He Left Me Waiting for Three Years. So I Left Him Forever Chapter 03

He Left Me Waiting for Three Years. So I Left Him Forever Chapter 03

The doorbell rang, and Ethan went to answer it.

Serena stood outside in a white dress, playfully waving Ethan’s phone at him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I came to return your phone. Grandma called me herself and made me promise I’d bring it over.”

Ethan’s tone was light, and the smile on his face mirrored Serena’s.

In three short years, they had developed the easy familiarity and matching expressions of a married couple.

Except I was his wife.

Ethan’s eyes dropped to Serena’s bare shoulders, and he frowned.

“Wait here.”

He walked past me, crossed the living room, and disappeared into the guest room. When he returned, he was carrying a shawl.

“I’ll take her home. You should go to bed.”

The last sentence was directed at me.

“Are you coming back?”

“Of course.”

He shook out the shawl and draped it over Serena’s shoulders with practiced ease.

It was a warm shade of yellow, covered in tiny flowers, exactly the kind of color Serena loved.

“It’s pretty,” I said.

Serena smiled.

“Ethan bought it for me. He has such good taste. Claire, you should make him go shopping with you next time.”

“Did he choose that white dress for you, too?”

“Yeah. Do you like it?”

“It looks good on you.”

A week before Ethan and I went to the county clerk’s office for our marriage license, I told him I wanted to buy a white dress and asked him to come with me.

He made excuse after excuse.

When I finally pressed the issue, he snapped, “What man actually enjoys shopping?”

Apparently, the problem had never been shopping.

It had only been the woman asking him to go.

The elevator arrived, and Ethan left with Serena.

Once again, I was alone in the apartment.

A while later, I sent him a message.

[Come home early. I need to talk to you.]

His reply arrived moments later.

[About what? Serena’s afraid of the dark, so I might be late. Just tell me now.]

[Are you in love with Serena?]

[What are you talking about? She’s just a friend.]

[You go shopping with her and take her to visit Grandma. You’ve never shopped with me or taken me there once. She acts more like your wife than I do.]

A few seconds later, Ethan called.

“You’re seriously misunderstanding us over something like this?”

“I’m not misunderstanding anything. I’m telling you what I see.”

“Fine. I should’ve been more considerate,” he said. “Serena told me you have a hard time feeling secure in relationships. We’ve been apart for three years, so I understand why you’d get the wrong idea. I’m not blaming you.”

“She told you that?”

“That’s not the point. The point is, you’re the one I married. We’re going to have years and years together.”

His voice suddenly grew rushed.

“Serena just got back with takeout. We really need to go.”

“Don’t overthink this. I’ll be home soon.”

Years and years?

Didn’t three years count?

He had spent those three years with Serena in Southport while I lived alone in Northbridge.

I came home alone, went to work alone, and cared for his grandmother alone.

“That was long enough,” I whispered.

He didn’t come home that night.

The next morning, as I was getting ready to go to work and submit my resignation, Ethan walked in.

“You didn’t come home last night?”

“It got too late, and I didn’t want to wake you, so I slept on her couch. You’re not mad, are you?”

“No.”

“Oh, and it’s Grandma’s birthday today. She invited Serena. You don’t mind, right?”

“No.”

“That’s my Claire. Always so understanding.”

It wasn’t because I was understanding.

I simply didn’t care anymore.

When I got home from work at six that evening, Grandma and Serena were already there.

Serena sat beside Grandma, with Ethan on her other side.

I paused in the doorway.

Before I could close the door, a gust of cold air swept into the apartment. Ethan’s attention went straight to Serena. He frowned, took off his jacket, and draped it around her shoulders.

“Close the door!”

His tone was sharp.

I quietly closed the door and sat as far away from the three of them as I could.

“Two Serenas?” Grandma asked, her confusion returning.

“Grandma, I’m Serena,” Serena corrected her with a smile.

“Oh, look at me, getting confused again. Serena, you’re finally back. Ethan waited such a long time for you.”

“Yes, I’m back.”

“When are the two of you getting married? I’ve already put money aside for your wedding.”

“Grandma, you’re confused. Claire is Ethan’s wife.”

Serena corrected her, but she made no move to pull away when Grandma took her hand and Ethan’s and pressed them together.

“It’s getting late. I’ll make dinner.” Ethan got to his feet. “What does everyone want?”

The question was directed at all of us, but he was looking only at Serena.

“I want garlic shrimp,” she said.

Ethan frowned.

“You’re not supposed to eat much seafood. You know that.”

Serena ducked her head and gave him a coaxing smile.

“I’ll love anything you make.”

His expression softened. He shot her a look that was half warning, half affection.

Their exchange was casual and intimate, the kind born from countless ordinary days together.

They behaved as though this apartment were simply another home they shared, this time in Northbridge.

Serena glanced at me.

“You haven’t asked Claire what she wants.”

“She’s not as difficult as you. She’ll eat anything.”

Would I?

He had simply never taken the time to learn what I liked.