Chapter 3 Echoes of Ethan
1596 Words
Charlotte moved back to her little house in the suburbs.
She bought it before marriage, which was small, just enough for her alone.
Yet, it was within these walls that she had a one-night stand with Ethan, resulting in a pregnancy that bound them together later.
That night, she couldn't resist her friend Ava Johnson's plea and joined their high school reunion.
To her surprise, Ethan, who had never attended these activities, was also there.
She sat next to Ethan, feeling nervous. Fearing that he might notice her unease, she kept eating and drinking but ended up drinking too much.
Ethan, out of politeness, offered to take her home after the reunion.
Though Charlotte lived alone and was quite tipsy, she wasn't completely out of it. However, the alcohol did affect her balance.
As soon as she stepped into her house, she tripped over the shoes she had left by the door. Just as she was about to fall, Ethan grabbed her just in time and happened to have pulled her in his arms.
The lights were still off, the only illumination being the dim light from the street outside.
Ethan, too, had indulged in a few drinks earlier. Whether it was the alcohol or the charged atmosphere, their eyes locked.
The depth of the night, the influence of the alcohol, and the fact that he was the man she had secretly loved for years made it impossible for her to look away. Slowly, they moved closer to each other...
Charlotte wasn't one for indulgence. She hadn't even had a boyfriend before, but that night, she got lost in Ethan's deep, gentle, yet focused gaze.
It was the look she had fantasized about in her daydreams repeatedly.
That night, she and he were completely immersed in clumsy yet intensely passionate lovemaking.
She had never imagined Ethan was as inexperienced as she was in bed.
Given his family background and appearance, it was hard to believe he had never had a girlfriend.
But after getting to know him over the past two years, Charlotte began to understand why Ethan had remained single. A man obsessed with his work had no time or energy for a relationship.
His strict upbringing also taught him to stay disciplined.
That night was probably the only impulsive act in his life.
The same was true for Charlotte.
She had her life planned out.
She studied architectural design in college, and with her talent and skills, she intended to pursue further studies. In fact, she was already applying to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Architecture Department, but that night's accident disrupted all her plans.
She hadn't expected to get pregnant.
The lack of protection that night, coupled with the late awakening the next day, left her without time for pills since she had an interview to attend that day. Besides, she had been under the mistaken belief that she was within her safe period, but luck was on her side that time.
When she found out about her pregnancy, Charlotte was at a loss.
However, Ethan suggested getting married and keeping the baby.
Soon, they were registered and married.
It seemed absurd, yet somehow it made sense.
The loss of the baby was an unforeseen tragedy.
Their marriage, like the life within her, was fleeting, lasting not even three years.
These two years felt like a dream.
Looking around the familiar room, Charlotte felt empty and sad.
The scene of him catching her as she almost tripped replayed in her mind.
She clearly remembered the focused and emotional look in his eyes on that beautiful night. Even now, her heart raced when she thought of it.
She had assumed that it was love.
She believed he had hidden his feelings for her for many years, which led to that passionate night.
But that wasn't the case. He was just drunk.
Her heart ached with this realization.
Recalling a recent visit to Ethan's parents' place, she accidentally overheard his father and him arguing inside when passing by the study.
"When your grandfather was on his deathbed, he hoped to see you get married. You didn't want him to leave with regrets, so you hastily brought Charlotte home, especially since she was already pregnant with your child. I held my tongue because it brought your grandfather peace. But now, two years have passed, and you've lost that child. Do you really want to spend your whole life with her?"
"I have my reasons. Please stay out of it."
"What do you mean staying out of it? Before that, you refused girls because of Amelia. Then, because of some ridiculous school reunion, you ended up letting that woman take advantage..."
"Dad!" Ethan suddenly interrupted his father, Samuel Brooks, with a calm yet cold tone. "This was my fault, and it has nothing to do with Charlotte."
"Fine, I won't mention her. Every time I bring her up, you only defend her. Just tell me, if Amelia comes back, what are you going to do? Don't forget you and she are engaged."
"She will never come back."
Charlotte could clearly hear the change in Ethan's tone. It softened, which was rare, making it evident that the woman named "Amelia Hughes" held a special place in his heart.
It was the first time Charlotte heard the name "Amelia", and she was momentarily stunned.
It was hard to describe how she felt, more like a sudden sense of confusion without any rejection or resistance. She even felt an odd connection to the name, yet made no effort to learn more about Amelia.
There was no need, after all. The problems between her and Ethan weren't caused by anyone.
She just happened to be there when he needed a marriage to comfort his grandfather.
Now that his grandfather was gone and the child who had bound them was no longer there, there was no need for them to stay bound together for a lifetime.
Charlotte knew that as long as she didn't bring it up, Ethan probably wouldn't mention divorce, either. He would continue to live with her, just as they were now, in a calm and unremarkable way.
But Charlotte didn't want to continue like this.
This wasn't the marriage she wanted.
She wanted a husband she loved and who loved her back. He didn't need to be wealthy, but he had to care for her and be able to make a simple life feel cozy and complete, rather than someone who had someone else in his heart and saw her as merely a responsibility.
So, she brought up divorce, a thought she had been thinking about for half a year but was always hesitant about.
Ethan, just as she predicted, let go without hesitation.
Charlotte believed he must have felt relieved.
The dull pain in her heart persisted. Charlotte pressed her hand to her chest, looking around the small space that once held so many of her hopes. The discomfort grew, but there was also a subtle sense of relief.
After a long while, she picked up her phone and called the real estate agent who had helped her buy the house. "Hello, I'd like to sell my house in the Hamptons. Can you help me with that?"
*****
Two days later, Henry stumbled upon Charlotte's house listing online while searching for a new place closer to the office.
The house was in the same neighborhood as Ethan's company. A quick search showed it right away.
Henry had helped with the move when Ethan and Charlotte got married, and he vividly remembered the clean and elegant decoration of her house, recognizing it at first sight.
He was stunned for a moment and glanced towards Ethan's office.
Ethan had asked him to handle the divorce matters, so he knew about Ethan and Charlotte's separation.
In his mind, Ethan and Charlotte's relationship seemed fine. They weren't overly affectionate like some couples, but they were certainly not at odds to the point of needing a divorce.
He couldn't understand why they suddenly decided to split.
Ethan hadn't shown the usual signs of a man going through a tough divorce. Apart from abruptly leaving a meeting that day, Ethan appeared no different from usual.
If there was anything off, it was that Ethan spent even more time at the office, almost treating it like home, and his work demands had become stricter.
Whenever he appeared, everyone was on edge, creating a tense atmosphere in the office.
Henry believed that the divorce had affected Ethan in some way, but he wasn't sure if it was just a spat between the couple.
He was unsure whether to inform Ethan about Charlotte's sale of the house.
To Henry, selling the house meant leaving for good.
There might still be a chance to fix things while Charlotte was around, but there would be no going back if she left.
Wishing to end working in such a tense environment, he was lost in thought, caught in his dilemma.
He didn't realize Ethan had looked up at him from the computer. "Something on your mind?"
Henry snapped out of it. "No, nothing."
Ethan asked, "You've been staring at me for a while now. What is it?"
"I..." Henry hesitated.
Ethan urged, "Speak up."
With resolve, Henry gritted his teeth and showed Ethan his phone screen. "Charlotte is selling the house. She might be leaving."
He saw Ethan's hand pause on the mouse, expecting him to say something, but Ethan just coldly shifted his gaze back to the computer screen.
"And?" Ethan asked calmly and coldly.
- Writer
