What Cannot Be Consoled

Vivian rented an apartment upstairs from Ethan and Pearl, and she came down to visit almost every day.

Ethan, who used to work overtime constantly and rarely came home, suddenly seemed to have all the time in the world. He would wait at home every day.

After dinner, they would watch TV in the living room. This time, Vivian invited Pearl to join them.

"I haven't finished my thesis yet. You two go ahead and watch." After Pearl replied, she returned to the bedroom.

Vivian's cheerful laughter drifted in from outside. "Pearl's such a good student—not like me. Back then, I was always making you help me with my homework, Ethan."

Pearl stayed busy with her laptop until 11:00 pm. She did not notice Ethan shuffling in wearing slippers. He reached for the document folder on the desk, and Pearl's heart lurched. She tried to stop him, but it was too late. The signed divorce agreement was inside.

"What's this?" Ethan frowned as he pulled out a sheet of paper from the folder and tossed it on the desk. "You're applying to go to Arcanum for aid work?"

Pearl looked closely. The application form for the school's Arcanum aid program was on top. "That's not mine. I printed it for my roommate. She doesn't have a printer in the dorm."

Pearl's expression did not change, and Ethan believed her. He then lost interest in her folder.

Pearl breathed a sigh of relief. She did not want Ethan to know about the divorce yet. This marriage had been built on her one-sided wishful thinking from the start. Hence, she wanted to leave this marriage with dignity and composure.

"I heard the Arcanum aid program requires spending three years in the poorest parts of Arcanum. It's pretty tough."

Ethan's long fingers tapped the table intermittently as he said slowly, "You don't need to join in on that. My dad's old connections are enough to get you a good job at a hospital in the capital."

His words sounded caring, but Pearl smiled bitterly inside.

She was first in her major every year. During her time in graduate school, she had published over a dozen papers. With her own abilities, she could easily stay in the capital and pick any position she wanted. She had no need for connections.

Ethan did not even know these things. In their past four years together, he had never tried to understand her.

In contrast, Pearl even knew Ethan's favorite air conditioning temperature. When they slept, she would lower the temperature in advance, only to end up shivering and sneezing in the middle of the night.

Today, she refused to force herself anymore.

Sure enough, as soon as they lay down, Ethan tossed and turned. "Why is it so hot today?"

"It's not hot. I'm cold," Pearl said this flatly, then turned over with her back to Ethan and pulled most of the blanket toward herself. She thought Ethan would adjust the temperature himself.

Unexpectedly, Ethan's long arm reached out and pulled her close from behind. His warm breath brushed against Pearl's neck, carrying a hint of desire.

Ethan worked out regularly. With one forceful pull, he flipped Pearl around into his embrace, and overwhelming kisses rained down on her.

Pearl struggled, but it was useless. Ethan was always dominant in bed, completely unlike his usual refined and calm demeanor.

She frowned and turned her head. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was Friday today.

Over the past four years, they spent every Friday night like this. Before, she thought it was because they had not seen each other all week, which was why Ethan was so insatiable.

Then, a few nights ago, she was unable to sleep and kept scrolling through Vivian's social media account. That was when she discovered that Vivian would post new videos every Friday.

Vivian was a travel blogger. Every video showed her traveling around the world with her foreign husband. Aside from scenery shots, nearly every frame was of them showing off their relationship.

The thought that Ethan had only spent all those intimate nights with her because of Vivian's posts made Pearl feel sick.

She dry heaved, and Ethan's movements finally stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Ethan turned on the wall lamp. The dim yellow light illuminated his chiseled profile.

"I'm not feeling well today... Ugh..."

Pearl had only meant to stop Ethan from continuing, but her stomach churned violently, as if her insides wanted to come out.

"Let me take you to the hospital. Could you be..."

"No!"

Pearl knew what Ethan was suggesting, but they always used protection. It was impossible.

"Let's go to the hospital anyway. Whether you are or not, you look pretty miserable right now." As he spoke, Ethan had already gotten dressed and picked up his car keys from the nightstand.

He was about to help Pearl up when his phone rang. Ethan glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered. Whatever the person on the other end said made Ethan frown slightly before he let out a helpless laugh.

After ending the call, he turned to Pearl. "Vivian's watching a horror movie alone, and she's terrified..."

Under the lamplight, Ethan's expression showed hesitation.

Pearl understood what he wanted to say. "Go keep her company. I'm fine."

As she spoke, Ethan's phone rang again. The urgent ringtone seemed to press him forward.

He glanced at it and quickly stood up. After walking a few steps toward the door, he seemed to suddenly remember something.

His face showed a trace of guilt. "I'll take you to the hospital when I get back."

Watching the door close, Pearl smiled bitterly. When he got back? That was the most useless phrase. She did not like waiting.

The nausea made it impossible to sleep. Pearl simply sat up and pulled out the Arcanum aid program application form from the document folder.

She had been hesitant about going abroad. However, given the circumstances, she would inevitably run into Ethan after the divorce if she stayed in the capital after graduation. It was better to go abroad and gain some experience for a few years.

When she reached the marital status section of the form, she decisively wrote down 'single'.