The Stars No Longer Shine for You

I could hear Ethan's breath hitch before he erupted into a furious outburst.

"Vivian Ward, I've really spoiled you rotten! Employees are the lifeblood of a company—can't you understand that, you foolish woman?"

He was clearly enraged. "Threatening me with divorce time and time again is one thing, but now you're even cursing our child? I think there's something seriously wrong with your brain!

"Why can't you be more sensible, like Chloe? I'm coming to get you—let's go have that brain of yours checked."

Not long after, Ethan really did show up, holding a bouquet of half-wilted flowers. He tossed them onto the table impatiently.

"Chloe heard you were hurt. She asked me to bring these. Look at her—such a thoughtful young lady, showing concern for you during tough times."

I stared at the half-dead bouquet, seeing in it a reflection of myself from last night.

I had seen these flowers before, in Chloe's social media post. She had rested her chin on them, smiling brightly.

And now, the withered flowers she no longer wanted had been given to me. Clearly, Ethan thought I was just as lifeless and unsightly.

He picked up my bag, feigning nonchalance.

"Oh, by the way, you scared her last night. I gave her your car.

"She was so afraid to walk home alone at night. Having a car will keep her safe from bad people."

Ethan couldn't go three sentences without bringing up that intern.

And for a mere bouquet of flowers, she had taken my beloved car—a car worth three million dollars.

For the first time, Ethan had been so generous to someone else.

If this had happened before, I would have argued with him fiercely.

But now, I didn't even have the energy to look at him.

…

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary.

When Ethan and I got married, we had nothing but a marriage certificate. He had promised to give me a proper wedding one day.

I waited year after year. Ten years passed.

And yet, when I finally put on the wedding dress he had ordered for me and arrived at the venue, I realized—mine was a bridesmaid dress.

Chloe wore the wedding gown.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan," she said tearfully. "I only wanted to be a bridesmaid and make Vivian happy. But the dress fit me so well—I thought it was mine, so I put it on by mistake."

She ran out of the hall crying before I even had a chance to say a word.

Ethan had looked so concerned for her.

Inevitably, we fought.

Then, in the middle of it, an earthquake struck. I lost my balance and instinctively reached out for Ethan. But he took a step back and watched me fall.

I cried for help, but he only called me dramatic—he didn't even notice the blood pooling beneath me.

At that moment, I finally understood.

The Ethan who once had eyes only for me—he was already dead.

Oblivious to how pale I was, he dragged me all the way to the psychiatric department.

I had no strength to resist and ended up sitting weakly before the doctor.

"Doctor, check if there's something wrong with her brain. She's faking illness all day long just to fool people!" Ethan ordered the doctor impatiently.

The doctor and I locked eyes for a brief moment. I let out a lifeless smile.

He hesitated, then turned to Ethan.

"Sir, do you need to visit the ophthalmology department next door?"

The poor doctor bore the brunt of Ethan's temper, enduring several rounds of scolding.

I stepped in front of the doctor, my gaze cold as I looked at Ethan.

"Can you stop acting like a stray dog, biting at whoever crosses your path?"

Ethan froze.

For a moment, it seemed like he remembered—those were the exact words he had once said to me.

His expression darkened with embarrassment. "Did you pay him to put on this little show just to humiliate me?"

"You're insane."