He Thought I Would Always Stay—Until I Disappeared

Chapter 2

Vivian's POV:

I returned to the apartment to pack my things.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Ethan and Chloe curled up on the couch playing a video game.

Chloe was wearing a dark gray silk robe from the matching set Ethan had commissioned for our third anniversary—the one I'd barely worn.

When she noticed my stare, Chloe scratched her head and smiled.

"Vivian, I spilled wine on my clothes, so I borrowed your robe. I hope you don't mind. Don't worry, I didn't touch anything else."

Ethan didn't even look up. He simply tugged her closer.

"Quit talking and get back in the game. It's your turn to lead the attack."

They sat so close that their elbows touched. I felt like the intruder in someone else's home.

In the past, I would've flipped the table and started a fight. Now I was only tired.

I walked around them and went straight into the bathroom.

The cleanser bottle on the shelf was empty, and the floral scent of a face oil I never used clung to it.

I opened the side cabinet for a spare, and the sight inside made my eyes sting.

Matching toothbrush holders, identical bottles of body wash, paired towels, and an unopened set of electric toothbrushes filled the cabinet.

Even the face cream I used every day had been shoved so far into the back that it was almost hidden.

Everything belonged to Chloe.

Only then did I realize that for the past 6 months, Chloe had been showing up every few days under the pretense of job hunting.

She had started by inviting herself to meals, then began staying overnight. Little by little, she had taken over my space in this house.

Whenever she said she had no parents, and no one cared about her, Ethan gave in.

Somewhere along the way, I had become the one with no place in my own home.

"Vivian? Why have you been in there so long?"

Ethan's voice came through the door, gentle and concerned.

I wiped my face and stepped out.

He was holding a glass of freshly squeezed pineapple juice with a mint leaf tucked against the rim.

"I just made this. Try it. I didn't think things through today, and I know I hurt you. We can hold another engagement party and do it properly next time."

His voice softened, and he looked genuinely sorry. It was one of the rare times he had bothered to make peace.

'Here we go again.'

Whenever Ethan did something wrong, he believed a small gift and a few gentle words should be enough to erase it.

As long as I swallowed my anger and compromised, everything was fine. If I refused his peace offering, then I was the unreasonable one.

I didn't take the juice.

"Do you know what Chloe is allergic to?"

"Mangoes. Why?" he answered without hesitation.

"What about me?"

Ethan froze. His lips parted, but no answer came.

I gave a humorless smile and pushed the glass back toward him. Condensation slid down the sides and pooled on the table.

"Ethan, we've been together for 5 years. I'm allergic to pineapple, and you still can't remember."

"I..." Panic flickered across his face. "Next time, I swear I'll..."

Before he could finish, Chloe walked in carrying two mugs of milk.

"Vivian, have some warm milk and calm down."

She set them down and gave Ethan a meaningful look.

Ethan glanced at me, hesitating.

"Go ahead without me. I'll stay with Iris for a while."

Chloe hesitated for effect.

"But I can't win without you."

"Can't you see I'm trying to make things right with her? Go on."

I had watched the same performance too many times to care anymore.

I waved them away.

"Go play. I'm tired."

Ethan's eyes lit up before he quickly hid his relief.

"Get some rest, then. I'll only play for a little while, and then I'll come back."

I didn't answer. I lay down and closed my eyes.

When I woke the next morning, the other side of the bed was cold.

He had stayed away all night again.