now letting Chloe smear him with shaving cream, smiling all the while.

When he saw me, Ethan hurriedly took the razor from her hand.

“Leave this to my wife. You’re clumsy—who’d ever marry you like that?”

Chloe, annoyed, threw a pillow at him.

“None of your business! It’s not like you’re the one marrying me!”

Ethan laughed, dodging while shielding her playfully.

I stood at the doorway, my chest tight at the sight of their intimacy.

This time, I didn’t pick up the razor like usual.

Instead, I went straight to change my dirty clothes.

When I came back, Ethan was gaming with Chloe, headphones on.

I walked over and handed him the ultrasound report.

He reluctantly turned from the screen.

“What’s this?”

Before he could look, Chloe shrieked:

“Babe, help! I’m about to get killed in-game!”

“And my ice cream’s melting—wipe it for me!”

“Gross,” Ethan muttered, but still wiped her mouth.

He wrapped the ultrasound slip around the half-melted cone and tossed it into the trash.

I touched my stomach, unable to even speak.

That night, Ethan hugged me from behind, whispering in my ear:

“Happy anniversary, babe.”

His words brought back a flood of memories.

We’d met at a college dance, where he fell in love at first sight and pursued me for three years.

Back then, he remembered every detail of my likes and dislikes, tracked my cycle, and always found ways to cheer me up.

He told me my feelings were what mattered most.

During my senior year, when I lost both my parents, Ethan was the one who stayed by my side.

His warmth and care made me fall completely.

But when had he changed?

Probably when Chloe came back from abroad.

I still remembered the first time she showed up—she threw her arm around Ethan’s shoulders with a laugh:

“Ethan, missed your daddy yet?”

Ethan Miller playfully punched her back. “Get lost—who’s whose dad?”

I stood awkwardly to the side.

Only then did Ethan remember to introduce me: “My wife, Sophia Harris.”

Chloe Carter grinned and reached out her hand to me. “Hi, Sophia! Don’t mind us—we’ve been like this since childhood.”

I forced a smile and shook her hand.

Ethan added quickly, “Chloe’s always been a tomboy, loud and careless. We’re really close, but don’t read into it.”

I nodded, trying to adjust to their intimacy. But Chloe kept showing up more and more often.

She would drag Ethan out under the excuse of a “bro hangout,” and even insisted on throwing a bachelor party the night before our wedding.

Every time, Ethan would emphasize, “We’re just buddies.”

But today, Chloe’s words had doused me in cold reality.

Thinking of that, nausea rose in my stomach. I shoved Ethan away, refusing to hug him like before.

The next morning, barking woke me.

I went downstairs and found the side room in chaos.

The table where I had set memorial photos and candles for my parents was overturned.

Their photos were tossed on the floor, trampled with dirty footprints.

Offerings scattered everywhere, while Chloe’s dog gnawed at them.

My blood froze.

All reason vanished.

Like a madwoman, I grabbed a vase and hurled it at the dog.

The porcelain shattered. The dog yelped in pain.

Chloe’s face instantly changed.

She rushed over, scooped up the dog, tears brimming. “Sophia, can’t you even tolerate a dog?!”

I ignored her and slapped her hard across the face.

Ethan came down the stairs just in time to see it.

He rushed forward and shoved me away.

“Sophia! Enough already! How long are you going to bully her?!”

Shaking, I forced out words:

“Can’t you see? My parents’ memorial photos are lying on the floor!”

Ethan only cast a glance, then said coldly:

“That’s still no reason to hit her.”

Chloe chimed in, pitifully:

“Sophia, I know you hate me, but the dog is innocent. It only wanted some food and accidentally knocked things over. Why did you have to be so cruel?”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been staying here and bothering you. Fine, I’ll leave.”

Ethan’s rage exploded. He yanked me forward and shoved me before Chloe.

“Apologize!”

I sneered, bent down, and picked up the photo from the ground.

My indifference only enraged Ethan further.

He kicked me hard in the lower back. I tumbled down the stairs.

Agonizing pain ripped through my abdomen.

Terrified, I clutched my stomach.

“The baby… my baby, Eth—”

Before I could finish, Chloe flung herself into Ethan’s arms, sobbing.

“Ethan, our baby’s hurt! It’s so little…”

Without a second thought, Ethan scooped up the dog and rushed outside, not once looking back.

I curled on the floor, heart shattering into pieces.

In a haze, I dialed a number. Someone rushed over and took me to the hospital.

Before surgery, the nurse dialed Ethan’s phone for me.

But the voice that came through was Chloe’s.

“I bet you regret marrying Sophia Harris.”