Fallen Leaves And Faded Love

Chapter 2 Being Rejected by Ethan

The bed reeked of Amber, so Susan spent the night sitting on the carpet, crying silently until dawn.

At first light, her phone rang—Jensen's domineering voice blaring. "Where are you? Ethan has a fever! Get over here now!"

Maternal instinct took over, and Susan rushed to the hospital. In the taxi, she scrolled through social media and froze at a vet's post. Doctor: Late-night emergency for a "blood-vomiting" cat. It turns out she just ate dragon fruit! Such a lucky little cat with a loving family.

The photo showed Jensen, Amber, and Ethan huddled over a Ragdoll cat, smiling warmly. Susan's chest ached sharply.

When Ethan was born premature with a weak immune system, she had given up her beloved cat of six years to protect him and avoided pets ever since—and Jensen knew it, yet he had let Ethan play with Amber's cat, deliberately making him sick.

Susan burst into the hospital room to find Ethan burning up with a fever. She reached for a cup of water, but he slapped it away violently. "I don't want you! I want Amber!"

The glass shattered, shards skittering across the floor. Jensen glared at her, his voice laced with contempt. "Look at what a useless mother you are! Even my secretary is better with him."

Susan knelt silently, picking up the broken pieces, her fingers pricked and bleeding, but she felt no pain. She fetched a new cup, forcing calm into her voice. "Ethan, you have to take your medicine if you want to feel better. You're seven years old—you know this."

Ethan burst into tears, coughing hysterically. "You always scold me! I want Amber!"

Jensen stepped forward accusingly. "Are you throwing a fit at me? Why didn't you follow us right away after we left? Look how sick Ethan is now! Is this how you want to prove how important you are?!"

"You abandoned me on that ship!" Susan snapped, finally losing control. "Jensen, I'm your wife, not your servant!"

"You never talked back to me before," he snarled. "Is this because I took your shares?"

Susan laughed bitterly. "Well, people change. You once never lied to me either."

Jensen paled slightly, then hardened. "I'll fire her for the sake of those shares… but she'll move in as Ethan's private tutor. He's in elementary school now. He needs a live-in tutor."

'A private tutor?' Susan's heart sank sharply.

"I can tutor him myself," Susan protested.

Jensen sneered dismissively. "You're just a college graduate. How can you pull that off? Amber has a PhD. Ethan can't even read the alphabet right because of you."

Memories flooded back—all those late nights tutoring Ethan, Susan's mother-in-law sneering that Ethan had inherited her "stupid genes," Ethan blaming her for his struggles, wishing for a mother with a higher degree.

It turned out that he had wanted Amber all along.

Before she could argue, Jensen cut her off. "Are you going to blame my mother again? Susan, I married you for peace at home, not to stir up trouble. I'm so busy every day, and now I still have to sort out our child's studies for you? If you can't do it, we'll find someone else! Also, this is not a request. It's an announcement."

Susan's voice shook. "You promised to fire her, then move her into our home! Is this for Ethan, or for you?" She nearly pulled out her phone, ready to expose those obscene photos on the spot.

Jensen flushed with rage, his tone turning harsh. "Susan! I've spoiled you too much! How could you turn into such a jealous shrew?"

He grabbed his phone and called Amber, his voice softening instantly.

Minutes later, Amber swept in, cooing at Ethan and feeding him medicine gently. The boy who had fought Susan moments before obeyed Amber instantly, smiling sweetly. "Thank you, Amber. Can you stay?"

Amber squeezed Ethan's hand and cooed softly, "I won't leave. I'll stay right here with you."

Susan stood outside the door, watching the fake scene of familial love, pain gnawing at her bones.

She had nearly died from an amniotic fluid embolism in this very hospital seven years ago, spending two weeks in the ICU fighting for her life.

Jensen had canceled all his work, camping outside the ICU day and night, terrified of missing visiting hours. When she was discharged, he had handed her the 20% share transfer papers, eyes red with tears, swearing to protect her for the rest of his life.

Not only had she lost those shares, but she also couldn't take care of her own child, reduced to a stranger peering through a c***k in the door.