The Wife He Never Loved

Chapter 1

Chapter One – The Stranger I Married

The mornings in Ethan’s house had begun to feel like a punishment.

Not even a week had passed since June married the man she had loved her entire life, yet each sunrise seemed colder than the one before. The golden light filtering through the curtains should have felt warm, comforting even. But here, in this house, it was indifferent, almost mocking in its brightness.

The first days, she had woken up with hope in her chest, believing marriage would bring them closer. But hope, June quickly realized, was cruel. Every time she stretched out her hand toward him, she was met with silence. His eyes no longer lingered on her face, his words clipped, his warmth gone.

This morning was no different.

June sat at the dining table, her fingers curled tightly around a steaming cup of tea. The delicate porcelain trembled in her hands—not because the tea was hot, but because the man sitting across from her refused to even look up from his phone.

Ethan’s profile was sharp under the soft light of the chandelier. Once, that same profile had been her comfort—his smile the safest place she knew. But now, his lips pressed into a straight line, his brows faintly furrowed, as if her very presence annoyed him.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to bridge the endless silence.

He didn’t answer immediately. His thumb scrolled across the screen, eyes scanning whatever was more important than his wife. After what felt like forever, he muttered, “Fine.”

Just one word. Detached. Empty.

June’s chest tightened. She forced a smile, though it hurt. “I made breakfast. Your favorite—”

“I’m not hungry,” Ethan cut her off, finally placing his phone on the table but not sparing her a glance. He reached for his blazer, sliding it over his broad shoulders. “I’ll eat outside.”

Her lips parted, words dying on her tongue. She wanted to ask, Since when do you prefer outside meals over mine? But she couldn’t. The lump in her throat was too heavy.

He stood, towering over her, already adjusting his tie. Without a word of goodbye, Ethan walked out, leaving her alone in the silence that now seemed to fill every corner of their home.

The sound of the front door closing echoed like a cruel reminder: the boy who had once promised to never leave her side was now a stranger under the same roof.

June set the untouched tea down, her vision blurring. She pressed her hands together, as if praying to the memory of who he used to be.

Why, Ethan? Why are you like this now?

She leaned back in her chair, her voice breaking in a whisper only the walls could hear. “You weren’t always like this…”

And just like that, her heart drifted back in time.

⸻

Few Years Back

The sound of children laughing filled the neighborhood park. Summer sunlight spilled across the swings, slides, and patches of freshly cut grass. The air smelled of freshly mown grass and warm asphalt, carrying the faint tang of blooming flowers from nearby gardens.

June was only eight years old then, with long brown hair tied into two clumsy braids that bounced as she ran. Her sandals slapped against the pavement as she dashed toward the commotion at the edge of the park.

A tiny, shivering cat had somehow found itself trapped atop a low tree branch. Its fur was damp and matted, its mewing desperate and pitiful. June stopped short, clutching her hands together, panic tightening her chest.

“Please… somebody help it!” she cried, her voice trembling. She had never been particularly brave when it came to animals in trouble, but the sight of those wide, terrified eyes made her heart ache.

Behind her, a familiar voice called out, teasing but steady. “You’re going to hurt yourself again, June. You never think before running.”

She turned and saw Ethan—messy black hair falling into his bright blue eyes, a grin stretched across his face. At eight, he was already taller, more confident, the boy everyone liked. But for June, he was more than that. He was hers.

“The cat!” she pointed helplessly. “It’s stuck!”

Ethan jogged over, shaking his head as if she were the most troublesome person in the world. Without hesitation, he climbed the tree, his small hands gripping the bark like he had done it a hundred times before. June watched with wide eyes, half worried he would fall, half amazed at how fearless he was.

In seconds, he reached the branch, scooped up the trembling cat, and descended carefully. He handed it to June with a proud smirk, brushing dirt from his palms. The kitten purred softly, curling against her chest.

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Try not to cry next time—it might make the cat nervous.”

June giggled, hugging the little creature tightly. “You’re the best, Ethan! I don’t know what I’d do without you!”

He smirked. “Of course I am. What would you even do without me, dummy?”

The words slipped out naturally, the kind of childish honesty that came without fear. Ethan blinked, then laughed, reaching out to tug one of her braids.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be with you, June.”

That promise, spoken under the summer sun, settled deep in her little heart. To her, Ethan wasn’t just her neighbor, her classmate, or her friend. He was her safe place, her favorite person, the boy who made her believe in forever.

⸻

Back to Present

June pressed her hands against her lips, holding back a sob. The memory was too vivid, too cruel when compared to the cold silence of her dining table now.

Her Ethan—the boy who climbed trees for her, who promised to always be there—was gone.

All that remained was the man who walked out the door without a second glance.

She closed her eyes, willing herself to remember every tiny detail of him—the curve of his lips when he smiled, the way his hair always fell into his eyes just enough to be frustrating, the warmth of his hand when it brushed hers. Even his teasing words came back to her in a flood of longing.

It was unbearable, the contrast between past and present. How could the same person who once made her laugh until her stomach hurt now make her feel invisible under the same roof?

Her fingers traced the edge of the cup, gripping the porcelain so tightly that it left faint marks on her skin. She imagined wrapping her arms around him, holding him like she did that day in the park when he had saved the little cat, the memory of the fur warm in her hands.

“I’ll find him again. I have to…” she whispered, the words barely audible. Her voice trembled, but determination burned beneath the sorrow. “He’s still in there… somewhere. I won’t give up on him.”

June stood, setting the cup down carefully. The sunlight caught her hair, making it glow with the soft brown hues of summer past. She walked to the window, gazing at the empty street, her mind replaying every memory she had of him.

It wasn’t just love. It was history, it was trust, it was every small moment that had built the world they shared. And she refused to believe that world was gone forever.

The wind outside rustled through the trees, carrying the faint chirping of birds. June pressed her forehead against the glass, whispering into the silence:

“Ethan… I’ll bring you back. No matter what it takes.”

And somewhere deep in her heart, she felt a spark of hope. A fragile, fragile hope—but hope nonetheless.

To Be Continued…