Once His, Now My Own

Chapter 1

It was 1 AM when Ethan finally came home.The front door creaked open,and his familiar footsteps echoed through the silent house.I was waiting,curled on the couch,my mind a million miles away.The moment he saw me,his expression shifted—his smile vanished,replaced by icy contempt.

"Stella,are you in such a rush that you couldn’t wait for half an hour?"His voice dripped with sarcasm."Do you know how much you embarrassed me tonight?"

Embarrassed him?It had been my tireless effort that ensured tonight’s event ran smoothly—both Thanksgiving and the important dinner to entertain business partners.I had spent sleepless nights preparing,only to have it all ruined because Lily wanted to ride a hot air balloon under the stars.And Ethan,of course,couldn’t refuse her.He paused the signing ceremony,the one we had worked so hard for,to indulge her whims.And now I was the one who caused embarrassment?

I ignored him and just sat in silence.But it only caused Ethan’s irritation to grow.

"What,now you’re pretending to be mute too?"he snapped.

There had been a time when his words would’ve cut deep,a time when I would’ve cried,pleaded,and done anything to keep him happy.But tonight,something inside me shifted.His words felt like a distant echo,too far to touch me.

"You know I don’t like noisy places,"I replied,my voice steady,unbothered.

Ethan blinked a few times,seemingly recalling that fact about me just now.The next second,he threw a takeout bag onto the coffee table."You didn’t eat much tonight,so I brought you something."

I glanced at the box—it was half-eaten leftovers.Probably from the meal he shared with Lily.The sour smell of congealed grease wafted through the room,making my stomach churn.

He shifted uncomfortably,sensing the weight of my silence."It must’ve been a mix-up…grabbed the wrong box."

Ridiculous.As if anyone would take leftovers from such a high-profile event.I didn’t bother responding.Instead,I stood,and headed toward the bathroom.

But Ethan wasn’t done."We have a meeting on Monday about the new project.I’ll go with you."

If he had said this weeks ago,I would’ve been overjoyed.Now?His offer felt like an afterthought,something he said out of habit rather than care.

“No need,”I replied flatly,disappearing into the bathroom before he could say more.

The shower's warm water did little to wash away the numbness clinging to my skin.I was lost in thought when suddenly,the glass partition shattered without warning,sending me sprawling onto the cold,wet floor.

Ethan’s voice was laced with annoyance as he called from the living room."How can you be so clumsy?"

The door swung open,and he stood there,his eyes scanning the scene,not with concern but frustration."I’ll take you to the hospital,"he muttered as if it were the most inconvenient task.

I struggled to push myself up,my ankle throbbing from a deep gash.But before he could help,his phone rang,playing the special ringtone for Lily’s calls.

As soon as he answered,I heard her pitiful voice saying,"Ethan,I've drunk and feel nauseous now.Could you accompany me to the hospital?"

"Send me your location and I'll be there in a flash,"he replied and hung up.

Hesitation flickered in his eyes for only a split second before he turned to me."There’s something urgent at the company,"he lied,already stepping back."I’ll bring you some medicine later."

And with that,he left,the front door clicking shut behind him.

I stared at the shattered glass and the blood pooling around my ankle.Trembling,I picked up my phone and dialed 911.

Chapter 2

When my wound was treated,it was already early morning.Normally,I’d have been home by now,preparing breakfast and waiting for Ethan to join me at the table.But today,I didn’t go home.Instead,I headed straight to the company.

Ethan saw me at my desk and immediately called me into his office.His face was as dark as a storm cloud."Why didn’t you make breakfast?"His voice was clipped,unusually cold.

This was the first time Ethan had ever mentioned something personal at work.In the past,he’d snap at me if I dared to mix work and personal matters.Even if I only reminded him that he needed to eat on time to avoid having a stomach ache,I would only get scolded for not focusing on my job.I’d hear the same line every time:"If you don't want to work,go home and play housewife."

Recalling that,I kept my composure,staring at his stern face,and said,"If you called me in here just for personal matters,I’ll head back to work now."My voice was calm,but my words sliced through the tension.

Ethan’s frown deepened.He open his desk drawer and threw a gift box onto the table,the lid flipping open as it landed."This was custom-made for you.Took a month."

Peeking out of the box was a pair of silver high heels,glinting in the light.I didn’t need to ask where they came from.Half a month ago,Lily had posted a sneering post on social media read as:[Prince says a princess should wear custom-made crystal shoes and an old hag only deserves mismatched leftovers from a street stall.]

I snapped the box shut and pushed it back across his desk."I’m not used to such nice things.Give them to someone else,"I said,turning to leave.

"Stella,wait!"Ethan’s voice hardened,stopping me at the door."I only scolded you at Thanksgiving dinner because you were being petty,picking on Lily.And last night,I told you to wait for me to bring back the medicine,but when I returned,you were no longer there.Now you’re giving me attitude?"

I faced him,my eyes cold."I wasn’t giving you attitude."The words were quiet,but they seemed to fan the flames of his anger.

"Stop acting so ungrateful!"His voice rose,"You’re just a unwanted,old hag.Do you even realize how old you are?Competing with girls in their twenties—how dare you?"

There it was—his favorite.I used to let those words cut me deeply.I’d cry,ask him if he regretted marrying me,beg for some scrap of affection.But today,I was numb.

I showing my sneakers.

"I wear a size 37,"I said,my voice innocent.The heels were a size 40.

Ethan blinked,momentarily speechless.He opened his mouth,maybe to defend himself,but my phone buzzed in my pocket.I pulled it out,answering as Ethan watched,his eyes narrowing when he heard the voice on the other end belonged to a man.

When the call ended,he couldn’t hold back."Who was that?"he asked,his tone accusatory.

Without missing a beat,I glanced at the screen,the name"Divorce Lawyer"still flashing."You wouldn’t know him,"I replied,my voice icy as I turned and left the office.

Ethan tried to follow,but his path was blocked by the secretary.I could hear him shouting for me as I made my way out of the building,but his voice was just a distant echo now.

Hours later,as the workday was winding down,Ethan insisted on taking me out for dinner.Before I could protest,he practically shoved me into the passenger seat of his car.

As we drove,my eyes fell on a tacky ornament dangling in front of the windshield—a pair of plastic lips.Beside it,a sticker with the words"Reserved for Lily"sat,glaringly out of place.

Ethan noticed my gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly."Lily was just joking around when she put that there.Don’t take it seriously."

I gave a noncommittal"hmm"and glanced out the window.

Ethan hesitated,clearly uncomfortable with my indifference."Aren’t you going to put your lucky charm on the dashboard,like you always do?"

Two weeks ago,I would’ve ripped Lily’s things from the car and replaced them with my own.I would’ve fought and demanded space for myself in his life.But now?I didn’t care enough to bother.

"It looks fine like this,"I said,my voice soft but final.

Ethan’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel,his grip tightening as silence settled between us.

The car eventually stopped at the harbor,where the deafening thump of music from a private yacht filled the air,even before we stepped out.My head pounded.I hated loud noises—something Ethan knew all too well.After nearly drowning as a child,any loud environment made my ears ring,and it always brought back that familiar sense of dread.

For that reason,Ethan had even gone out of his way to arrange our wedding on a quiet,uninhabited island,avoiding the noise and chaos years ago.But now?Here he was,dragging me onto a yacht blaring with music.My discomfort was written all over my face,and I tried to leave,but Ethan grabbed my wrist,told me to board.

He turned to the driver and ordered,"Start the engine."

Chapter 3

The sun was setting as I leaned against the yacht's railing,watching the horizon with the distant sound of laughter and music behind me.Just as I was beginning to enjoy the solitude,a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Ethan,you should've told me Stella would be here.I would've helped her get ready!"Lily’s voice carried a smugness as she slinked her way over to him,arms wrapping possessively around his neck."All your friends are here today.A little makeup could’ve done wonders for her."

I walked away,choosing the quietest corner of the yacht.If she thought her petty provocations would get under my skin,she was sorely mistaken.Once,it would have,but now her words felt as empty as the life I shared with Ethan.

After about an hour,the music finally died down.I removed the earplugs I had discreetly worn,stepping back into the fray.That’s when I saw it.Lily was straddling Ethan’s waist.The crowd cheered her on,shouting encouragements as if it were the most amusing thing they'd seen.

The sight was nauseating,but I kept my expression neutral as I walked over to the fridge,grabbing a bottle of soda.When Ethan spotted me,he pushed Lily away hurriedly,his face filled with guilt.“Stella,don’t misunderstand.This is just a game.Nothing more.”

I took a casual sip of my drink,"There’s nothing to misunderstand.As long as you’re all having fun."My voice was calm and detached like I was speaking to a stranger.

The yacht suddenly grew quiet.All eyes were on me,waiting for me to erupt like I had done before.I had ruined their fun once and lost my temper in front of them all,but that was a different Stella.That version of me was long gone.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably,searching for the right words.“Stella...I caught salmon earlier.I’ll steam it for you when we get home.”

“Mm,”I murmured nonchalantly,turning away from him.

When we finally returned home,I went straight to my room,my mind already elsewhere.The phone rang just as I began to settle in—my divorce lawyer.He said the first draft of the agreement was ready.

With a quiet resolve,I grabbed my bag and left the house without a word to Ethan,who was busy in the kitchen.

After finalizing the paperwork,I met up with an old friend at a lounge bar.During those with with her,Ethan called several times,but I ignored every one of his attempts.As such,my friend eyed me with concern."He’s calling again.You sure you don’t want to answer?”

I sighed,leaning back against the bar stool.“It’s fine.He’ll survive.”

Once,I would have rushed to pick up his calls,desperate to fix whatever crack had formed between us.But now,every ring of the phone felt like an irritation.Irritated by the incessant ringtone,I turned off my phone and spent the night at my friend’s place.

By the next morning,I found Ethan waiting in the company parking lot.His face was a mess of exhaustion,dark circles shadowing his eyes.Without a word,he grabbed my arm and pulled me into his car.

“I thought you’d skip work today,”he muttered bitterly.

I shrugged.“My phone died.Couldn't get a ride.”

I reached for the door handle,ready to leave,but Ethan pulled the door close,stopping me.His patience snapped,and his voice was low and hard.“I’ve tolerated you long enough,Stella.It was just a game.What's with the drama?”

I remained silent,staring straight ahead.His anger festered into something darker,and the corners of his mouth twisted into a sneer.“If you’re so pig-headed and unreasonable,then let’s get a divorce.”

This was not the first time Ethan had threatened divorce.The last time was because of Lily.I told him to distance himself from her.But in the end,I was the one who begged him to forgive me,kneeling in public,swearing I’d never be jealous or cause trouble again.I had to keep what little we had back then.But now?

“Okay,”I replied,my voice steady and cold.

Ethan’s disbelief flickering in his eyes.“What did you just say?”

I stepped out of the car,meeting his gaze with a calm he didn’t expect.“Give me a couple of days.There are a few details in the agreement I need to adjust.”

He scoffed,shaking his head.“This act of yours is getting old,Stella.”

I didn’t bother to respond.His taunts—they no longer had the power to wound me.

After completing the final project at work,I handed in my resignation and booked a month-long trip abroad with my friend.

As the plane touched down,my phone buzzed with an incoming call.Ethan.

I hesitated,knowing his mood before he even spoke.When I answered,his voice was laced with frustration.“Stella,why didn’t you bother telling me you were leaving the country?Do you have any idea how long the jewelry partner has been hounding me to sign that contract?”

His tone hit like ice,but I didn’t flinch.“Ethan,contracts are your responsibility.Why are you calling me?”

There was a brief silence,and I could almost picture him fuming on the other end,caught off guard by my directness.When he spoke again,his voice had softened,almost pleading.“They won’t sign without you.”

I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that escaped.My mind flashed back to the moment I handed him my latest designs,brimming with excitement.But his response had been vicious,his words still etched in my memory.“Only your brain could come up with such tacky garbage.”

Now,his desperation felt like poetic justice.

“Then find a more sophisticated designer,”I said,my voice cool and detached.

Before he could respond,I ended the call and blocked his number.

I was boarding a plane back home when I bumped into an old flame—Jacob Harper.Years had changed him from the poor boy I once knew into a successful businessman.Seeing him again stirred memories,but they were fleeting,like the wind.We talked as we boarded the plane,and in a small twist of fate,I twisted my ankle on the way out.Jacob was quick to steady me,his grip firm but gentle.

Unfortunately,Ethan was there to witness it all.His face darkened as he stormed over,dragging me away from Jacob’s grasp.“You’ve been with him this whole time,haven’t you?”

Ethan knew who Jacob was in my life.Jacob and I only broke up due to my family's disapproval of him as he was just no one back then.But now that he had risen to the top,I could sense that Ethan felt threatened.

I pulled my hand away from Ethan’s grip,met his gaze with indifference,and calmly said,“Didn’t you track me?Surely,you know who I was with.”

Ethan shot Jacob a murderous glare before practically shoving me into the passenger seat of his car.Without a word,he drove us to a port and we traveled to an island,the same one where we had shared so many memories.The large electronic screen greeted us with photos from our wedding—our smiles frozen in time.

Today marked our eighth wedding anniversary.

But the moment was shattered when Lily,clad in a flimsy dress,ran up to Ethan,throwing herself into his arms.“Ethan!There’s a snake!I think I got bitten,”

A familiar tattoo.The same one I had seen on Ethan’s thigh.

Watching him fumble,trying to push her away,I couldn’t help but laugh.And as I clapped slowly,the words that left my mouth shattered the last piece of him I once held dear.