The Year I Died Was When He Loved Me Most

I cut him off.

"Alex, I just want to leave quietly. I'll treat this life as me giving it back to him. Please don't tell anyone about this."

The pain tormented me all night. I couldn't close my eyes.

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital to pick up some painkillers.

But when I passed the OB-GYN department, I ran into Ethan—and Alex Pruitt.

The moment he saw me, Ethan's face twisted with impatience.

In his eyes, I was using any means necessary to stalk him.

"Nina, what a coincidence. Why are you here?"

I stared at Ethan, hoping he would explain.

"A clown who never changes. How long are you going to keep pestering me? Now you've even learned to stalk people. Nina, how long are you going to torture me? Why won't you just let me go?"

My hands trembled. I fought hard not to let the tears fall.

Not explaining was the answer.

Five years of marriage, and Ethan had never touched me. Now here he was at the OB-GYN department with another woman.

"Mr. Yates, you're overthinking it. I didn't follow you, and I'm not here to see you."

Ethan smiled.

"If you're not here to see me, who else could you be here to see? Nina, your acting is too clumsy."

Before he finished speaking, a hand yanked me aside.

"Nina, you're here."

When Ethan saw Alex Matthews, he clenched both hands into fists, his eyes blazing.

"Nina, are you that cheap? You can't wait to find another man?"

Ethan used to hate having Alex Matthews anywhere near me.

But now he had someone else standing by his side. What right did he have to accuse me?

"Mr. Yates, since you've already signed the divorce agreement, who I see has nothing to do with you."

I turned and signaled to Alex Matthews, then headed to his office.

Behind me, Ethan's face was ashen.

In his eyes, this confirmed I was a fickle woman with a mouth full of lies.

"Alex, I've helped you with what you needed. From now on, don't bring up anything about you and your child again."

Alex Pruitt smiled softly.

"Thank you, Mr. Yates. But from what I see, Nina seems to like this doctor quite a bit, right?"

Ethan didn't answer, only staring hard at my back.

After I entered the office, all my strength drained away. I slid down to the floor.

"Is it worth it?"

"Liar."

After getting the painkillers, I walked out the door—and there was Alex Pruitt, waiting.

"Nina, I'm pregnant."

I tried to leave, but she blocked my path.

"It's Ethan's. Nina, Ethan said that the child you were carrying disgusted him."

I shoved her hand away, turned, and left.

Ten years of love—shattering bit by bit.

When I got home, the house was pitch-black.

The moment I turned on the light, Ethan was leaning by the doorway. He'd been waiting.

He stepped forward and pinned me against the wall. He reeked of alcohol.

"What did you go to the hospital for today?"

"Does it matter?" I said calmly.

"Nina, you can't live without a man, is that it? Tell me, what exactly did you go for!"

I threw everything in my hands to the ground.

"Yes! I can't live without a man! I went to find Alex Matthews. I've lived like a widow for five years. I want to find someone and let loose—can't I!"

Smack.

Ethan slapped me across the face.

"Nina, so yesterday, wagging your tail and begging like a dog—that was fake?"

"Fake. It was all fake! Loving you was fake too. Back then, if you weren't rich, do you think I would've saved you? It's been so many years—I don't want to act anymore either. Satisfied now?"