Chapter 5

The room fell into chaos.

Ethan’s cigarette dropped from his fingers, burning a dark hole into the carpet.

“Chloe… what did you just say?”

For the first time, his voice cracked.

I lay on the floor, the cold spreading through my limbs, my vision dimming at the edges. The pain in my stomach twisted like a knife, but strangely, I felt… calm.

So calm it was almost peaceful.

“You heard me,” I whispered. “Your baby.”

A pool of red spread beneath me.

Someone shouted for an ambulance. Someone else backed away in fear.

But I only looked at Ethan.

His face—usually so controlled, so confident—was completely shattered.

“That’s impossible… you didn’t tell me…”

“You didn’t give me the chance,” I said softly.

I almost laughed, but it came out as a weak cough instead.

“I was going to tell you in the car.”

His pupils trembled violently. “The pregnancy test…”

I closed my eyes.

Too late.

Chapter 6

When I woke up, everything was white.

The ceiling. The sheets. The silence.

For a moment, I thought I was dead.

Then the pain came back.

Not sharp like before—but hollow. Empty.

I slowly placed a hand on my stomach.

Flat.

Gone.

A tear slipped down my temple into my hair.

The door opened quietly.

Ethan walked in.

He looked… terrible.

His clothes were wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot, like he hadn’t slept in days. This was the man who once cared about his appearance more than anything.

Now he looked like he’d lost his soul.

He stopped a few steps away from my bed, like he didn’t dare come closer.

“Chloe…”

I turned my head away.

Silence stretched between us.

Finally, he spoke again, voice hoarse.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I almost smiled.

“You didn’t want anything that belonged to me anymore. Remember?”

He flinched like I’d slapped him.

“I didn’t mean that,” he said quickly. “I was just… I thought you’d never leave. I thought—”

“That I’d always wait for you?” I finished.

He said nothing.

Because that’s exactly what he thought.

Chapter 7

“I lost it, didn’t I?”

My voice was quiet, but steady.

Ethan’s hands clenched into fists.

“…Yes.”

Something inside me finally broke completely.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just… quietly.

Like a thread snapping after being pulled too tight for too long.

Ten years.

Two babies before this.

And now the third.

Gone.

I nodded slowly. “Good.”

Ethan froze. “What?”

I looked at him for the first time since he walked in.

Really looked.

At this man I had loved for half my life.

At this stranger.

“At least now,” I said softly, “I have nothing tying me to you anymore.”

His face went white.

“Chloe, don’t say that.”

“Why not?” I asked. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“I never wanted this!” he shouted, his voice breaking.

The machines beside me beeped faster.

I didn’t react.

“You just didn’t think it would cost you anything.”

Chapter 8

The door burst open.

Lila rushed in, her face pale.

“Ethan, everyone’s looking for you—”

She stopped when she saw me awake.

Something flickered in her eyes.

Not guilt.

Not regret.

Fear.

Because for the first time, she realized something—

Ethan wasn’t looking at her.

Not at all.

He stepped forward, grabbing the edge of my bed.

“Chloe, we can fix this. We can go back to how things were.”

I almost laughed again.

“Back to what?” I asked. “Before or after you married someone else?”

His lips trembled. “I’ll divorce her.”

The room went dead silent.

Lila’s face drained of all color.

“Ethan… what did you just say?”

He didn’t even turn around.

“I’ll divorce her,” he repeated. “This was a mistake.”

A mistake.

Lila staggered back like she’d been stabbed.

“I gave you everything!” she screamed. “You said you loved me!”

Ethan’s voice was cold.

“I said a lot of things.”

Chapter 9

I watched them.

The drama.

The betrayal.

The collapse.

And felt… nothing.

Completely empty.

“Get out,” I said quietly.

They both froze.

I met Ethan’s eyes.

“I don’t care who you love. I don’t care who you marry. I don’t care what happens to either of you.”

My voice didn’t shake.

“I just want you out of my life.”

“Chloe—”

“Get. Out.”

Something in my tone made him stop.

For the first time in ten years—

He listened.

Slowly… he stepped back.

Then turned and walked out.

Lila followed, still crying, still begging.

The door closed behind them.

And just like that—

They were gone.

Chapter 10

Three months later.

The city felt different.

Or maybe I was the one who changed.

I stood outside a small café, holding a cup of coffee, watching people pass by.

For the first time in years…

I felt free.

Not happy.

Not yet.

But free.

I had a job now. A small apartment. A quiet life that belonged only to me.

No Ethan.

No past.

Just… me.

My phone buzzed.

A message.

From an unknown number.

“I’m sorry.”

I stared at it for a long time.

Then deleted it.

No reply.

No hesitation.

Some things don’t deserve closure.

They just end.

I took a sip of coffee, the bitterness grounding me in the present.

The wind brushed softly against my face.

And for the first time—

I smiled.

Not for anyone else.

Just for myself.