He Thought I’d Always Stay—Then the Countdown Hit Zero Chapter 05

He Thought I’d Always Stay—Then the Countdown Hit Zero Chapter 05

Ethan spun toward the bedroom.

The door was half-open.

He rushed inside and yanked open the closet.

Nearly half of it was empty.

My pajamas, several work outfits, and my gray carry-on suitcase were gone.

But the expensive skincare products still sat on the vanity.

The diamond rings and necklaces he had given me remained inside the jewelry box.

Ethan stood frozen, his chest heaving.

He pulled out his phone and called me.

The automated message told him the line was busy.

He called again.

The same message played.

He finally realized I had blocked him.

At three in the morning, someone began hammering on Rachel’s doorbell.

I sat on the couch, staring blankly into a cup of hot tea.

Rachel looked through the peephole and sneered.

“Your perfect husband is here.”

I didn’t move.

I took another sip of tea.

“Don’t open the door.”

Rachel nodded and returned to her bedroom.

The knocking grew louder, accompanied by Ethan’s restrained shouts.

Natalie! I know you’re in there!”

“Open the door. We need to talk!”

“You’re divorcing me just because I didn’t pick you up last night? How can you be so unreasonable?”

His indignation was unmistakable.

In his mind, I had only stormed out in anger.

Just like every other time he had neglected me, he believed a few gentle words would make me forgive him.

A thin metal door separated us.

I listened to his breathing become increasingly agitated.

“I threw away the outdoor jacket! I made Chloe get rid of the humidifier too. Is that enough?”

“Stop this and come home with me!”

He thought I cared about those objects.

I stood and walked to the door.

Through the thin panel, I spoke softly.

“Ethan.”

The noise outside stopped immediately.

He pressed himself closer to the door.

“Natalie, you’re finally willing to talk to me.”

“I’m not coming home,” I said calmly.

“I’ve already signed the agreement. Sign it when you have time, and we’ll go to the Riverton County Family

Court Clerk’s Office next week.”

“Are you insane?” Ethan’s voice shot up.

“You’re divorcing me over a jacket and a humidifier?”

“Did seven years of marriage mean nothing to you?”

I smiled.

But there was no warmth in it.

“That’s right. They mean nothing.”

“Ethan, leave. You’re disturbing the neighbors.”

Deathly silence followed.

I could almost picture his stunned, furious, uncomprehending expression.

After a long moment, he spoke through clenched teeth.

“Fine, Natalie. You’d better not regret this.”

His footsteps faded away.

I looked at the clock on the wall.

It was four in the morning.

Without the countdown tormenting me, I finally slept well.

The next morning, I stepped out of the elevator and found Ethan waiting in the lobby of my office building.

His eyes were bloodshot, and dark stubble covered his jaw.

He clearly hadn’t slept all night.

The moment he saw me, he strode over and grabbed my wrist.

“Natalie, stop this.”

His voice softened, carrying the careful restraint of a man convinced he was making a generous concession.

“There’s really nothing between Chloe and me. I went there to save her last night.”

“I gave her a serious reprimand. I’ll also find a way to fix the project.”

I looked down at his hand around my

wrist.

But all I could think about was the countdown above his head moving backward.

So when the fear of losing me finally outweighed his endless sympathy, his love could return.

But it was too late.

“Let go.”

I looked at him coldly.

His fingers stiffened.

He had never seen me look at him that way.

“Natalie…”

A bright voice sounded nearby.

“Mr. Hayes?”

I turned.

Chloe stood a few yards away with two cups of coffee, surprise written across her face.

She looked from Ethan to me.

“Natalie, what’s wrong?”

She hurried over, wearing an innocent, concerned expression.

“Are you angry with Mr. Hayes because of what happened yesterday?”

“This is all my fault. Mr. Hayes is a good man. Please don’t blame him.”

She pushed one of the coffees toward Ethan.

“Mr. Hayes, you didn’t sleep at all last night. Have some coffee.”

Ethan looked at the cup, then at me.

His grip on my wrist loosened instinctively.

“Chloe, what are you doing here?”

She smiled naturally.

“I’m delivering documents to a client. I happened to be nearby, and I saw your car outside, so I picked up two

coffees.”

Happened to.

Always happened to.

I looked at Ethan.

“Your devoted assistant brought you coffee. Go drink it.”

I turned toward the security gates.

Ethan stood frozen.

He looked down at the coffee in his hand and suddenly seemed to find it unbearably hot.

“Get out!”

He violently slapped the cup away.

Dark brown liquid splashed across the floor and onto Chloe’s white sneakers.

She jumped back, staring at him in disbelief.

“M-Mr. Hayes?”

Ethan ignored her.

His eyes red, he rushed over and blocked my path again.

“Natalie! What do I have to do to make this right?”

“Was I supposed to stand there and watch her die?”

I stared at his face, twisted with anger.

“Ethan.”

I spoke each word clearly.

“You don’t have to watch her die.”

“You only have to let me go.”

“We’re over.”