Chapter 5 — Don’t Leave Me
1084 Words
Rain crashed against the streets in endless sheets of silver, Amelia sat frozen inside the taxi.
Ethan stood outside watching her. His expensive suit was completely soaked, and his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead. But he didn’t move.
He didn’t step back.
And for some reason… that unsettled Amelia more than if he had simply gotten angry.
The taxi driver glanced nervously between them. “Miss…”
Amelia swallowed. Her fingers tightened around her suitcase, and she forced herself to look at Ethan. “What do you want?”
His eyes stayed fixed on her. “To talk.”
Amelia almost laughed.
Talk?
Now?
After leaving her repeatedly?
After choosing Sophia over and over?
She looked away. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
Ethan’s expression darkened, and he opened the taxi door wider.
“Get out.”
Amelia’s chest tightened. “No.”
Silence.
Rain poured harder.
Then Ethan did something unexpected.
He leaned down slightly.
His voice lowered. “Please.”
The word hit her harder than anything else, because Ethan Black did not say please.
Ever.
Amelia stared at him. For a second, she almost thought she had imagined it.
But his expression remained controlled.
Too controlled.
Like whatever emotion existed underneath was being buried alive.
Slowly, Amelia stepped out.
The taxi drove away.
Leaving them standing alone beneath the rain.
Neither spoke.
Cars passed.
City lights reflected off wet roads.
Finally, Ethan spoke. “You left.”
Amelia looked at him quietly. “Yes.”
His jaw tightened. “Why?”
She stared at him.
And suddenly anger rose inside her.
Why?
He was asking why?
She laughed softly. “You really don’t know?”
Ethan remained silent.
Amelia inhaled shakily. “You left me on our wedding night.”
No response.
“You stood beside another woman.”
Still nothing.
“You answered her calls in front of me.” Her voice trembled now. “You made me feel like I was the one intruding into your life.”
Ethan’s expression shifted slightly, but Amelia continued. “You said you didn’t want this marriage.”
Silence.
Then quietly, “I don’t.”
Her face lost color instantly.
Ethan closed his eyes briefly.
Wrong answer.
Too late.
He corrected himself. “That’s not what I meant.”
But Amelia smiled sadly. “It’s okay.”
That smile hurt unexpectedly.
She looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not dramatic.
Just… tired.
And somehow that felt worse.
She looked down. “I know I wasn’t your choice.”
Ethan stared at her.
“I tried not to expect anything.” Her voice softened. “But I didn’t think it would hurt this much.”
His chest tightened strangely, and she continued quietly, “I kept telling myself if I was patient…”
Her voice cracked. “…maybe one day you’d see me.”
Ethan looked away slightly.
Something uncomfortable settled inside him.
Amelia laughed softly.
“But I finally understand.” Her eyes met his. “You already chose someone else.”
Silence.
Ethan had no answer.
Because once… that was true.
Sophia had been his entire world.
And now, he suddenly hated hearing Amelia say it aloud.
She looked down at her suitcase.
“So I’m leaving.” Then she said the words that made something inside him snap. “You don’t have to worry anymore.”
No.
His chest tightened unexpectedly.
That wasn’t.
No.
He stepped closer.
Amelia instinctively stepped back, which stopped him immediately.
His eyes lowered slightly.
She was afraid of him.
The realization unsettled him.
His voice came out quieter. “You can’t leave.”
Amelia frowned. “Why?”
His answer came instantly. “Because you’re my wife.”
She stared at him, then laughed bitterly.
That hurt him more than he expected.
Her eyes became glossy. “Only when it’s convenient?”
Ethan froze.
She continued, “When Sophia calls, she matters.”
His expression hardened. “That’s not.”
“But when I leave suddenly, I’m your wife?”
Silence.
Rain fell endlessly.
Then Amelia quietly asked, “If I disappeared tonight…” Her eyes met his. “…would you even miss me?”
The question hit harder than expected.
His mouth opened, but nothing came out. Because he didn’t know.
No.
That wasn’t true.
He knew.
He just didn’t want to admit it.
Amelia smiled weakly. “That’s enough of an answer.”
She picked up her suitcase, and walked past him.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Then suddenly, warm fingers wrapped around her wrist.
Amelia froze and turned lowly.
Ethan wasn’t looking at her.
His grip wasn’t painful, just firm. Like he didn’t know how to hold someone gently.
His voice came out low. “…Don’t go.”
The world seemed to stop.
Amelia stared.
Ethan still wasn’t looking at her.
Rain soaked both of them.
His jaw tightened, then finally he looked at her. And for the first time… there was something in his eyes she had never seen before.
Fear.
Not fear of losing control.
Fear of losing her.
His voice came quieter. “I…”
He stopped, like the words physically hurt.
Then finally, “Stay tonight.”
Amelia stared at him.
Her heart hurt.
Because even now, he couldn’t say:
Stay because I want you.
Stay because I care.
Just stay tonight.
Tears burned her eyes, and she slowly removed her wrist from his hand.
His fingers loosened immediately.
She whispered, “What happens tomorrow?”
Silence.
Ethan looked away.
And that was enough.
Amelia nodded, then quietly said, “I can’t keep choosing someone who never chooses me.”
She turned and walked away.
This time, Ethan didn’t stop her.
He stood there in the rain watching until her figure disappeared.
Then suddenly, his phone rang.
Daniel.
Ethan answered. “What?”
Daniel sounded confused. “Sir… the doctor called.”
Ethan frowned. “What doctor?”
“The one who checked Mrs. Black earlier.”
His chest tightened unexpectedly.
Daniel hesitated, then said, “Sir… there was something unusual in her blood report.”
Ethan’s expression changed instantly. “What are you talking about?”
Daniel took a breath, then quietly said, “They requested a pregnancy confirmation test.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Rain stopped mattering.
Traffic disappeared.
Ethan’s grip tightened around the phone, his voice turned dangerously quiet. “…Repeat that.”
And far away, Amelia sat in another taxi. Her hand was resting over her stomach.
Completely unaware… that tonight everything was about to change.
- Writer
