I Understand His Regret, So I Replaced Him Too Chapter 03

I Understand His Regret, So I Replaced Him Too Chapter 03

That evening, Sullivan came home.

We’d been sleeping in separate rooms for a while now. He and that woman had set up a whole other household somewhere.

I never understood why he still insisted on coming back to this house every day.

We sat across the dinner table from each other. Neither of us spoke. Just the occasional clink of silverware.

He put a piece of short rib on my plate.

I didn’t refuse it.

But by the time I finished the rest of my meal, that piece of meat was still sitting there untouched.

“Your birthday’s next week,” he said. “I want to throw you a party. Invite some friends and throw a party.”

“Do whatever you want,” I said. “But I have a dinner thing that night. Won’t be here.”

He finally looked at me, something tired in his eyes.

“Elara. Do you have to be like this?”

“Like what?”

He paused. “I just want us to make this work.”

I put down my fork. “Sully. Have you ever thought about divorce?”

“No.” He answered fast.

“You don’t want to give Daphne a real place in your life? She’s been with you all these years with no title, no official place in your life. Doesn’t she deserve better than that?”

He frowned. “Elara, I told you. I don’t love her. I just feel for her.”

“The only person I’ve ever loved is you.”

“She reminds me of you. That’s all. I want her to be happy. I want her to have a good life.”

“That’s it.”

He meant it. He wasn’t lying.

He never really lied to me. At most, he just hid Daphne’s existence at the beginning.

When I found out, he admitted it openly.

I asked him to stay away from her. He said yes at first.

Then later, he told me he couldn’t.

He said he couldn’t watch her struggle and do nothing. He had to help.

I completely broke down, screaming, sobbing, drowning in despair.

He just held on to me, letting me hit him, kick him, whatever I needed.

Eventually, I ran out of fight.

He thought that meant I’d accepted it. He tested the waters by bringing Daphne to meet me once.

She had the same build as me. The same look of utter trust and dependence she gave him. Just like I used to.

That night, I drew a bath and cut my wrists.

If they hadn’t found me in time, I’d be nothing but ash and dust by now.

After that, Daphne never came near me again.

Sullivan walked on eggshells around me. He took better care of me than before, because he terrified I’d try to hurt myself again. He barely let me out of his sight.

A few times he drifted off despite himself, only to jolt awake in a panic and immediately check that I was still breathing.

I knew he was exhausted.

But what did that matter?

No matter how tired or worn out he was, he could always go to Daphne. She’d hold him. Soothe him.

But what about me? Who was there to hold me when I broke?