After He Cheated, I Revealed I’m Sane

Charlotte's POV: I was struck in the head by a steel rebar at a construction site while saving my boyfriend, Ethan Cross, and the accident left me mentally impaired. ​ Meanwhile, Ethan threw himself into the business world and climbed all the way to the top, becoming the renowned CEO everyone admired. ​ To the public, he appeared successful and untouchable. Behind closed doors, however, he had spent six years cleaning up every mess I made. ​ At one grand gala, I threw another tantrum in front of everyone, insisting that I needed to use the bathroom immediately. ​ While Ethan's secretary, Laura Sullivan, tried to pull me away, I accidentally stumbled and slammed my head into a cabinet. ​ The sharp smell of urine instantly spread throughout Westbridge Manor. ​ One by one, the strange looks turned toward Ethan. ​ It was as if they were mocking him. No matter how successful he appeared in public, behind the scenes, he was little different from a caretaker. ​ After all the guests had finally left, he stood quietly and stared at me for a long time. ​ Without any warning, he suddenly said, "Charlotte, I cheated on you." ​ I looked at the satisfaction on his face, the kind that came after a long-awaited act of revenge, and found myself repeating his words. ​ "C-cheated?" I stammered. ​ Ethan let out a short laugh. ​ "Alright, what would an i***t like you know?" ​ "In simple terms, I've fallen in love with Laura." ​ "She's much better than you. She's understanding, considerate, and she can help me with my work." ​ Meanwhile, I was nothing more than a troublemaker who constantly embarrassed him and created problems. ​ "Life is long, Charlotte. I can't spend all of it taking care of an idiot." ​ At that moment, the truth was already on the tip of my tongue. ​ Yet before I could speak, all I tasted was the salt of my tears. ​ How could I possibly tell him that the impact from hitting that cabinet had restored my mind? That I was normal again? ​ When Ethan saw the tears streaming down my face, he instinctively reached out to wipe them away. ​ But halfway there, his hand stopped. ​ He slowly withdrew it. ​ Grinding his teeth, he said, "Charlotte, can you stop with the crocodile tears? Every time you cause trouble, all you know how to do is cry. Honestly, it's exhausting." ​ I shook my head. ​ I wanted to tell him that wasn't true. ​ He had loved me once, more than anyone. ​ But this time, he didn't rush over to clean the stains from my dress the way he always used to. ​ Instead, he stood above me and looked down coldly. "Last week was my birthday. The truth is, I wasn't working overtime. I was with Laura, watching fireworks." ​ He paused. "She was laughing in my arms. She looked so happy. For the first time in years, I've forgotten about you and how exhausting you make my life." ​ The memories became clearer and clearer. ​ That day, I had clumsily baked a cake for him. ​ I wanted to surprise him, so I waited all day until the frosting melted and the cake sagged. ​ I sat at home praying that he would return soon. ​ While I was waiting for him, he was standing beneath fireworks with another woman. Perhaps wishing time would move more slowly. Slow enough that he would never have to see me again. ​ The coldness in Ethan's eyes felt like ice around my throat. ​ I could barely breathe. And for the first time, I truly understood. ​ His affair wasn't a lie; it was real. ​ Laura walked back into the room after seeing off the last guest. ​ "Don't worry, Mr. Cross," she said softly. "I've already explained everything to the guests. They won't tell anyone about what happened tonight." ​ A little girl standing beside her suddenly ran over and hugged Ethan's leg. ​ "Daddy, frowning makes you look old," she said sweetly. ​ Laura glanced at me before gently correcting her daughter. ​ "Lily, what did I tell you? You shouldn't call him that in front of other people." ​ Unexpectedly, Ethan smiled. ​ "It's fine," he replied. ​ Then he glanced at me. "She doesn't understand anyway." ​ He crouched down and pinched Lily's cheek affectionately. ​ "As long as I see Lily, Daddy won't frown." ​ The three of them were surrounded by a warm, happy atmosphere. ​ It was painfully bright, painfully beautiful, and painfully cruel. ​ If they were a family… Then what was I? The mistress? The outsider? ​ My emotions finally exploded. ​ Pointing at Laura, I shouted, "It was her! She did it on purpose! She wanted to humiliate me!" ​ Earlier that day, I had repeatedly asked to use the bathroom. ​ Every time, Laura stopped me. ​ She claimed it would be inconvenient because I was wearing a dress. ​ Before I could continue speaking, Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand. ​ Then he bent one of my fingers backward, hard. ​ Pain shot through my arm, and I cried out. ​ "Charlotte," he snapped, "have you learned how to make false accusations now? Does it hurt? Good. Only pain teaches lessons." ​ He was protecting another woman, and he didn't hesitate to hurt me. ​ The moment he released my hand, I lost my balance and crashed onto the floor. ​ "Charlotte, you can't even control your own bladder. And you're blaming someone else?" ​ I had held it for thirteen hours. ​ Thirteen. ​ How could anyone expect someone with the mind of a child to maintain self-control for that long? ​ Ethan didn't even look at me again. ​ Instead, he turned to Laura. ​ "It's late," he said. "I'll have the driver take you home." ​ Laura repeatedly suggested that he stay behind and take care of me first. ​ But Ethan insisted on personally escorting her and Lily to the car. ​ The blood from the wound on my forehead slowly trickled into my eye. ​ The pain sharpened my thoughts. ​ Bit by bit, my mind cleared. ​ I stopped crying, and I stopped complaining. ​ I simply lay there quietly, yet the sight of me collapsed on the floor made Ethan's heart suddenly tremble. ​ For a brief moment, I reminded him of the accident six years ago. ​ He immediately bent down and lifted me into his arms. ​ "Rebecca!" he shouted. "Bring the first-aid kit!" ​ Rebecca finally spoke up on my behalf. "Mr. Cross, Charlotte's medication has a strong diuretic effect. She's basically like a child. Not being able to control herself is normal. I checked the security footage. Ms. Sullivan refused to let her use the bathroom all day." Ethan fell silent. ​ After several moments, he finally spoke. ​ "Laura only did what she thought was best for me." ​ Laura had used a cruel and humiliating method to force Ethan to acknowledge how burdensome my existence had become. ​ He knew exactly what she had done, and he didn't care. ​ The favoritism was obvious. ​ Six years had passed in the blink of an eye. ​ The man who once loved me with all his heart had disappeared. ​ The man kneeling before me now, carefully treating my wound, was nothing more than a stranger wearing his face. ​ A bitter ache tore through my chest. ​ The pain crashed against my ribs, desperately searching for somewhere to escape. ​ Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. ​ One drop landed on Ethan's hand. ​ He merely picked up a tissue and wiped it away. ​ There was nothing more—no concern, no hesitation, no reaction at all. ​ Only then did I finally understand: love, too, can be consumed, and ours had already been used up completely. ​ It was time for me to let go.