Chapter 3

When I did not pick up my fork,Ethan put some food on my plate.

“You like the shrimp.”

Claire was drinking her soup when her phone rang.

“Ethan,Dad’s awake.He wants to see us on video.”

Ethan’s chopsticks stopped in midair.

I looked up too.

Claire bit her lip,tears gathering in her eyes again.

“I know I shouldn’t keep bothering you,but the doctor said he may not stay lucid for long.I’m afraid he’ll become confused again.”

After a moment,Ethan wiped his hands.

“Answer it.”

The video connected.The old man on the screen wore an oxygen tube,and his voice was muddled.

“Claire...where’s my son-in-law?”

Claire turned the camera toward Ethan.

He leaned closer and spoke gently.“I’m here.”

The old man smiled,tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

“Good...good.I can rest easy knowing Claire is with you.”

Ethan swallowed.

“Just focus on getting well.”

I sat beside them like an outsider who had no place there.

Claire suddenly touched her bare hand in panic.“Dad,look.I’m wearing my ring.”

There was nothing on her finger.

The old man could not see clearly,but he still strained toward the screen.

“A ring...yes.A marriage needs a ring.”

Claire froze.

Ethan instinctively looked at me.

I looked back at him.

The wedding rings we had chosen were in the nightstand in the master bedroom.

I thought he would at least show some restraint.Instead,he got up and walked straight into the bedroom.

I heard the drawer open.

A moment later,he returned with the ring box.

He took out the woman’s ring and held it toward Claire.

“Just wear it for now.”

I stared at him,unable to say a word.

Claire shook her head in alarm.“No.That’s Erin’s.”

Ethan did not look at me.He said gently,“It’s only to put Professor Bennett’s mind at ease.”

He slid my ring onto Claire’s ring finger himself.

It did not fit.Claire’s fingers were slimmer than mine,and the ring hung loosely.

She smiled at the camera,then began to cry.

“Dad,look.We really are married.”

The old man finally smiled.

Ethan relaxed too.

I stood abruptly,the chair scraping harshly across the floor.

Ethan turned.

“Erin,where are you going?”

I walked into the master bedroom,pulled my clothes from the closet,and started packing.

Ethan followed and closed the door.

“Don’t do this.Professor Bennett doesn’t have much time left.I can’t upset him now.”

“So you upset me instead?”

“You’re perfectly healthy.Do you really have to compete with a dying man?”

I looked up at him.

The room went cold the moment those words left his mouth.

Ethan realized he had gone too far.He reached for me.“Erin,that isn’t what I meant.I’m just exhausted.”

I stepped away.

His hand froze in the air.

Claire knocked softly outside.“Ethan,your mother is calling.I think she’s asking about the wedding.”

His frown deepened.

He answered on speaker,and his mother’s voice filled the room.

“Ethan,what is going on with you and Erin?The hotel says the remaining balance hasn’t been confirmed.Your father’s colleagues have all been invited.Don’t embarrass us at the last minute.”

Ethan glanced at me.“Mom,we may have to postpone the wedding.”

“Why?”

He said nothing.

Claire stood in the doorway,her face pale.

At last,Ethan said,“Erin hasn’t been in a good mood lately.We postponed the ceremony too.”

The clothes slipped from my hands.

His mother immediately grew agitated.“You’ve been together seven years.Why is she causing trouble now?Ethan is so busy,and she’s a teacher.Surely she has more time than he does.Can’t she be a little more understanding?”

I stared at Ethan.

He did not explain.He did not even say that it was not my fault.

After the call ended,Claire looked at me with reddened eyes.

“Erin,I’m sorry.Did Mrs.Walker misunderstand you?I’ll explain.”

Ethan stopped her.

“Don’t make things worse.”

I tugged at the corner of my mouth,my chest hollow with grief.