Chapter 1
The day I returned, an airline official said there was a problem with my luggage.
20:21
They led me to a private room. When the door opened, the scent of roses overwhelmed me–the floor cove- red in red petals.
And there was Ethan, my Ethan, the man I once thought was the love of my life, kneeling with a ring, his eyes
full of longing.
The Grant family erupted in cheers. “Marry him! Say yes!”
Everyone expected me to cry and whisper “I do.” After all, I’d spent five years worshipping him before he noticed me.
But they’d forgotten.
Forgotten how, three years ago, Ethan accused me of plagiarizing his protégé’s work. Forgotten how he rep-
orted me for alcoholism, blaming me for a patient’s death.
I was for
Was thrown out like trash, beaten by the grieving family outside. With every door closed, I fled the country to rebuild my life.
Now, Ethan’s father claimed, “He spent everything to clear your name. He’s waited for you, crying over your
photo.”
I stayed silent, my gaze drifting to my bag–to the marriage certificate inside.
1
“That whole incident was a huge mess, Audrey. You had to give him time to sort things out. Why did you just
run off in a huff?”
“He’s been a wreck these past three years because you left without a word. He barely eats, barely sleeps. He‘
s torn this city apart looking for you.‘
From the moment I’d been ushered into this room, Mr. Grant had been clinging to my hand, his words a rele-
ntless stream. He had aged considerably in three years. The sharp, judgmental glare he used to give me–the
one that screamed I wasn’t good enough for his son–was gone, replaced by a weary sadness.
But his words were still as sharp as ever. He was trying to paint his son as a tragic romantic hero, but all I
heard was blame.
Honestly, the name ‘Ethan‘ sounded foreign to me now. Three years is a long time. More than enough to
in the first place.
wash away a past that was never worth rememberin
It was obvious they had no idea I was married.
I gently pulled my hand from Mr. Grant’s grasp, my expression a placid mask.
20:21
20.21
Chapter 1
“Mr. Grant, Ethan and I ended things three years ago. I don’t understand why you’re telling me any of this.”
The Grants stared at me, their faces a collective mask of disbelief. This was not the reaction they had antic- ipated from the girl who once would have done anything for Ethan.
The girl who had thrown away an acceptance letter from Johns Hopkins just to work at the same city hospi- tal as him.
Just to be near him. Just to take care of him.
Being a doctor is a grueling profession, but I made sure he had three home–cooked meals a day. I took on his extra surgeries to ease his workload, even when I was so exhausted I could barely stand by the end of my own shifts. I even put his name on my research papers so he could get promoted faster, forcing myself. through sleepless night after sleepless night, my body growing paler and more fragile.
But when Ethan finally accepted my proposal, none of it mattered. It was all worth it.
Suddenly, my life was a dream. I’d return to my office to find a hot coffee on my desk, a small note with his sweet words scrawled on it. When a patient’s family got aggressive, he would step in, a solid wall of protect- ion. As our wedding day approached, we’d spend hours planning our honeymoon, picking out venues toget- her. He once fought with the hospital director just to get a day off so we could go try on wedding dresses.
I remember the look in his eyes as I twirled on the platform in a cloud of white lace–pure, unadulterated adoration. Even the shop assistant sighed, “I’ve never seen a couple so in love.”
Back then, I truly believed I must have saved a nation in a past life to deserve a man like him.
And then, a new doctor transferred to our department. Her name was Chloe.
From that day on, Ethan stopped talking about the wedding. The coffee on my desk disappeared.
中
At first, I told myself he was just busy, mentoring the new subordinate. I didn’t want to bother him. But then the venue coordinator called, saying they needed Ethan’s final signature. I had no choice but to knock on his office door.
He sighed, annoyed. “It’s such a hassle. Can’t you just sign for me?”
O
But when I arrived at the venue, the coordinator handed me two contracts.
One for me. And one for Chloe.
The groom’s name on both was Ethan Grant.
