My Ex-Husband Begged Me After I Vanished for 3 Years

Michael Stewart had promised to spend Catherine Wilson's birthday with her, but he never came home that night. Before leaving that morning, Michael had told her he had already ordered her favorite vanilla cake. He had promised that the moment he finished work, he would rush home with the cake and celebrate her birthday by her side. Catherine had been overjoyed and started preparing early. She had made a table full of Michael's favorite dishes, along with steak and red wine. But he vanished for the entire night, and no matter how many times she called, he never picked up. Catherine had felt disappointed, but she knew he was busy with work, so she never held it against him. However, when photos from an unknown number appeared on her phone, the confidence and trust she had placed in him completely fell apart. In the pictures, a woman whose face resembled Catherine's by 70% was sitting close beside Michael. The warm yellow lights of a private room filled the background. Both of them looked tipsy, and Michael's eyes carried the familiar softness and lazy affection that only appeared when he was drunk. The vanilla cake he had promised to bring her was also in the hands of the woman in the photo. Catherine's fingers tightened around her phone. The last bit of hope she had desperately held onto slowly turned to ice inside her. Just then, her phone rang. It was Michael calling. With trembling hands, Catherine answered, but the voice that came through wasn't Michael's. It was a woman's voice. "Michael got drunk at the welcome party. Could you come pick him up?" Catherine tightened her grip on the phone, her voice trembling. "Who is this?" The woman on the other end let out a soft laugh and didn't answer. "Did you get the photos? I came back today. Michael was so happy that he drank a little more than usual." It was Selena Scott, Michael's ex-girlfriend, who had broken up with him when she went abroad! After Selena left, Michael had spent countless nights drinking himself numb. Catherine had been the one who stayed beside him and helped him survive those darkest days. But now Selena had returned, and Michael had forgotten all the pain from the past and fallen back into her arms! Catherine's voice became strained. "Why are you doing this?" Selena sounded completely unconcerned. "Michael is your husband. I was only being kind enough to tell you where he was. You didn't know he was here, did you?" Her words struck Catherine like a hard slap. She was right. As Michael's wife, Catherine didn't even know where he was. He had broken his promise, and all she could do was sit at home and wait for him like an abandoned fool. Selena didn't wait for her reply. She laughed first. Catherine's silence had already given her the answer. "I'll send you the address. You'll come, won't you?" Even though Catherine knew this call was nothing more than a deliberate provocation, she still drove there. She wanted an explanation. Even if Michael had betrayed her, she wanted to hear him admit it himself. She was still waiting for a reason, no matter how painful it might be. She didn't want to believe it without hearing it from him. Catherine drove to the bar. The moment she pushed open the door to the private room, the conversation inside reached her ears. One of Michael's friends spoke first. "Michael, you went all out to welcome Selena back. Aren't you worried Catherine will get angry and divorce you?" Michael held his wine glass and answered indifferently, "She won't get angry. She won't divorce me either." Another friend laughed and joined in. "Don't you know why Michael married Catherine in the first place? Isn't her face just a less impressive copy of Selena's? Now that Selena is back, it's only natural for Catherine to give up her place." Before he could say another word, Michael's friend Zayn Ford interrupted him. "Can't all this food keep you from talking nonsense?" But it was already too late. Catherine had heard every word. The private room instantly went quiet when she appeared, leaving everyone trapped in an uncomfortable silence. She had hoped Michael would say something, anything, even a simple explanation on her behalf. But in the end, she heard nothing. Her eyes burned, but she refused to let herself look pathetic. She acted as though she hadn't heard a thing and lightly tapped his shoulder. "Let's go home." Michael's lashes fluttered. When he opened his eyes and saw her standing there, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Hi, Catherine." Those two simple words softened a corner of Catherine's heart that had been frozen solid. She looked at him and asked quietly, "Can you get up by yourself?" Michael reached out and held onto her hand, relying on her support as he slowly stood. Together, they walked toward the exit and unexpectedly came face to face with Selena, who was sitting in her wheelchair. Their gazes met, and Catherine stared at the face that looked so much like her own. A wave of embarrassment and pain washed over her. Selena smiled with gentle elegance. "It's all because of me. Michael only drank so much because he kept helping me block those drinks. I'm sorry you had to come all this way." Her warm smile brought back the humiliation Catherine had felt during that phone call. She took a deep breath and replied coldly, "Michael is my husband. Looking after him is something I should do." Selena moved aside and gave them room to pass. Standing in front of Michael, she no longer showed the sharpness she had displayed over the phone. With Catherine supporting him, Michael walked past Selena's wheelchair and reached out to pat her head. "I've already arranged a place for you to stay. The driver will take you there. Remember to tell me when you get home." Selena nodded, the smile on her face becoming even brighter. Catherine's eyes turned damp, but she still didn't push Michael away. She helped him into the car and drove him home. Her thoughts were a mess, and she remained silent throughout the journey. Michael was drunk beyond reason and didn't speak either. After they got home, Catherine helped him onto the bed. She was about to get a warm towel to clean his face, but the moment she turned around, he caught her hand. Michael pulled her back onto the bed and held her tightly in his arms. "Don't leave." Catherine was unwilling to let go of this familiar warmth, so she didn't resist. Yet a deep sense of hurt remained inside her. She couldn't forget how carefully he had taken care of Selena, from throwing her a welcome party to arranging a home for her. She raised her eyes and asked softly, "Michael, do you love me?" "I do." His eyes remained closed, but he still found her eyes and kissed them. He had once said that her eyes were the thing he loved most about her. But now Catherine wanted to know whether he truly loved her, or whether he only loved the memory of Selena. Before she could ask, he tightened his arms around her. When Catherine tried to pull away, he brushed his nose against her cheek. His alcohol-filled voice was hoarse, carrying an unmistakable tenderness. "Don't leave me, Selena."