I never expected anything from you.
That sentence hits Ethan harder than any argument ever has.
Claire doesn't raise her voice. She doesn't accuse him. She doesn't demand explanations or fairness. Her eyes are only slightly red when she says it, calm and restrained, as if she's stating a fact she accepted long ago.
And somehow, that makes it worse.
Because this—this—is exactly what Ethan wanted in the beginning.
He wanted her to regret marrying him.
He wanted her to understand that marrying him would never lead to warmth, comfort, or love.
He wanted her to realize that choosing him was a mistake.
For three years, he has been doing everything to make sure she understands that.
And now she does.
So why does it feel like something inside him cracks open instead of settling into sati
