I Divorced My Sister's Boyfriend

I must have fallen asleep at some point and I don't know how long it was before I woke up again from the pain. The room was already dim and I swayed on my feet as I tried to stand, barely catching the door handle to steady myself.

The crumpled bag of medicine was still clutched in my hand.

I pushed open the door, expecting to see Ryan back home. I was about to call out and ask him for some water—I didn’t even have the strength to get it myself.

But it wasn’t Ryan standing there. It was Lucas.

This was the second time in just a few days that he’d seen me in this pathetic state. Embarrassed but with no other option, I had to open my mouth and ask him for help.

“Can you get me a glass of water?”

He said nothing, only nodded and returned shortly with a glass. I swallowed the pills with the warm water, waiting a few moments for the pain to ease.

“You’re still working?” I asked, my voice brittle. “Did Ryan tell you to come back?”

Lucas hesitated for a second, then gave a slight nod. But the confirmation didn’t stir anything in me. I was too drained to care.

I pulled out my phone, only to find one lone message from Chloe.

It was a photo she had secretly taken. (Ryan blowing on a bowl of noodles for her, a soft smile on his face)

He was always so distant and cold with me, but in that photo, he looked gentle—patient in a way I had rarely seen. Letting his assistant come back to take care of his wife, he went to personally take care of his ex-girlfriend.

I let out a bitter laugh, shutting off my phone without replying. Turning to Lucas, I said flatly, “I’m fine now. You can go.”

He raised a brow. “Are you sure?”

His diligence puzzled me. Even though Ryan had sent him, there was no need to be so dutiful. It felt like he was going above and beyond.

“Thank you,” I added quietly. “You’ve helped me three times now.”

He chuckled. “Three? I only count two.”

“You kept what happened in the hospital from Ryan.”

He suddenly smiled, “Just because he’s my boss doesn’t mean I’ll betray someone’s privacy.”

That was his way of saying I didn’t owe him anything.

“I don’t think Ryan will come back tonight,” Lucas said gently. “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”

I gave a small nod of acknowledgment, ‘hmm,’ before retreating into my room.

The next morning, Lucas was still waiting downstairs. When I insisted he go home and rest, he offhandedly said, “Mr. Caldwell said you should have dinner at his parent's house today.”

***

This home was Ryan's parents' home. Lucas sent me to the door.

My stomach churned at the thought. Ryan’s parents didn’t exactly welcome me. For the past five years, they’d grown increasingly impatient over my inability to conceive, their disappointment becoming more obvious with every family gathering.

I stood at the door, doing a lot of mental construction.

Ryan’s parents had never approved of me. From the beginning, they wanted Chloe to marry their son. After all, Chloe and Ryan had grown up together like childhood sweethearts. But when Chloe went abroad right after high school and stayed there for seven years, Ryan hadn’t waited for her—he’d married me instead.

At the time, I thought I would win and find happiness. But now, with Chloe back in the picture, I realize how naive I had been. Perhaps I had always just been her replacement.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

The cheerful conversation inside stopped abruptly, leaving the air heavy with awkwardness.

Ryan’s younger sister, Lily Caldwell, was the first to react. Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Well, well. The busy woman finally shows up.”

Sitting beside her, Chloe gave her a light nudge, feigning concern. “Lily, don’t say that.”

Ryan’s gaze softened when it landed on Chloe, but his brows furrowed at his sister’s words. “Lily, enough!”

Lily rolled her eyes dramatically, grabbing Chloe by the arm as they headed to her room.

They had been inseparable since childhood and Lily had always seen Chloe as her rightful sister-in-law. She’d never liked me and made no effort to hide it.

I acted as if nothing had happened, stepping inside without greeting anyone. Ryan’s parents were seated in the living room and the moment his mother saw me, her expression darkened.

His mother was unhappy and with a cold brow, she wanted to scold me.

I could already see the reprimand forming on her lips, but Ryan intervened, guiding me gently to sit down. He glanced at my pale face and tried to smooth things over.

“Mom, Emma hasn’t been feeling well lately.”

His mother let out a dismissive huff. “No wonder she can’t have children—sick all the time, just a burden.”

The words were sharp, meant to cut deep. I met her gaze steadily and said, “That’s why I’ve decided to divorce Ryan.”

The room fell silent.