The Day I Walked Away

I saw my own design on the television screen.

"Congratulations to Bianca White, winner of this year's Jewelry Design Competition. Please welcome Ethan Locke, CEO of the Locke Group, to present the award!"

The camera panned to the side of the stage.

Ethan walked out in a black suit, his posture straight and commanding, and handed the trophy to Bianca. That usually cold face of his held a rare smile.

Then a little boy in a small suit ran onto the stage, carrying a bouquet of sunflowers.

"Aiden!" Bianca crouched down and pulled him into her arms along with the flowers, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, sweetheart!"

The reporters' cameras flashed wildly.

"Mr. Locke, Bianca's work is absolutely stunning. As the presenter, what are your thoughts?"

"It's said that the 'Starlight Kiss' design was inspired by love. Bianca, would you care to share?"

"The little boy is adorable! He looks so much like Bianca!"

"What a happy family of three!"

Yeah. They really did look like a family of three.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, trying to smile, but I couldn't.

Today was my wedding anniversary with Ethan.

And this was supposed to be my awards ceremony.

This Starlight Kiss was something I'd spent three full months on, revising it seventeen times before finalizing the design. In the end, Bianca destroyed my original draft with a cup of coffee. And the finished piece was gifted to her by my husband and my own son.

So Bianca traced over a version of the "original" and submitted it for the competition.

Bianca was Ethan's first love. Years ago, they'd almost gotten married.

But seven years ago, Ethan was drugged by someone with a grudge. I was working a part-time job at that hotel, and through a series of accidents, I ended up in his room. The next morning, gossip reporters posted photos of us online.

When Bianca saw the news, she was heartbroken. She bought a plane ticket and left the country the next day.

Ethan had wanted to go after her, but his parents forced him to marry me to calm the scandal and stabilize the Locke Group's stock price.

I'd always known Ethan didn't love me.

So initially, I refused to marry him. Even after I found out I was pregnant, I firmly told his parents I could have an abortion. They didn't need to take responsibility.

But Ethan's mother rejected my offer outright.

To push me and Ethan together, they even threatened me with the fact that I'd received financial aid from the Locke family. I was an orphan. I never would have made it through college without their help.

Out of gratitude, I married Ethan in the end.

After the wedding, I gave up my career and stayed home to take care of Ethan and our child. And Ethan, believing I was the one who'd drugged him that night and trapped him into marriage, had been cold to me ever since.

I wasn't discouraged by this. I believed that if I kept treating Ethan well, he would eventually accept me.

But Bianca White's return turned the past seven years of my devotion into a complete joke.

Three months ago, she came back. She found Ethan and told him she had cancer. Her dying wish was to spend her remaining time by his side.

Ethan agreed immediately.

After that, not only did he stay with Bianca constantly, but he demanded I unconditionally fulfill all of Bianca's requests.

"You owe Bianca this."

"You already have the title of wife. You shouldn't expect anything more."

"I'm just taking care of Bianca. I'm not cheating. You need to be more understanding."

That's what Ethan always told me.

Yes, he wasn't technically cheating. But everything he did for Bianca—what was the difference?

I was a victim that night seven years ago, too.

I'd been heartbroken. I'd been furious.

But it didn't matter. Bianca was still a thorn lodged deep in my marriage.

Later, even the son I'd risked my life to give birth to was gradually drawn to Bianca.

I was tired. So tired.

I turned off the TV and prepared to go upstairs to rest.

That's when Ethan walked in holding Aiden's hand. Father and son wore matching dark overcoats, standing together like a large and small copy of the same person.

"Mommy!"

Aiden ran over. "Did you see the TV? Aunt Bianca won an award! That necklace was so pretty!"

I fought back tears. "I saw. Did you have fun today, Aiden?"

"Yes!" Aiden's eyes sparkled. "Aunt Bianca took me out for ice cream and bought me the new LEGO set! Daddy went too!"

He looked up at me. "Mommy, you're not mad, are you? Aunt Bianca only has one year left. If you're angry, that means you have a really small heart!"

My chest felt like it was being stabbed with needles.

But all I said was, "The doctor said your heart can't handle too much excitement. You should eat less cold food."

Aiden's little face immediately fell. "Again? Mommy, you always control me. Aunt Bianca never does that. She even eats ice cream with me!"

My eyes reddened. "That's because she doesn't have to take responsibility for your health."

"Having it once in a while is fine. Don't be so tense."

Ethan walked over, his voice low.

Always like this.

Every time I was strict, Mr. Locke stepped in to smooth things over.

As if I were the unreasonable villain, and he was the sensible father.

Aiden stuck out his tongue and ran upstairs.

The air went quiet instantly.

I looked up at the man in front of me.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his features sharp and distinguished, his presence cold and aristocratic. He seemed completely out of reach.

I blinked. "Ethan, do you remember what today is?"

Only then did he notice the decorations in the living room.

Surprise flickered in his eyes before they returned to calm. "Sorry. I had company business today, and then I accompanied Aiden to the awards ceremony."

I smiled. "The awards ceremony? That was my awards ceremony. Bianca won the gold medal in the jewelry competition because she plagiarized my work."

"Plagiarism? Selene, even now, you're still lying."

Ethan's expression was indifferent, his eyes contemptuous.

"When I gave your design draft to Bianca, she told me your draft was almost identical to a design she'd drawn before."

"So if anyone plagiarized, it's you who plagiarized Bianca's work. Bianca achieved what she has through her own ability."

"I was foolish to think about asking you to help Bianca design something."

"A housewife who depends on me for living—how could you possibly design jewelry?"

A housewife who depends on him?

That's how he saw me?

I bit my lower lip, almost laughing from anger.

"Ethan, have you seen Bianca's original design draft? She says I copied her work, and you just believe her?"

"You've been home for seven years and never shown any design talent. Bianca was already an established jewelry designer before she returned. Who do you think I should believe?"

Ethan's face darkened, his tone distant.

Fine. I understood.

Bottom line—he looked down on me from the bottom of his heart.

I clenched my fists and suddenly didn't want to argue with him anymore.

I didn't even want him as a husband anymore.

A stone that stayed cold after seven years of trying to warm it—what was the point?

"Ethan, let's get divorced. Don't you want to take care of Bianca? Once we separate, you can be with her openly."

"What did you say?"

Ethan's usually cold eyes flashed with shock.

"Stop being ridiculous."

He pressed his lips together, displeased. "Selene, you don't have a job. How will you live without me?"

"How I live from now on is none of your business!"

I looked directly into Ethan's eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll send you the divorce papers. Sign them as soon as you receive them."

With that, I stood up.

"What about Aiden? He's only six."

Ethan looked at my profile, his gaze darkening.

"Aiden loves Bianca so much. Perfect. The three of you can have a nice life together."

I kept my head down and didn't look back at Ethan.