In all the years I was with Ethan, we had countless arguments because of Samantha.
Whenever she needed him, he always showed up, claiming it was just as a friend.
Even on the day he proposed to me, Samantha called, and he rushed off, leaving me alone—I even put the ring on myself.
After I went abroad, Ethan stopped answering my video calls and replied to my messages less and less. Every time he messaged me first, it was always to ask for money—each time under a different pretext.
I naively believed he was suffering from illness and didn’t want me to see how haggard he had become.
The room reeked of a woman’s perfume, thick and cloying—it made me want to vomit.
I curled up in a corner, exhausted from travel, jet lag, and having just broken down in front of my boss.
It felt like all my strength had been drained. I couldn’t hold on any longer and eventually passed out in a daze.
Just before dawn, the door suddenly swung open.
The light was so bright I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Ethan stormed in, grabbed my collar, lifted me off the ground, and flung me onto the bed!
I shrank back, pressing against the headboard to put space between us: “Let me go! You scumbag, what do you want?!”
In horror, I clutched my T-shirt tightly.
Then Samantha appeared behind him, wearing a burgundy evening gown. She looked at me with disgust, then clung to Ethan’s arm and said coyly:
“Darling, you scared me! Don’t be afraid—Ethan was only with you for the inheritance your parents left you. He never liked you, and he’ll never touch you!”
“Touch her? As if! She’s old and ugly. There’s no way I’d want her!”
“If I hadn’t needed the money for studying abroad, and she wasn’t so gullible, how could I have endured the shame of marrying her? Don’t worry, babe. I’ll talk to her. Go get some rest.”
Faced with her mockery, Ethan quickly showed his loyalty and kissed her cheek tenderly.
The blows kept coming—one after another.
So this whole relationship had been a setup from the start!
Ethan never loved me! I was just his ATM to support another woman!
All those chance meetings, those heartfelt words, were really just his sacrifices for his so-called first love.
And I believed it all—I sold my property to pay for his “treatment,” fled overseas, hid from place to place, and nearly died several times.
When I left, Ethan cried while hugging me, trembling as he repeated sweet nothings.
He told me again and again that when I came back and he was well again, we would have a wonderful future together.
Those lies sustained me for seven long years!
“Once I squeezed out the little money your parents left you, I planned to divorce you.”
“I didn’t expect Samantha to get pregnant. I need a lot of money to raise a child.”
Samantha walked off, her waist swaying as she left.
Ethan sat across from me and said this all without blinking.
To me, it felt like being stabbed a thousand times.
“I was really broke then—don’t blame me! I’ll give you two million after the divorce, and we’ll call it even,” Ethan said as he handed me a document.
“Don’t get any illusions about me. I never had feelings for you. And now, after being passed around overseas, there's no chance of anything between us.”
I had no strength left to argue. This liar had the nerve to pretend to be reasonable.
He kept throwing mud at me, and all I wanted was to get my money and walk away.
The document clearly stated: Divorce Agreement.
I quickly signed my name.
“I’m done!” I stood up and tried to leave. If I stayed one second longer, I might rip it up in a rage.
But Ethan blocked the door.
“You can’t leave yet. Samantha has finally made progress after so many years—we can’t risk that now.”
“Just stay here and don’t stir up trouble.”
“Several major agencies are interested in signing Samantha. The divorce agreement will only be finalized after her next two performances.”
“When the two million is transferred, we’ll be even. Samantha’s career can’t be tainted by your dirty money!”
As he spoke, he even covered his nose, like I carried some foul disease.
Dirty money.
He’d already decided that I’d spent these years abroad doing something disgraceful.
I had no interest in explaining. I just wanted to leave this repulsive place.
“Move! What you’re doing is illegal! I won’t tell anyone, okay? Let me just visit my parents’ graves, and I’ll go back abroad!”
There’s nothing here left to keep me.
“No! I won’t let anyone threaten Samantha!”
Ethan shoved me back onto the bed, turned, and locked the door behind him as he left.
“You’re not going anywhere until Samantha’s performances are over! Behave yourself, or I won’t give you a cent!”
No one responded, no matter how hard I pounded on the door.
Once again, I was under house arrest.
