He Left Me Waiting for Three Years. So I Left Him Forever Chapter 04

He Left Me Waiting for Three Years. So I Left Him Forever Chapter 04

Dinner was a full spread: sautéed green beans, poached shrimp, chicken-and-herb soup, and glazed pork ribs.

Ethan took Grandma’s bowl and filled it with soup.

“Here you go, Grandma. I saved you the biggest drumstick, just the way you like it.”

Then he placed a few ribs on Serena’s plate.

“Don’t eat too much. Your doctor told you to cut back on meat.”

When it was my turn, he seemed to have no idea what to say. After a moment of silence, he spooned some green beans onto my plate.

Serena laughed lightly.

“Does Claire really like vegetables that much?”

“I told you, Claire isn’t picky. She’ll eat anything.”

But I had never liked cooked greens.

Grandma caught Ethan by the arm and pulled him into his chair, then placed a rib in his bowl.

“Stop fussing over everyone else. Sit down and eat.”

“Grandma, he never wants anything rich right after he’s been cooking,” Serena said. “The smell of all that food makes him lose his appetite.”

“Then what should he do?”

“It only lasts for a little while. A bowl of light broth always settles his stomach.”

As she spoke, she pushed a bowl of broth toward Ethan.

Three years had given him enough time to learn everything about Serena, and she had learned just as much about him.

I felt like a stranger sitting at their table.

I hadn’t even known Ethan could cook, much less that he always drank light broth after preparing a meal.

He was finally home, yet I had never felt farther away from him.

After dinner, I went into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Serena gathered up the plates and followed me inside.

“Claire.”

“Yes?”

“I saw the divorce notice the court published.”

“And?”

“I just wanted to tell you that you’ve misunderstood Ethan. “If I hadn’t gotten sick, he never would’ve—”

“Never would’ve what?”

She faltered.

“We’re not what you think we are.”

“And what exactly do I think you are?”

“We’re just friends.”

“Then as his friend, why didn’t you tell him about the notice?”

Serena froze and looked away.

“I was sick. I needed him.”

“I’ve seen your vlogs. Tell me something. If you were in my position, what would you think you were watching? Two friends? A couple? Or a married couple?”

“Nothing inappropriate has ever happened between us,” she said defensively. “He’s never done anything to betray you. Not once.”

“So none of this counted as betrayal?”

“We’re just friends,” she repeated.

She turned to leave, then stopped in the doorway.

“I brought the potting soil Ethan asked for. Use it or don’t. That’s up to you.”

A few moments later, laughter drifted in from the living room.

I dried my hands and stepped out onto the balcony.

The seedling was still lying on the balcony floor beside a small bag of dark potting soil.

The seedling had come through Serena.

So had the soil.

The only thing that belonged to me was the empty flowerpot.

Ethan had been home for barely two days, but traces of Serena had already spread through every corner of the apartment.

I returned to the living room and sat quietly in one corner.

The laughter gradually faded.

Ethan stood, Serena’s purse already in his hand.

“Come on. I’ll drive you home.”

Then he looked at me.

“Can you take Grandma back to the care facility?”

“Why are you taking Serena home instead of me?”

“I thought you couldn’t stand her.”

So he knew.

He had known all along.

I smiled.

“All right.”

Grandma remained quiet during most of the drive. Just before we reached the care facility, she suddenly spoke.

“Serena left back then because she didn’t want to become a burden to Ethan. Otherwise, you never would’ve had a chance.”

My hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“I know.”

“Now that Ethan’s home, you should put all this behind you and make the marriage work.”

I didn’t answer.

When we arrived, a nurse helped Grandma back to her room.

I turned and walked toward the nurses’ station.

“Ms. Bennett, is there something you need?” the nurse asked.

“Yes. I’d like to change Grandma’s emergency contact.”

“Of course. Who should we list instead?”

“Ethan Carter. He’s her biological grandson.”

The nurse entered the information into the system.

“All right. It’s been updated.”