Lonely Wife

Chapter 2

The next day, Ethan asked me about it again. With no way to dodge him, I finally found what he had told me to use and went over to the basin.

But the moment I opened the box, a sharp briny stench rushed out.

I looked closer and realized both giant geoduck clams were already dead. The parts that had been sticking out had gone limp. Disgusted, I picked one up, took a photo, and sent it to Ethan.

Ava: Can't use them. They're dead.

Ethan sounded deeply disappointed when he replied.

Ethan: Oh.

After that, he sent me sea cucumber, spoon worm, and all sorts of long, strange things from the sea. Unfortunately, none of them survived past the second day.

Three months later, Ethan finally came home on shore leave.

This time, he dragged back a waist-high marine tank. The entire thing was sealed from the outside.

I caught the heavy briny smell coming from it and asked, half joking and half uneasy, "Did you bring back a mermaid?"

He didn't deny it.

Instead, he gave a foolish little chuckle, cleared out the unused bathroom, dragged the tank inside, and locked the door.

Something about it felt wrong.

I followed him, only to hear violent splashing from behind the door, as if something huge was thrashing around inside.

What on earth had he brought home?

A chill crept up my spine. I knocked hard on the door.

"Honey, what are you doing in there?"

The struggling inside grew even louder. Ethan answered breathlessly, "Nothing. Don't come in."

A long time passed before he finally came out.

He was soaked from head to toe, with streaks of slime clinging to his clothes and skin. I stepped back in disgust.

"What is that?"

Ethan smiled mysteriously. His face was flushed, and there was an excitement in his eyes that made me uncomfortable.

"It's a prize catch," he said. "You'll understand later."

After that, he took a shower, then pulled me back to the bedroom as if nothing had happened.

We had been apart for so long that it didn't take much for old feelings to rise again. Ethan was more eager than usual, almost impatient. At first, I thought he had simply missed me.

But then, at the most unexpected moment, he suddenly pulled away.

A cold sensation brushed near me.

I opened my eyes and saw him holding a small bottle, carefully collecting something with a tense, focused expression.

My face went hot with embarrassment and confusion.

"What are you doing?"

Ethan startled so badly he almost dropped the bottle. He pressed a hand against me, trying to calm me down.

"Babe, I only need a little. It'll be over soon."

Once he finished, he sealed the bottle, got out of bed, and hurried into the big bathroom. Then he locked the door behind him.

No matter how hard I knocked from outside, he refused to open it.