Love Can Have Regrets, But Marriage Must Not Have Hidden Dangers

I placed the flowers and cake on the table, my arms sore from carrying them.

The wound on my abdomen throbbed slightly as I sank onto the couch and opened the takeout app.

"Ethan, let's order takeout tonight. Get whatever you want, and we can order another cake too. Let's celebrate properly," I suggested.

But my words hung in the air without a response.

When I looked up, I saw he had changed into a different outfit and was fussing with his hair in front of the mirror, the faint scent of woodsy cologne lingering in the air.

He was undeniably handsome; otherwise, I wouldn't be so captivated by him.

Seeing him care so much about today made me wonder if I had been too dismissive. "How about we go out to eat instead?"

Just as Ethan was about to reply, there was a knock at the door.

Sophie stood outside, looking equally well put together.

She breezed past me and spoke directly to Ethan.

"Are you ready? You're taking longer than a woman!"

"Coming!" Ethan replied, clearly flustered as he tried to head out, but I blocked his path.

"Ethan, are you going out?"

He adjusted his clothes and said, "You can order takeout for yourself. I have dinner plans with my colleagues; I'll come back later to keep you company."

"Can I come too?"

Sophie raised an eyebrow at my question, as if it were the funniest thing she'd ever heard. "That might not be appropriate; it's just a work gathering without partners. How can everyone enjoy themselves if you're there? If that's the case, Ethan shouldn't go either."

With that, she turned as if to leave, and Ethan shrugged off my grip on his arm.

"Emma, can you stop being unreasonable? You clearly don't understand your mistake or genuinely want to apologize. Just stay home and think about it."

He took a few steps away but then turned back, extending his hand toward me.

I smiled, thinking he couldn't bear to leave me behind, but then he said, "What about those two love bracelets you made me?"

I pointed to my bag hanging by the entrance. In a rush, he dumped its contents onto the floor.

After finding the bracelets, he stood up and shut the door behind him as he hurried toward Sophie.

"Like them? She's really talented; I knew you'd appreciate them—one for you and one for me..."

Those were the bracelets I had spent three days making after getting out of the hospital, and now he was planning to wear one with someone else.

Staring at the empty hallway and the closed door, I glanced down at my phone—my only lifeline in this moment.

They probably hadn't gone far yet, so I called Ethan.

"Ethan, I don't have my keys; can you come back to let me in?"

Before he could respond, Sophie's mocking voice came through the line. "Your girlfriend is trying everything to get you back home. Why don't you just skip tonight? I can handle them alone."

"That's not fair! We agreed to go together!"

I interjected quickly. "You don't want to make a trip back; how about I come get—"

But before I could finish my sentence, he hung up on me again. My message went unanswered as well.

How many times had I failed to complete a thought today? I lost track long ago.

Alone in the hallway, I sat on the cold floor for what felt like ages.

Several times I considered checking into a hotel but realized that without proper identification, it wouldn't be possible.