Chapter 2

In a daze, the vibration of my phone pulled me back to reality.

Emily sent me another voice message.

“Ethan, are you dead or deaf? I asked you to deliver the beef noodles, and it’s been half an hour already. You’re completely useless.”

I replied with a cold laugh.

“If you two are in such a hurry, why don’t you go get them yourselves? Is it because you’re too busy fooling around in the hotel?”

Emily exploded with rage.

“Don’t be sarcastic with me! Ryan went through such a terrifying experience yesterday. Of course I need to comfort him properly. He’s only like this because you scared him by threatening to report him. Why are you determined to drive Ryan into a dead end? It was only a scrape! Can’t he just rest for a few days?”

The anger in my heart finally broke free.

“Fine. Come find me here, and I’ll agree not to hold Ryan responsible.”

I gave a cold laugh and sent Emily the funeral hall’s address. I wanted her to see with her own eyes just how serious the “scrape” she kept talking about really was.

Emily was so desperate to help Ryan that she reached the funeral hall in less than forty minutes.

She stormed in wearing high heels, but then she saw me dressed in mourning clothes, with my mother’s portrait displayed in the center of the room.

Emily’s face instantly turned pale, and she stared at me in panic.

“How is that possible? How could your mother have died? It was only a scrape…”

I pressed my lips together, took the death certificate from my bag, and handed it to her.

“I have no reason to joke with you about my mother’s life. After you two left yesterday, the doctor announced that she hadn’t made it.”

“Ryan lied to you. He wasn’t driving thirty miles per hour. He was driving seventy-five.”

Emily staggered, then collapsed weakly to the floor, repeating over and over that it was impossible.

After all, everyone had seen how good my mother had been to her over the years.

This time, Emily didn’t act impatient. She completed every part of the farewell ceremony with me, and no matter how many times Ryan called her, she refused to answer.

When we returned home that night, she didn’t go her separate way from me as usual. For the first time, she took the initiative and asked me to bring her home.

Neither of us spoke during the drive.

After an exhausting day, my limbs felt weak in a way I couldn’t even describe.

After showering, I lay down on the bed. Emily, who had slept in a separate bed from me for a long time, unexpectedly climbed into mine and wrapped her arms around my waist from behind.

My heart lifted, and even my depression from that day eased a little.

“Ethan, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

I turned around and saw the conflicted expression on Emily’s face.

“What is it? Just say it. We’ve been married for years.”

Emily looked up at me and hesitated before speaking.

“Can you not sue Ryan? Your mother has already passed away. Why drag Ryan into this? Besides, Ryan already knows he was wrong.”

I froze, then abruptly sat up.

“What did you say?”

Emily grew slightly impatient.

“Why are you getting so worked up? Your mother was already so old. Her death wasn’t exactly unexpected. But Ryan is only in his twenties. Can’t you think about his future?”

I trembled with rage and forced down the emotions about to explode.

“So everything you did today was just to make me forgive Ryan? Forget it. My mother died unjustly. I will get justice for her no matter what!”

After saying that, I ignored Emily.

She rose furiously and walked into the living room. Then, as if venting her anger, she threw my mother’s portrait onto the floor. The glass in the frame shattered everywhere.

I knelt down and picked up the shards one by one, allowing them to cut into my palms.

“Emily, let’s get a divorce.”

Emily let out a light laugh. She raised my chin with the tip of her shoe, her voice dripping with mockery.

“Ethan, you’re nothing but my dog. Just because you’ve stayed by my side for a few years, do you really think you’re too good for me now? I married you because I pitied you. What right do you have to ask for a divorce?”

“Let me tell you something. A dog has to obey its owner, or it might get abandoned.”

With that, Emily kicked me hard in the shoulder. I lowered my head in pain, while she sneered and walked away.

The door slammed shut behind her. I wiped away my tears, carefully lifted my mother’s portrait, and brushed the dust from it.

This time, I was completely disappointed in Emily.