The Fool He LostMy husband Taught Me to Walk Away

Everyone in Harlow knew that Ethan Kater's wife had an IQ of 75, a mild intellectual disability. So when Ethan placed that ultrasound printout on the table in front of me, I sat there thinking for a full three minutes before I spoke"Ethan, I just had my checkup yesterday. I'm not pregnant. " He looked away. "I know. This is the child I had with someone else. " Unlike the other wealthy wives who would fall into hysterics after discovering a secret child, I didn't cry or make a scene because I hadn't caught up yet. Why would a married man have a baby with someone else? Ethan probably mistook my silence for acceptance. He leaned down and patted my head. Good girl, just stay calm. That's all I need from you. His voice was soft. like he was settling down a child. The Carter family's heir needs to be sharp and capable. But you know yourself. Actually, maybe you don't. Just know that your place as Mrs. Carter won't be affected at all. A slow, dense ache spread through my chest. I am done. But I remember now. A husband having a baby with someone else was called cheating. And a marriage that had gone off the rails was supposed to end. Ethan lit a cigarette and said it like it was nothing. She's a new intern at the company, you know her actually. It's Mia. Mia, of course I knew Mia. I had been supporting that underprivileged student for seven years. The smoke drifted toward me, it stung until my eyes filled with tears. It wasn't until a tear actually dropped in front of Ethan that he finally noticed and stubbed out the cigarette. Sorry Autumn, I forgot you can't handle smoke. He stood up quickly to open the windows and air out the room. You know how stressed I am There's no way I can quit smoking. I knew he couldn't quit But because of my health He used to limit himself to smoking only at the office He never even brought the smell home I watched him wave the smoke away Explaining as he went. After Mia found out she was pregnant She still insisted on finishing her project before taking leave So I banned smoking across the whole company Including myself Just now I slipped for a second. A pregnant woman comes first. When he talked about Mia, there was something in his eyes he couldn't hide even someone as slow as me could see it. Ethan, how can you talk about cheating like it's nothing? What do you think I am to you? The smoke was gone, but my tears kept falling one after another. He frowned and stepped toward me to wipe them away. When I backed away, he lost patience. Autumn, what do you even understand? This isn't cheating. Autumn stopped making a scene; I just need an air. A smart air, a smart air, can you even give me one? It was like something tore a hole straight through my heart. I stared at him, shaking. He stopped himself. His throat moved. That's not what I meant. I promise we'll have children, sweet children, children who grow up with me taking care of them the way I took care of you. But before that, I need a smart hair first. Mia is brilliant. You've supported her for years; you're the reason she made it. She's not like those women trying to trap him for money. That's why I chose her. He let out a slow breath. See? I really thought this through. I stood there staring at Ethan, and I was back somewhere very far away before I ever met him. Back when the man who called himself my father used to hang me from the ceiling beams, he'd sit there eating, watching me with that smirk, and say. "You're too stupid to survive out there on your own. I'm doing this to bring out your potential. Tough love. Everything I do is for your own good. " I heard those words so many times for so long that I started to believe them. So even after Ethan pulled me out of that house, I still pushed myself too hard sometimes. I wrote my father's words down again and again in a notebook, trying to memorize how to become better until my hands started to cramp and shake. It was Ethan who noticed and rushed over, snatching the pen from my hand. That's all garbage. Bad people twist cruelty into kindness because it's easier for them. But if you listen to yourself, you'll always be able to tell the difference. If something hurts your heart, you walk away from the person causing the pain. Don't listen to their excuses. I lowered my head and pressed my hand gently to my chest. It hurts so much right there. Ethan. You're the one who taught me that my heart hurts, I have to leave you.

In the photo she sent, Ethan was listening closely to the doctor's instructions. He'd even taken out a notepad and was writing everything down. When I used to get sick, he used to do exactly that. Every detail. Another sharp stab in my chest. Go, I have to go right now. That was the only thought left in me. I choked back tears and called a number. Mom, I'll go with you. You mean it? You're finally ready to forgive me. Where are you right now? I'll take you to start the immigration paperwork right now. After submitting everything, I came back to the house with a divorce agreement. Standing in the entryway, I could hear laughter from inside. Ethan had brought Mia. home. I've heard eating more fish helps the baby grow smarter. Don't worry, you went to an elite school; the genetics are there. The baby won't turn out stupid. Standing in the house I'd lived in for almost 10 years, I felt more like a stranger than ever. When she saw me, Mia sprang to her feet. Autumn, you're back. The girl in front of me was composed, confident—nothing like the thin, pale girl I'd once taken in from a struggling rural town. Back then, she had just gotten into Harvard, but her gamblingaddicted father had already struck a deal with a man in town, trying to trade her off for money. Her acceptance letter had been torn to pieces; she'd been locked in the house. The next day, she reached out to everyone she could. Only I, a sponsor she had never even met, was willing to go and save her. Three hours on a plane, five hours on a bus. I didn't feel tired. I had one single thought the whole waysave her, save her. What happened was, I saved her, but I was too slow to get out of the way. Her father took a swing at me in a rage, and I ended up in the hospital. Because of that, Ethan had never warmed up to her. You should have called the police, not put an innocent person in danger. But later, he started inviting Mia to dinner himself. He couldn't help telling. me she's genuinely talented. It's a good thing you went back for her. Now they stood side by side and they looked right together. Autumn, don't worry, I won't be here long. Mia came forward and took my hand.

I wiped my eyes, hands trembling, pulled off my ring and threw it on the floor. I was shaking apart when I screamed at him"You turned into someone bad! I'm done! I'm leaving you! " Ethan froze for two seconds, then let out a cold laugh. "Leave? Sure, but where exactly would you go? To visit your abusive father in prison? " Don't be stupid, Autumn. You can't even take care of yourself out there. " My phone alarm cut through the fight. He glanced down at it. I need to take Mia to her prenatal appointment. When our eyes met, his were full of impatience. Autumn, I've been good to you for years. All I'm doing is having a child with someone else. You're not allowed to keep acting up like this. The door slammed shut behind him, and my whole chest shook with it. He remembered Mia's prenatal appointment today. He forgot it was my birthday. He forgot that ten years ago today, he promised he would celebrate every birthday I ever had. Back then, he wasn't yet the powerful CEO everyone answered to. He was just one of the Cador family's many illegitimate sons. He'd been locked in the school equipment room by his own mother because he hadn't scored a perfect grade. He was claustrophobic in that dark little room. His crying got worse and worse, more and more desperate. What he and his mother didn't know was that there was already someone hiding in that room. Me, skipping class. May, don't cry, I'm right here with you. He sounded so lost that I couldn't help wanting to comfort this stranger. I even held out the little cake I'd saved up half a year to buy. I just wanted him to stop crying. He ate my birthday cake. He wiped his tears, and he made a promise. Autumn, we're friends now. I'll celebrate your birthday for the rest of your life. After that, I became his safe place when his mother was at her worst. He became my strength when my father came after me. We held hands and stumbled through growing up together. Then later, he took control of the family company. All the polished, clever, wellconnected matches that were put in front of him, he turned down everyone. Nobody expected him to marry me. Everyone said he was just getting back at his family. Even I said it out loud"Are you sure you haven't made a mistake? I'm so... I'm so dumb. " He slid the ring onto my finger and smiled, soft and steady. "Yeah, you are. That's exactly why I'm marrying you and keeping you right by my side where I can watch over you. "It's the only way I'll ever stop worrying. Because I was slow, he didn't even bother hiding his cheating now. I stared blankly at our wedding photo on the wall until a message notification pulled me back. It was Mia. Hey Autumn, did you and Ethan have a fight? He wasn't in a great mood when he got here. Anyway, it's fine. He's happy now. Our baby is healthy.