“Josh! Enough!”
Josh, eyes red, didn’t answer my question. “I’m
hurt too. Why don’t you ask if I’m okay?”
I stepped in front of Ethan, my voice steady. “I
don’t care if you’re hurt. I don’t love you
anymore.”
I used to put Josh first, love him with all my
heart, take care of every need. When he was
sick, I’d stay up all night worrying. Not anymore.
He didn’t deserve it.
My words crushed him. He stared at me,
muttering, “You don’t love me? You liar. You
said you’d always love me.”
<
It dawned on me: He actually believed I still
loved him. Of course. The one who is constantly adored never expects to be abandoned.
“Josh, three years of marriage, and you threw
away every ounce of love I had for you. I used
to beg you not to leave me. Now, remember
this: I’m leaving you.”
He finally stopped fighting the divorce after
that. Leaving the courthouse, his face pale, he
forced a smile. “Olivia, where are you going
now?”
I ignored him. Ethan, ever the protector, said,
“None of your business. But don’t worry, she’ll
be much happier without you.”
Josh, surprisingly, didn’t argue. He nodded,
looking away. “Good… good…” He repeated
the words, his voice dropping to a whisper,
ending on a sob. “Take care of Olivia for me.”
He stared at the pavement, a picture of
<
pathetic misery. Anyone would think he was the
one who’d been wronged.
“Don’t worry, I will. Now move.” Ethan, clearly
done with him, took my hand, pushed past
Josh, and led me away.
Ethan’s hand was warm and strong, a comfort I
hadn’t felt in a long time.
Mia lost the lawsuit. Intentional infliction of
emotional distress. Three years. She went to
prison, drowning in debt. I visited her once,
taking my mother’s ashes with me. She was a
shadow of her former self, hair unkempt, still
wearing her court clothes. I saw fear and regret
in her eyes.
Josh, stripped of most of his assets, was
struggling to keep his company afloat. The
people who destroyed my family were finally
facing the consequences.
<
494
My phone rang. Ethan. “Olivia, I booked your flight to Germany.”
“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll transfer you the money later.”
He sounded disappointed. “It’s just a plane ticket. Do you really have to be so formal with me?”
His childish tone made me smile. “You’ve taken care of me since we got back. I can’t just keep taking advantage of your kindness, your money.”
He hesitated. “If you feel that bad… forget the money. How about a date? I want to take you
out.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“A date. With me. I’m asking you out,” he
<
blurted.
Without hesitation, I said, “Okay.”
I heard a thud, then the call disconnected.
Confused, I turned to find Ethan standing
behind me.
“Olivia, you really… want to go on a date with
me?” He wore a black tracksuit, his normally
neat hair slightly ruffled, his ears bright red.
I smiled. “What are you doing here?”
He scratched his head. “Worried about you
being alone. I followed you.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Ethan grinned. “Thank you. I’ll… I’ll do my best. I was so jealous when you got married. I
couldn’t sleep.”
<
Who knew the stoic researcher from Germany
could be so shy? I couldn’t resist reaching out
and ruffling his hair.
“When did you… start liking me?”
“That time you helped me with the experiment.”
“Why me?”
“Because you’re kind, independent,
intelligent…”
I asked, he answered. It made me think of Josh,
He’d never complimented me like this. The
people who truly care see the best in you. And
they can never say enough.
(The End)
