Chapter 3

When I got home, I barely got my shoes off before a fluffy Ragdoll cat trotted over and rubbed against my leg.

Cleo was a stray Chloe and I had rescued from our neighborhood when we first started dating.

She had followed us all the way to our door. Chloe said it was a sign of good luck, so we brought her inside and named her Cleo—hoping she’d spend the rest of her life surrounded by love.

I sighed softly and picked Cleo up.

My marriage was dead, but Cleo would always be a precious baby who deserved to be loved.

Sensing my mood, Cleo let out a soft meow and began kneading my chest with her tiny paws.

The heavy weight in my chest instantly lightened.

I smiled, stroking her head. "What’s wrong, sweetie? Hungry?"

Just as I was about to fill her food bowl, the front door clicked open.

I looked up to see Chloe walking in.

The moment she saw me holding Cleo on the sofa, her forehead creased in irritation.

"Ugh, why is that cat on the sofa? I just bought those covers! What if she claws them?"

Without warning, she rushed over, grabbed Cleo by the scruff of her neck, and flung her to the floor.

There was a dull thud. Terrified Cleo was hurt, I leapt up to check on her.

That was when I noticed Tyler walking in right behind Chloe.

"Hey Ethan, I was just dropping Chloe off. I figured you hadn't eaten, so I brought you some food."

He walked over to the dining table and started unpacking a takeout bag as if he owned the place.

He was so comfortable, it was like he was in his own house.

I watched him coldly, cradling Cleo in my arms. My voice was ice.

"Aren't you in mourning? Isn't it incredibly disrespectful to barge into someone else's home right after a death?"

"Instead of taking care of your guests, you seem very focused on taking care of another man's wife."

Tyler's face stiffened.

But Chloe was the one who blew up. She marched over and glared at me.

"Ethan Miller, I've tolerated enough of your attitude today! Why are you being such a jerk?"

"He was nice enough to bring you food and drive me home. What are you even jealous of?"

"Stop acting like you're the king of the house. Just shut up and eat!"

I glanced at the greasy takeout boxes on the table.

Inside was seafood fried rice.

Tyler watched with a smug, mocking look. "Chloe made this herself. Most people don't get to taste her cooking. Don't be mad, Ethan. Come eat."

Suddenly, he let out a loud sneeze and took two steps back.

"Ah, I almost forgot. I’m allergic to cat hair."

Chloe immediately rushed to his side, looking extremely worried, asking if he was okay and if he needed to go to the hospital.

Cleo whimpered, trembling in my arms, terrified by the tension in the room.

I found the whole thing hilarious.

Seafood fried rice?

"I have a severe seafood allergy. Eating this could literally kill me. Do you not know that, or are you just pretending? Or maybe you're just hoping I’ll die so you can marry Tyler?"

Chloe's eyes went red with fury. She lunged forward to slap me.

"Ethan, that's enough!"

Tyler stepped in, pretending to play the peacemaker. "Hey, don't fight because of me. It's my fault for coming over, and I crossed the line at the funeral too. Ethan, I don't want this to ruin our brotherhood, okay?"

I scoffed, ignoring him. But then, Chloe suddenly snatched Cleo out of my arms and threw her to the ground.

Cleo shrieked in pain and terror.

Chloe scoffed in disgust and kicked her. Cleo's head slammed hard against the coffee table. She collapsed onto the floor, completely motionless.

"Chloe! What the hell are you doing?!"

I never expected her to hurt Cleo. With a furious roar, I shoved her aside.

I rushed over, gently scooping Cleo into my arms. When I felt her shallow breathing, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

But Chloe stood there, completely unbothered, showing no remorse whatsoever.

"Stray cats are ungrateful beasts anyway. I told you we should have never brought her home!"

Ungrateful?

If you ask me, the cat wasn't the ungrateful one here.

Sometimes, human hearts are far more vicious than animals.

I stood up with Cleo in my arms, staring coldly at Chloe. Seeing the icy fury in my eyes, her smug attitude faltered slightly.

But she still muttered under her breath.

"I'm not wrong. Strays carry all kinds of diseases."

"None of your business."

I stormed out of the house, holding Cleo tight.