The Heartless husband's Regret : Keep Your Hands

Chapter 4

Freya

I stood directly in front of him, yet there was an unmistakable distance between us.

Unlike Vivian.

She stood at Ethan's side with a radiant smile.

She was stunning, dressed in a designer blouse in a bright color, red heels, and a perfume whose fragrance still lingered even two minutes after she had walked past me.

Ethan used to tell me he hated all of that.

My eyes turned vacant. Now I knew the real reason. It wasn't because he disliked things that drew attention. It was because I wasn't Vivian.

The only person who didn't applaud was me.

As I turned around and walked away, I heard people talking about the two of them.

“They're such a perfect match. So Mr. Ethan has been hiding the woman he truly loves all this time.”

“I heard Miss Vivian was his first love.”

My body froze for a moment as those words pierced through me. It felt as though my heart had shattered into countless pieces.

Clenching my fists tightly, I fled from the room. I couldn't bear to witness any more of it.

Back in my office, tears began to fall again.

The project I had devoted myself to—the one that had cost me countless sleepless nights, was now being credited to Vivian.

“Do you really love her that much?” My voice trembled, and so did my hands.

As I sank deeper into my grief, I realized I no longer wanted to stand in the way of the two of them.

Even though I loved Ethan, I couldn't endure watching this any longer. I couldn't imagine living like this every single day.

It would be nothing but hell for me.

I pounded my chest over and over until I broke into a coughing fit, but it did nothing to ease the pain.

Ethan would never let me go.

He blamed me for everything that had happened to him.

Remembering his injured leg—the one that forced him to rely on a cane to walk—I had endured it all this time.

Still hiding everything, pretending I was strong, I returned to work. I buried myself in my duties, letting exhaustion torment me instead.

As usual, I took public transportation home.

Heavy rain poured outside.

Looking through the window, I saw Ethan holding an umbrella over Vivian.

It was such a warm, caring moment.

And it hurt more than I could bear.

I still remembered the beginning of our marriage.

Ethan had once picked me up with an umbrella, shielding me from the rain. Back then, he had still been gentle. He had made me smile and believe that I was truly lucky to have married a man like him.

Three years ago, I should have realized that he had only done those things because of his grandfather's wishes.

What he was doing for Vivian now was different.

It was sincere.

Because he loved her.

He had never promised me anything.

He had never introduced me to the public as his wife.

Without realizing it, I had been watching him prepare all of that... for Vivian.

When the bus reached my stop, I got off and walked home.

I let the rain soak me completely.

I entered the house, and no one welcomed me.

I truly felt like a stranger in my own home.

The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

That night, I came down with a high fever, probably because of the rain... Or maybe because my heart had been shattered. I curled up on the bed, unable to stop shivering.

The truth was, I couldn't fall asleep.

“Ethan...” I whispered his name softly.

Then the pain returned as I realized how pointless it was. He would never come.

I forced myself to get some medicine from my drawer, but when I checked, I realized I had run out.

My head was spinning, but I knew there was no one here who would help me.

Rather than calling for a servant, I slowly made my way to another room where extra medicine was kept.

I walked carefully, supporting myself against the wall.

I couldn't let myself collapse.

Just a little farther...

“Ethan.”

My footsteps came to an abrupt halt at the sound of a woman's voice.

I glanced toward the door beside me, only then realizing I had passed Ethan's study. Through the narrow gap in the partially open door, I saw Ethan and Vivian standing face to face.

Why did I have to witness the very moment I wished I could avoid?

By then, I was about to force myself to walk away and ignore it again.

But everything fell apart when I heard the next words.

“I'm doing all of this for your pregnancy, Vivian.”

Those words made me look back through the crack in the door.

Vivian rested a hand on her stomach, a gentle smile on her face.

“Yes. My belly is getting bigger.”

The air caught in my throat, choking me.

The pain I had struggled so hard to suppress spiraled completely out of control. It overwhelmed me in an instant.

With the little strength I had left, I turned around and made my way back to my room. The moment the door closed behind me, I collapsed.