Ethan had signed the consent form without hesitation, ending the life of our unborn child. Then, while I was still recovering, he had me committed to a mental institution.
“Ethan, you're a heartless bastard! You’ll get what’s coming to you! I was blind to trust you…”
My cries and curses were met with indifference. "The miscarriage was traumatic, " he told the doctor, his voice devoid of emotion. "Take good care of her."
As I watched him leave, my heart sank. He had no idea that I wouldn't be staying at the institution for long. Days after signing the divorce papers he sent, I was whisked away to a derelict building on the outskirts of town.
Blindfolded and helpless, I was pushed from the rooftop…
The sickening thud of impact echoed through the empty shell of the building, dust swirling around me. I felt the crunch of bones, the warmth of my blood seeping into the dirt…
Even in death, I couldn’t escape Ethan. An invisible force drew my spirit to his side. He was at the sprawling Carter estate, his arm around Evelyn, finalizing their engagement with her father.
Mr. Carter was clearly pleased with his future son-in-law. And why wouldn’t he be? Ethan was charming, successful, exuding an air of effortless charisma.
I stood beside them, a translucent observer, my gaze fixed on Ethan. The sight of him in the same suit he had worn to ask for my hand in marriage sent a pang of pain through my spectral heart.
“It’s not an expense, it’s an investment,” he had said back then. “An investment in our future, and a sign of respect for your parents. I may not be able to give you the world, but I promise to make you the happiest woman alive.”
The words still echoed in my ears, the suit remained the same, but the man…
The Carters were a prominent family, and Evelyn’s engagement was a grand affair. Hours of meticulous planning stretched late into the night. Mr. Carter offered Ethan a guest room, but Evelyn interjected.
“We’re getting married, Dad. No need to be so formal.” She snuggled closer to Ethan.
“You’re shameless, Evelyn!” her father chided, but his voice was laced with amusement.
“I don’t care! I want to be with Ethan!”
Ethan patted her head indulgently. “Be good, Eve. I have to get back to the city. Enjoy your time with your parents.”
“Then I’m coming with you!”
Amidst teasing laughter, they left the estate.
They drove back to Ethan’s apartment in the city, the place that used to be our home. The furniture was arranged as I remembered it, but everything that had once belonged to me was gone.
The sound of running water indicated Evelyn was in the shower. Ethan worked in his study, his brow furrowing slightly as Evelyn, clad in his shirt and still damp from the shower, closed his laptop.
Ethan usually hated being interrupted, especially when he was working. His tolerance for Evelyn’s actions was a testament to his affection for her.
“You’ll catch a cold,” he said, pulling a blanket around her.
“Is work more interesting than me?” she asked, settling onto his lap.
“Never,” he replied, his lips curving into a smile as he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
I had no desire to eavesdrop, especially not on my ex-husband and his new love. But I was bound to Ethan, unable to stray too far.
The sounds I expected didn’t come. Ten minutes later, Ethan emerged from the bedroom.
That fast? That didn’t seem like Ethan…
I scrutinized him, taking advantage of my invisibility, but his expression revealed nothing.
He walked into the guest room, which seemed to have become a storage space. Everything was covered in white sheets, casting eerie shadows in the dim light.
He stood by the window, moonlight illuminating his profile, casting a melancholic glow.
I moved closer, following his gaze. The city stretched out before us, a sea of twinkling lights.
What was he looking at? Why did he seem so sad?
The window faced the direction of the mental institution. Could he possibly be thinking about me?
I settled down, watching him, memories of our past surfacing in my mind.
Ethan had been a scholarship student, sponsored by my father. He was smart, ambitious, and after graduating, my father had hired him as his assistant.
My father saw Ethan’s potential and mentored him, both professionally and personally. Knowing he was an orphan, my father often invited him to our home for holidays.
That's how we met.
From the moment I saw Ethan, I knew he was different. He was handsome, intelligent, and even though he owed my father a debt of gratitude, he never acted subservient.
Sometimes, when I got too clingy, he would even push me away. “I have work to do, Miss Yuna. Find someone else to entertain you."
Yes, he had always been distant. How could I have been so foolish to believe he had truly fallen in love with me?
But then, there was that rainy day. My father had arranged a blind date for me with the son of a business associate. It was a thinly veiled attempt at setting up a strategic marriage.
I was already in love with Ethan, so the date was a disaster. He probably sensed my disinterest, as we parted ways without even exchanging numbers.
“Get in.”
Outside the restaurant, I saw Ethan behind the wheel instead of our usual driver.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my heart pounding as I got in. Even now, I could remember the anticipation, the thrill of being alone with him.
He leaned in, his gaze intense, his proximity sending shivers down my spine. “You’re going to marry that man?”
“Maybe,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
“You don’t even like him.”
“Does that matter?” I laughed. “These arranged marriages are rarely based on love. It can be cultivated later, right?”
I could sense his anger, a silent storm brewing beneath his calm facade. It was exhilarating.
Outside, the rain intensified, drumming against the car windows. I gathered my courage and looked into his eyes. “Could I avoid this marriage… if the person I love, loved me back… and wanted to marry me?”
Ethan didn’t answer. He just kissed me…
Yes…
Now, I realized, he had never answered my question. I had taken that kiss as a confirmation, a declaration…
“Ethan, so… you were just using me all along, weren’t you? Just for my family’s business?” I spoke to his back, my voice laced with bitterness, but he couldn’t hear me.
Ethan sat there all night, lost in thought.
I sat with him, a silent observer. I couldn’t remember when our relationship had turned so sour, when we had last shared a moment of peace like this.
“Ethan, I should hate you.”
He stood up, turning to look at the sunrise, a sliver of gold peeking through the curtains. He didn't hear me. He just looked at the light, a wistful expression on his face.
He didn’t bother checking on Evelyn. He just left for work.
The company had been my father's legacy.
Our relationship hadn’t faced much opposition. My parents were open-minded. A strategic marriage was ideal, but they wouldn't force me into something I didn't want, especially if the man I loved was someone they also approved of.
And they had approved of Ethan.
After our marriage, my father had mentored him, grooming him to take over the company. He gradually handed over the reins, choosing to enjoy semi-retirement with my mother.
But business was a ruthless game. Ethan's success, his sharp mind and ambition, had attracted envy and resentment.
His background as an orphan, his lack of connections in the elite circles, made him an easy target. Whispers followed him, branding him a "gold digger," a "kept man."
I knew Ethan’s pride, and I feared these rumors would poison our relationship.
To prevent any misunderstandings, I decided to address it head-on.
"Ethan, about those rumors…"
He had cut me off, pulling me into an embrace. "Don't be silly. People will always talk. It doesn't matter."
"But I'm worried about you. I don't want you to be hurt."
He chuckled, pinching my nose. "My wife is amazing. I should be proud."
"So, you're not angry? We'll always be happy together?"
"Of course."
He said it with such conviction that I believed him.
That's why, when I found out I was three months pregnant, I rushed to his office, eager to share the good news.
But I never imagined that I would walk into his office to find a slender, elegant woman in his arms. It was Evelyn.
My presence didn’t faze her. Instead, she looked at me with a triumphant smirk.
Ethan didn't seem surprised either. His eyes, usually filled with warmth when he looked at me, were now cold and distant.
"This is disgusting!" I threw the only thing I could find, my phone, hitting Evelyn in the forehead.
It was a new phone, a gift from Ethan.
“Ouch!” Evelyn cried out, clutching her forehead and looking at Ethan with wide, tearful eyes.
"Get out!" Ethan slapped me, his voice laced with barely controlled fury.
I stood there, stunned, my cheek burning.
I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. Finally, I straightened up, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “This is my father’s company. If anyone should leave, it’s you two.”
“Your father’s company?” Evelyn looked at me as if I were an idiot. She turned to Ethan. “You haven’t told her?”
“The ownership was transferred last week. The company is mine now,” Ethan said, his voice devoid of emotion.
“So, who should leave? I think that’s pretty clear.” Evelyn looked triumphant.
I glared at Ethan, threw open the door, and stormed out.
I was still foolish enough to hope he would follow me, to explain. Instead of taking the elevator, I took the stairs, my heart a mixture of anger and hope.
He did come after me, but only after hearing the screams of employees who found me sprawled at the bottom of the staircase.
The pain was excruciating. Not as bad as the fall that would later end my life, but enough to make me see stars. And then, I felt the warmth between my legs…
“Help… me…” I gasped, reaching out a trembling hand. “Help…”
I wanted to say "baby," but darkness swallowed me before the word could form.
When I regained consciousness, I was in the hospital, lying on a gurney outside the operating room. Through the haze of pain medication, I heard the doctor telling Ethan about the baby.
Their voices were a blurry murmur, the harsh hospital lights blinding me. I reached out blindly, my bloodied hand grabbing Ethan’s sleeve. “Ethan… the baby…”
He looked at me, and my heart sank.
I knew his decision. He didn’t want this child.
I shook my head frantically, trying to stop him from signing the consent form, but he didn’t give me a chance. Neither did the doctor.
They wheeled me into the operating room…
Hours later, I emerged empty, the life inside me extinguished, as if it had never existed…
If it weren’t for the unbearable ache in my heart, I would have thought it was all a bad dream. A dream where I would wake up to find Ethan by my side, comforting me…
But the nightmare didn’t end there.
The next day, Evelyn visited me in the hospital.
She stood by my bed, her expression smug. "Well, well, well. Look at you now."
I lay there, defeated, unwilling to engage, my mind fixated on a single thought:
I wanted a divorce. And I wanted them both to leave with nothing.
Evelyn, unfazed by my silence, pulled up a chair. "Don't tell me you're waiting for your parents to come rescue you. You’ve been here for a day. Don’t you find it strange they haven’t shown up?”
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral.
My parents were on vacation overseas. Even if they got the news, it would take time for them to get back. Besides, Ethan wouldn’t dare tell them about his betrayal.
Evelyn saw my hesitation and pulled out her phone, showing me a news report about a plane crash and a list of passengers. "I know you don't want to believe me, but I wouldn't go through the trouble of faking a major news story, would I?"
I saw my parents’ names on the list. Panic flooded me, shattering the last vestiges of my composure.
I lunged at Evelyn, my grief and rage exploding, blaming her for everything. I didn't even feel the pain as I ripped the IV from my arm, my blood staining the sheets.
Ethan grabbed my wrist before I could reach her, pulling me away and shielding Evelyn with his body.
“That’s enough, Yuna!”
Seeing him protect her ignited a new wave of fury. I lashed out, clawing at his clothes, sinking my teeth into his wrist. I didn’t let go, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
Only when the doctor arrived and sedated me did I finally go limp…
"Look at her, Ethan. Don't tell me you still care for her after this," Evelyn said, watching me with a mixture of disgust and triumph.
Ethan looked at me, his eyes cold and empty. “Of course not.”
…
Ethan committed me to the mental institution, sending his assistant to make sure I didn't "escape."
The assistant, a college friend of Ethan's, had always been loyal to him.
I sat in the back of the car, my hands tied, my emotions strangely calm. "Who is she?"
The assistant looked away, silent.
“Can’t you tell me?” I laughed bitterly. “Do you think I’m in any position to cause trouble?”
He hesitated, then finally spoke. “She’s Evelyn Carter, the only daughter of the Carter family. She just returned from abroad…”
Carter?
As in, the wealthiest family in LA?
So that was it. Ethan was a gold digger after all. My family’s fortune wasn't enough for him, so he set his sights on the Carters?
I wanted to claw my eyes out. How could I have been so blind?
My absence clearly affected Ethan.
He might have owned the company now, but many of the executives were loyal to my father. It would take time for him to replace them with his own people.
I sat on the window ledge in the conference room, watching Ethan struggle to control the meeting.
“Enough!” He slammed his hand on the table. “Instead of wasting time questioning me, focus on the project. The company’s success affects all of you. If you’d rather sabotage your own interests, be my guest.”
He dismissed them, loosening his tie and sighing heavily.
“Sir, Miss Evelyn called. She wants to know if you’re coming home for dinner,” his assistant said, entering the room.
Ethan didn’t answer, but stood up and headed for the door.
I was drawn to him, unable to resist the pull.
…
“Ethan, you’re back!” Evelyn flung open the door, her face perfectly made up, her perfume suffocating. She threw herself into his arms.
He caught her, then gently pushed her away. “The housekeeper can cook, Eve. You don’t have to.”
“But I wanted to cook for you!” she whined, clinging to him.
I almost laughed. She had no idea how much Ethan hated strong perfumes.
He subtly stepped away, discreetly brushing off his clothes.
I remembered our first anniversary.
I had decorated the apartment, put on my best dress, and spritzed myself with a limited-edition perfume that Ayla had gifted me. I waited for Ethan all day, the food on the table growing cold and unappetizing.
He finally arrived at midnight, reeking of alcohol.
"Why did you drink so much?" I asked, trying to help him.
He pushed me away, frowning. “What’s that smell?” He sniffed my neck and shoved me towards the bathroom. “Go wash it off. Don’t wear that perfume again. It’s awful.”
He was complaining about my perfume when I hadn’t even mentioned his alcohol stench!
I bit back my anger. It was his anniversary, after all.
When I came out of the bathroom, he was sitting at the table, picking at the cold food.
I couldn’t see his expression, but I assumed he was just hungry after a long day of work.
“Don’t just eat that. It’s your birthday.” I checked the time. It was almost midnight. I placed the cake in front of him. “Make a wish, quick!”
He closed his eyes, blew out the candles, and then looked at the cake and then at me, forcing a smile. “You made this? It’s… hideous.”
I was about to retort, but he swept me off my feet and carried me into the bedroom…
Drunk Ethan was a different person, silent yet passionate. I spent the entire next day in bed…
…
“What are you thinking about?” Evelyn snapped, waving her hand in front of his face. She pulled him back to the table, gesturing at the few dishes she had prepared. “I made this myself. Try it!”
He reluctantly took a bite, then, as Evelyn went to answer the doorbell, he spat it out into the trash can.
“Who is it?”
The door swung open, and a familiar voice filled the room.
“Ethan, you bastard!”
It was Ayla, my best friend. She shoved past Evelyn, marched up to Ethan, and slammed her hand on the table, knocking his chopsticks away.
“Where is Yuna? What have you done with her?”
Evelyn, finally recognizing the situation, walked in, her face a mask of displeasure. “Who are you? How dare you barge into our home like this?”
Ayla ignored her, her temper flaring. “You know this isn't your home. Do you want me to call security? Or should I just call the cops?”
“Ethan, is this your friend?” Evelyn looked at Ethan accusingly.
Ethan sat there, his voice cold. “Ayla, I'm asking you to leave, for old times’ sake."
Ayla, instead of leaving, pulled up a chair and sat across from him, her eyes blazing. “You need to get one thing straight. This isn’t your home!”
Clearly, Ethan hadn’t announced our divorce yet. If he had, Ayla wouldn’t hesitate to tell him to leave too.
“But they’re already…”
Ethan silenced Evelyn with a look.
“Ethan, I’m not going to waste my breath cursing you out. If you’ve moved on, then leave Yuna alone."
Ayla was trying hard to control her anger. "You wouldn’t be where you are today without the Lin family. Yuna never did anything to hurt you. Don't be an ungrateful asshole!"
“Our marital problems are none of your business,” Ethan retorted, his voice cold and commanding. Years with my father had honed his ability to project an air of authority.
But he had underestimated Ayla. Ayla, whose temper tantrums were legendary.
“Marital problems?” Ayla scoffed. “You call this a marriage? If Yuna is still your wife, what is she? Is this just a fling?”
Ethan remained silent, his face pale.
My spectral heart ached.
“Ethan, be a man! Are you trying to drive Yuna to suicide?”
I laughed bitterly. I couldn’t tell Ayla that I was already dead, my body probably scattered…
“Fine,” Ethan said, his voice tight. He seemed to be making a great effort to say the words.
For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of regret in his eyes.
It must have been my imagination.
