Chapter 7

The sting of Chloe’s slap lingered on Ethan’s cheek, but he didn’t flinch.

It was nothing compared to the pain he felt inside.

“You bastard,” Chloe spat, her eyes blazing with fury. “Haven’t you harmed her enough? Lily is already lying unconscious on the bed” She pointed to the room. “There’s no need to bring your mistress over to show off. You do realize she is your lawfully wedded wife, not Stacy.”

“Chloe, I think you are misunderstanding something, me and Stacy are just friends–nothing more”

“You don’t need to lie” Chloe continued, her voice shaking with anger”. “Nothing more, but all the news articles are about how you and Stacy Peters are a match made in heaven. Who remembers you have a wife? Every other week you go on business trips with Stacy, lodging in different hotel rooms. But you’re nothing more than friends.”

Ethan‘s jaw clenched. “I never—”

“Do you think I’m a fool? I have seen all the headlines and so has Lily!” Chloe shouted interrupting Ethan, her hands curled into fists. “Do you even know how many times she cried herself to sleep? How many times has she waited up late, during birthdays and holidays, waiting for you to come home? You left without a word for five years and she still took you back no questions asked, even if you don’t love her at least you were her best friend right? If you don’t want to be around her you could just get a divorce.

“I don’t want to get a divorce. I love her.” A sharp pain cut through Ethan’s chest. “I thought she preferred me being away.”

She loves you, you idiot, you always had” Chloe whispered, her voice breaking. “And you’ve been breaking her heart every single day–since you got married. Treating her like she was invisible and publicly humiliating her, every time you went around with Stacy on your arm.”

Ethan took a step back. His mind was spinning, was he wrong all along?

Lily loved him?

His Lily liked him too?

“I didn’t know…”

He had spent all these years believing she didn’t want to be with him. That she didn’t want the marriage.

Was he wrong all this time?

Chloe wiped furiously at the tears pooling in her eyes, she tried to keep her voice steady, but it kept cracking. “Three years Ethan, Three years. Maybe you should end everything. Both of you go your separate ways”

End everything?

Something inside of him twisted painfully.

Was he going to lose her again?

Chloe exhaled sharply, stepping back, “If you have even an ounce of decency left, let her go. She doesn’t deserve this. ”

Ethan didn’t say a word. He couldn’t.

He had spent three years hurting the love of his life. She even got into an accident because of him.

Chloe scoffed, shaking her head. “Think about what I said. For Lily’s sake”

She turned to leave but paused at the end of the hallway. "She has always had the best of everything, when has she ever been treated like this."

Then she went back into the room, leaving Ethan standing there, the weight of her words pressing down on him.

He had thought just working hard to give her the life she deserved would be enough, but she already had everything. Even without him, she would be fine.

Slowly, he turned toward the hospital room.

Through the small glass panel on the door, he could see her.

Lily, still unmoving. Her delicate fingers rested against the stark white sheets, her usually warm complexion pale under the fluorescent lighting.

He didn’t know how long he stood outside just watching. His feet moved before his brain caught up.

He stepped inside and walked toward her, sinking into the chair beside her bed. Chloe was lying on the couch, already fast asleep.

For the first time in years, he didn’t know what to do.

What if she woke up and wanted nothing to do with him?

What if she hated him now?

Ethan swallowed past the lump in his throat. He hesitated, then slowly reached out and took her hand in his.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the room.

"It’s all my fault."

The door to the hospital room slammed open, and someone stormed in, their heavy footsteps echoing across the room.

Ethan barely had time to turn before a fist crashed into his face.

Pain exploded across his jaw, his chair screeching against the tiled floor as he was knocked back. His hand slipped from Lily’s, and he barely managed to steady himself, before another punch came rolling in and he fell to the ground. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

Through the ringing in his ears, he heard Aspen Monroe’s voice, sharp and furious.

"You son of a bitch! This is how you promised you’d take care of her?"

Ethan blinked, dazed, his vision clearing just in time to see Aspen standing over him, his fists clenched, eyes burning with fury.

"Get out, get the hell away from my sister," Aspen growled.

Ethan opened his mouth, but Aspen didn’t let him speak.

Aspen’s lips curled in disgust."You think you can sit here and play the role of the loving husband?" he scoffed, "I didn’t say anything because Lily wouldn’t let me."

Ethan’s jaw ached, but he didn’t move. He just stared at Aspen, at the barely contained rage in his eyes.

Aspen turned away, stepping toward Lily’s bed. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face and adjusted her blanket, his expression softening before he glanced back at Ethan.

"You don’t deserve to be here," he said coldly.

Ethan’s heart pounded.

"Aspen, I—"

"Leave. Now."

Ethan hesitated.

Aspen’s glare hardened. “Or I’ll throw you out myself.”

For the second time in his life, Ethan felt completely powerless.

He glanced at Lily once more before turning and walking out.

Aspen was right. He didn’t deserve to be here–with Lily

With every step, it felt like a knife pierced deeper and deeper into his heart.

How had they gotten to this point?