The realization hit Ethan like a freight train.
“You’re… pregnant?” he stammered, his voice cracking with disbelief.
His face twisted with pain as he let out a bitter laugh, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“It’s over, isn’t it?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
I’ve really lost you this time.”
He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he cried.
Through his tears, he choked out, “Why did it have to end like this, Fiona? I loved you–I’ve always loved you. Sarah and I… it was just a fake marriage. I swear, it didn’t mean anything, Can’t you forgive me?”
70
Ethan collapsed in front of me, as though all the strength had drained from his body,
I stood there, cold and unmoved, not offering him a shred of sympathy.
I don’t know how long he stayed like that.
Eventually, he pulled himself together, wiped the emotion from his face, and silently signed the repayment agreement.
It wasn’t because I pressured him further–it was because he saw the truth in my eyes. He realized I truly didn’t care about him anymore. That realization crushed whatever hope he had left.
With that signature, I finally got back the money my parents had lost when they sold their house for Ethan’s business.
I put the money into my own account and only gave my parents a modest monthly allowance of $500.
It wasn’t out of spite–it was practical. I didn’t want my dad gambling it all away or my mom indulging her unhealthy eating habits.
When they realized what I’d done, they threw a fit.
“How could you do this to Ethan?” they shouted. “We gave him that money willingly to help him start his business! He’s such a good man-
deserved every penny!”
“Oh, really?” I replied, my tone calm but cutting. “If he’s such a good man, why did he throw you out of his house?”
“And let me ask you this–after you gave him everything you had, why do you expect your only daughter to support you in your old age? Do you think I’m some kind of fool? Or do you just think I’m disposable?”
I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“I’m not someone you can push around. If you keep coming at me with this nonsense, we can settle this in court. I’ll pay the bare minimum required by law. And if it comes to that, I hear I can provide food instead of money. Would you like me to send over a few hundred loaves of bread. every month?”
That small threat was enough to shut them up completely.
They must’ve realized that the world is full of children who refuse to care for their parents, let alone a former son–in–law who had no obligation to them.
Once they accepted this truth, their attitude toward me softened considerably.
Later, they tried to use the excuse of “repairing our relationship” to suggest moving to my city to take care of me during my pregnancy.
I declined.
Sometimes, the bond between parents and children is just too shallow. Forcing yourselves into each other’s lives only leads to mutual destruction.
Six months later, Ethan showed up at my door again.
He looked like a shadow of the man he once was–worn down, gray, and empty.
His voice was hoarse as he told me about his life.
was finalized, I secretly
“To get the divorce, I agreed to leave Sarah with everything. I walked away
ay with nothing. But before the divorce w donated all of our assets to charity. Neither of us got anything in the end.”
Hel
let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
“I guess we deserved it. But
at least I finally feel free. Turns out having nothing isn’t as scary as I thought.”
He paused, his eyes darting to mine, then quickly looking away.
“Sarah didn’t have the nerve to come see you herself, so she asked me to apologize on her behalf. She knows it’s my fault that your friendship was ruined. If anyone deserves the blame, it’s me. I’m so sorry, Fiona.”
Ethan sighed deeply, gathering what little courage he had left, and reached for my hand.
“Fiona,” he said quietly, his voice trembling, “can we just… start over? Go back to the beginning?”
He hesitated, then added, “Would it be too much if I begged you to leave Nathan? If there’s even the slightest chance I could have you back, I’d take it. I’d even love your child as my own.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head in disbelief.
How could he even say such a thing out loud?
“I don’t have a habit of clinging to my exes,” I said simply.
When love is gone, it’s gone.
What I can never forget, though, is the pain I endured because of him.
Even now, the person I am today has no right to forgive Ethan on behalf of the person I was back then.
“Fiona,” he said, his voice softer this time, almost pleading. “I’ve changed. I don’t care about helping strangers anymore. I’ll put my partner. first. I’ll put you first.”
“I won’t let you feel lonely again. I’ll never leave you behind–not even in the middle of a storm…”
But by the end, he couldn’t hold it together. His words dissolved into sobs as he buried his face in his hands.
Because deep down, he knew the truth.
Because deep down, he knew the truth.
No matter how much he begged, no matter how many promises he made, there was no going back.
There was nothing left between us.
I didn’t even feel the need to mock him. I just stood there, calmly waiting for him to finish crying. When Nath
Nathan arrived to pick me up for dinner, I simply turned and walked away, not even glancing back.
(End of story.)
