Chapter 6 - THE HUSBAND WHO FINALLY CAME HOME
Ethan returned to our penthouse six days after the dinner.
I was packing.
He stopped in the doorway.
“Maren.”
I looked up.
“Hello.”
He stared at the suitcase.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
His expression changed.
“Where?”
“Somewhere else.”
He stepped closer.
“Maren, please.”
I folded a sweater.
“Please what?”
He swallowed.
“Don't do this.”
I laughed softly.
“Ethan, you had an affair for eight months.”
“I know.”
“You lied about business travel.”
“I know.”
“You charged personal expenses to the company.”
His jaw tightened.
“That was a mistake.”
I looked at him.
“A mistake?”
He stared.
I continued.
“A mistake is forgetting an anniversary.”
I closed the suitcase.
“Eight months is a decision.”
Ethan looked down.
For a moment, he seemed genuinely ashamed.
Then he whispered, “I love you.”
I felt something inside me twist.
For years, those words had been enough.
Enough to make me forgive.
Enough to make me wait.
Enough to make me doubt myself.
Now they sounded tired.
I looked at him.
“Do you?”
He nodded.
“Of course.”
“Then why did you tell Celeste our marriage was only a business arrangement?”
He looked away.
“I was angry.”
“For eight months?”
Silence.
I picked up my suitcase.
Ethan stepped aside.
At the door, he whispered:
“Are you really leaving me?”
I turned.
“No, Ethan.”
His eyes lifted.
May you like
“You left our marriage long before I packed a suitcase.”
Then I walked out.
