When I came home from my business trip, Ethan, who was always clingy in bed, didn't touch me. I was puzzled by his restraint and abstinence. When I mentioned it to my best friend, she sneered. "He's definitely getting satisfied by some woman out there. I told you from the start he's no good, but you insisted on being with him." I bit my straw, shaking my head in a daze. "No way. Ethan said he only loves me." My best friend poked my forehead with her finger, sighing helplessly. "You believe everything he says. Melissa, you're so naive that even if his mistress stood right in front of you, you wouldn't recognize her." A week later, I went on another business trip, but my scheduled flight was canceled due to weather, forcing me to return home. When I pushed open the door, clothes were scattered all over the floor. Urgent breathing sounds came from the bedroom—a man and a woman. Ethan said passionately: "I'd be willing to die in your arms!" My best friend laughed and replied: "That won't do. If you died, that fool Melissa would cry. I can't bear to see her sad."
I stood frozen in place. In the April weather, I suddenly felt cold. The elevator door opened. A delivery person glanced at the apartment numbers while stuffing something into my hands. "Hello, delivery for you." It was the ultra-thin condoms Ethan usually used. The delivery person peeked into the apartment nosily a few times. When their gaze returned to my face, there was a hint of sympathy. I thanked them and walked into the house in a daze, knocking on the open bedroom door. "Your condoms arrived." I set down the sushi in my other hand and looked at Ethan. "You said you wanted this yesterday, so I brought it back for you." The passionate atmosphere in the bedroom instantly froze to ice. Natalie and Ethan's bodies were still joined together. Identical panic flashed across both their faces. Ethan instinctively pushed Natalie away. "Melissa, didn't you go to the airport? How come..." The bay window wasn't closed properly. Wild wind mixed with raindrops roared into the room. Natalie's naked body trembled from the shock. Ethan's words stopped. Bad weather, canceled flight, I came back and caught them in the act. How simple. I walked over and closed the window tightly, then turned to leave. "Put your clothes on. Don't catch a cold." Ethan snapped back to reality, hastily pulling on his pants and belt, urgently grabbing my wrist. "Melissa, let me explain!" He pulled me to sit on the sofa. His muscular chest and back were covered with bright red scratch marks. I stared blankly at the roses in the vase. They had been blooming beautifully this morning, but now they were already wilted. Ethan noticed my soaked shoes and pant legs. He brought a towel and slippers with distress, crouching down to change them for me. Natalie's cheerful voice rang out. "Since you caught us, I won't have to bother hiding it from you anymore." She wore Ethan's oversized white shirt, leaning against the doorway, eating fish balls with relish. Her fair skin was covered with dense kiss marks. A trace of embarrassment flashed across Ethan's face. He scolded her in a low voice. "Go back first. I'll explain things to Melissa." Natalie rolled her eyes. "What's there to explain? Melissa's not blind." She met my gaze provocatively. "Melissa, I like your man, and I slept with him." "What are you going to do about it?" I honestly shook my head. "I don't know." Blue veins bulged on the back of Ethan's hand. "Natalie, stop talking!" He forcefully ushered the struggling Natalie out and slammed the door shut. He turned back and crouched in front of me, his voice trembling. "Melissa, don't be angry. I was confused for a moment." My heart felt hollow, my mind a complete fog. I didn't know what to say. Ethan touched my ice-cold hands, his face full of distress. "Melissa, let me heat up some milk for you to warm up." He grabbed a piece of clothing and put it on, quickly walking into the kitchen. I came to my senses and finally took out my phone, making a video call. The other end picked up immediately. Natalie was lounging on the bed, applying bright red nail polish to her smooth, jade-like toes. Seeing my dazed face, she gave a lazy smile. "What do you want?"
Natalie's tone was relaxed and calm, as if what just happened hadn't occurred at all. I squeezed out a dry sentence from my throat. "Why would you do this?" Natalie lazily tossed the nail polish aside, admiring her handiwork. "It's fun!" "Ever since you started dating Ethan, you've always ignored me." "When we go shopping and you try on clothes, you have to send photos to him. When we eat together, you have to reply to his messages. Even on my birthday, you ran off to take care of him when he had a fever." "After you got married, it goes without saying—you two are family now." She lifted her head and looked directly into my eyes, curling her lips in a mischievous smile. "I thought to myself, is Ethan really that great? I had to try him out for myself." "And once I tried, I discovered he really is pretty good. No wonder you're so crazy about him." Natalie smiled seductively. But my heart grew colder inch by inch. I'd been best friends with Natalie for over twenty years. She was especially dissatisfied with Ethan, and the two of them would give each other cold looks whenever they met. Natalie complained that I gave all my attention to Ethan, forgetting about my friend now that I had a man. Ethan didn't like that Natalie always took up my time, disturbing our time together. I tried hard to maintain their relationship, mediating everywhere. But I never expected that the two of them would get together and leave me behind. "Melissa, even though your reactions are always slow, your taste in men isn't bad." "Ethan is so obsessed with me. He insisted I move into the apartment above yours so he could see me every day." "Last week when you replaced your bed, it actually wasn't worn out—Ethan and I broke it because his desires were too strong." Through the screen, Natalie added with a smile. I stared at her blankly, unable to say a word. My slow brain finally started working, and memories surfaced. In the past, Ethan looked down on Natalie and wouldn't even give her a kind look. But gradually, he started handing Natalie a hair tie during meals. When he accompanied us shopping, he'd replace Natalie's ice cream with a hot drink, reminding her that her period was coming soon and she should eat less cold food. When Natalie moved in, Ethan personally helped me assist her with moving, working busily. At that time, Natalie proudly glanced at Ethan doing the work. "I'm practically his sister-in-law. Smart of him to recognize that!" I laughed happily, not noticing anything unusual. I was just glad that my two favorite people were finally getting along. But I overlooked the deep, meaningful gaze Ethan directed at Natalie. On the phone, Natalie seemed to become more interested, her eyes sparkling. "Melissa, when you were away on that business trip, Ethan nearly wore me out. You have no idea..." The video was abruptly cut off by a well-defined hand. Ethan's face was ashen. He set down a steaming cup of hot milk in front of me. "Melissa, don't listen to her nonsense." I stared at him blankly, my gaze empty and hollow. He sighed and pulled me into his arms. "Melissa, I got drunk at a business dinner that night. Natalie happened to come by the house to get something, and we just..." "I didn't maintain proper boundaries. Please don't be angry with me, okay?" His body carried a deep woody scent mixed with the fishy sweetness of sex, combined with Natalie's fragrance. A belated wave of nausea surged up. I forcefully broke free from his embrace and walked into the study to pack up my materials. I didn't want to stay here anymore. Just yesterday, Ethan had held me reluctantly, full of complaints. "Why does the company keep sending you on business trips? Do they hate seeing us happy together or something?" Then he pressed me beneath him in passionate intimacy, whispering sweet words in my ear. "Melissa, when you're not here, I miss you ten thousand times a day." My heart felt like it was being scratched by sharp claws over and over again, dull pain flowing endlessly. When I walked out holding a pile of architectural blueprints, Ethan hurriedly blocked my way. "Melissa!" I pushed him away. He clung to me. I pushed him away again. He clung to me again. As we struggled, the door's electronic lock opened. Natalie walked in with a smile. "Melissa, I have good news!"
She raised the pregnancy test in her hand. "I'm pregnant with Ethan's baby. You're going to be a godmother!" I stood frozen in place, almost forgetting to breathe. A trace of joy flashed in Ethan's eyes. He let go of my hand and walked toward Natalie. I felt intense nausea. The files in my arms scattered across the floor. I shoved past them and rushed out the door. The whole world was crumbling. Hurricanes howled, rain poured down. I walked through the city with my head down, my face covered with moisture—I couldn't tell if it was tears or raindrops. Natalie's swaying silhouette appeared before my eyes, delicate pain coursing through my heart. We used to be the best of friends. I would steal lots and lots of strawberries she loved from my family's fruit shop. She would patiently help me put together outfit after outfit. When she opened her nail salon after college graduation, I gave her all my savings. Natalie cried her eyes out then. "Melissa, if I lose money, you'll have nothing left!" I answered slowly. "Even if that happens, I'd do it willingly." Natalie was beautiful and clever, like a clear, bright moon. And I was clumsy and slow, just wanting to be an insignificant star by her side. Why did we end up like this? "Melissa, come back with me. You'll get sick if you stay in the rain any longer!" An exasperated voice rang out. My wrist was tightly grasped by Natalie. In the storm, her figure holding an umbrella looked somewhat fragile, but her eyes were incredibly determined. Like countless times in our youth when she stood beside me, openly saying "Melissa is my best friend." My nose tingled. I silently pulled away from her. "I don't need your help." Natalie lost her balance and stumbled, falling to the ground. "Natalie!" Ethan arrived just in time. He forcefully pushed away me as I stepped forward in panic to help Natalie up. His eyes were bloodshot as he raised his hand and slapped me. "Melissa! Natalie is pregnant, and you deliberately pushed her?" "How could you be this kind of person!" I was dizzy from the blow. When I came to my senses, he had already rushed Natalie to the hospital. The rain poured down. I stood there sobbing uncontrollably. Ethan had secretly loved me throughout all three years of high school. Knowing I liked flowers, every morning he would secretly place a freshly bloomed flower covered in dew in the plastic water bottle on my desk. When passing by the basketball court, he would run over drenched in sweat and shyly place a candy in my palm. After college entrance exams, he confessed to me, his cheeks nearly bright red. "Melissa, I like you. Can you give me a chance to be your boyfriend?" "I won't be like the uncles in my family with their endless romantic debts. I only like you." Born into a prestigious family, he was heaven's favored son, yet he noticed plain and ordinary me. Even the most dull and boring girl would be moved by such sincere words. The old him wished he could lay the whole world at my feet. But now, for Natalie's sake, he could slap me without hesitation. I wiped my face and hailed a car to the hospital. Outside the hospital room, Ethan was soaking wet, his expression exhausted. He looked at the red swelling on my face and pulled me into his arms with distress. "Melissa, I'm sorry. I was impulsive just now." "Natalie had an examination. Everything is fine. If you're upset, take it out on me, but don't provoke her." His warm palm caressed my cheek. Ethan lowered his head and kissed my earlobe. "You're afraid of pain, so let Natalie have the baby and we'll raise it. Don't worry, you'll always be Mrs. Hayes." "Let's just pretend this never happened, okay?" I pulled away from his embrace in a daze. No. Ethan sighed, somewhat helpless. "What will it take for you to forgive me?" I stared at him stubbornly, tears welling up, my vision like it was covered in fog. "You and Natalie can't be together. She's my best friend." Ethan was stunned. After processing this, he looked at me with amusement. "Melissa, stop being silly. Don't you understand? I like her." "Just like I like you and don't want to be apart from you, I don't want to be apart from her either."
A huge sense of absurdity struck me head-on. Ethan's voice was indulgent. "Go home. I'll stay here with her." He turned and walked into the hospital room without looking at me again. Through the glass window, I saw Ethan patiently blowing on the cream of mushroom soup to cool it, feeding it to Natalie spoonful by spoonful. To outsiders, they looked as sweet as lovers deeply in love. I sat stiffly on the bench in the hospital corridor. My mind was filled with thoughts of Ethan. He would drive hundreds of miles to take me to eat a bowl of borscht I'd been craving. Though he was an heir to a wealthy family, he learned to cook well for me, saying he married me to give me happiness. When I stayed up late drawing blueprints, he would brew energizing tea and silently keep me company. The Ethan who at eighteen swore he only liked me. Now casually says he's fallen for someone else. The next morning, Ethan carried Natalie out of the hospital room, looking at me in surprise. "Melissa, you sat here all night?" I didn't answer. I just stood up silently and followed behind them. Stubbornly wanting to see why they could develop such intense feelings without me noticing. Back at Natalie's place, Ethan moved skillfully through every corner. I used to see the razor at her place and foolishly asked Natalie if she had a boyfriend. She winked slyly. "Sometimes when I get drunk at bars, strange men send me home." I worriedly told her to be careful. Natalie hummed smugly. "No need to worry. My man is super clean!" It turned out her man was Ethan. Natalie changed into a soft white dress and sat on the sofa, ordering Ethan around. Seeing my dazed expression, she laughed. "Melissa, don't blame me. You can't control feelings." "Besides, I'm not asking for any title or status." "We're best friends. There's nothing wrong with me having a taste of your man, right?" Every sentence Natalie spoke was light and casual, but they fell heavily on my heart. Ethan heated up bread and milk and brought it to Natalie. Natalie acted coquettish, wanting him to feed her. Ethan looked at me. "Melissa, go home first." My throat was hoarse. I couldn't say a word. Natalie hooked her lips and tugged at Ethan's sleeve. "No need. Melissa is just stubborn. Once she figures it out, she'll leave on her own." My eyes became sore, but not a single tear fell. Yesterday, I had cried all my tears for them. I turned and left. In the evening, I rang Natalie's doorbell. Ethan, wearing matching couple's loungewear, opened the door. Seeing me, he smiled gently and pulled me into his arms, nuzzling affectionately into the crook of my neck, teasing in a low voice. "So, Melissa, have you thought it through and accepted that Natalie and I—" I pushed him away and walked straight to Natalie. Solemnly, I removed the wedding ring from my hand and the necklace from my neck—the one Natalie gave me after earning her first bucket of gold. Ethan sat back on the sofa, looking at me like a child throwing a tantrum, amused. I lowered my head and pulled out a document from my bag, placing it in front of him. Ethan took it. After seeing the title, the nonchalance on his face instantly froze. He jerked his head up. His voice trembled. "Melissa, you want to... divorce me?"
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