The Price of His Second Thoughts

Every time my boyfriend, Ethan, and I had sex, my best friend, Chloe, stood less than three feet away, watching us. All because Ethan supposedly developed severe skin hunger after donating his bone marrow to save my life. Whenever an episode hit, Chloe—a psychology major—was the only one who could calm him down through physical contact. So, on our anniversary, their fingers were tightly intertwined. At our engagement party, they clung to each other like conjoined twins. I broke down and thought about ending things countless times. Yet every single time, he fell to his knees in tears. "Serena, do you find me disgusting? You can't do this to me." "If I hadn't donated my marrow to save you, I wouldn't have ended up like this." Chloe acted torn and gave me repeated reassurances. "It's better that it's me than some stranger. I can keep an eye on him for you, and I swear I'll never cross the line." Guilt-ridden, I forced myself to turn a blind eye to their intimacy. Until today, when Ethan went for his solo follow-up appointment. Uneasy, I turned back halfway to the hospital, only to find Chloe cornering him by the stairwell. "How long are you going to keep faking this illness? I don't care about having a title, but I won't be able to hide this baby in my belly forever." "You have to give me and our child an answer eventually." Ethan wrapped his arms around her, kissing her passionately. "Just wait a little longer. I promised her a grand wedding." "Think of it as my final compensation to her. As soon as the ceremony is over, I'll marry you." I clamped a hand over my mouth, fighting back my sobs. Their intimacy wasn't a symptom. It was love. Since that was the case, in this crowded relationship of three, I chose to step aside and set them free. I didn't storm forward to confront them. Their conversation around the corner went on. Chloe hung all over him, scoffing coldly. "Look at you, being so kind-hearted. You already saved her life, yet you still insist on giving her a lavish wedding." Sensing the jealousy in her voice, Ethan pulled her closer, his tone turning distinctly coaxing. "You know damn well that whole marrow donor story was fake. It was just a convenient excuse for me to stay by your side in broad daylight without raising suspicion." "Are you really going to be jealous over that?" A bomb went off in my head. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me, chilling me to the core. Because of this supposed life-saving debt, I had forced myself to tolerate their blatant physical affection as something justified. Not only had I lived in sheer agony, but my parents had also endured endless humiliation on my behalf. And now, I found out it was all a lie. A heavy weight crushed my chest, making it hard to breathe. Chloe hummed contentedly after being pacified, yet she still pouted. "Then what about the wedding? Just throw a simple one together. Why make it so elaborate?" "I don't care. You're just treating her better than me." This time, Ethan didn't immediately soothe her. He fell silent for a long moment before speaking, his voice laced with a subtle chill. "Chloe, I don't want to hear that again." "Serena can't compare to you. But she's stayed by my side for so many years. All she ever wanted was a proper wedding. I owe her that much." Sensing his irritation, Chloe backed off, softening her tone to placate him. "Alright, I was just rambling. Don't be mad. I won't say it again." As soon as she finished, the crisp click of Ethan's belt buckle echoed in the quiet stairwell. Heavy, lustful gasps intertwined. Chloe let out a soft cry. "Not here... be gentle..." "I'm carrying your baby!" Ethan's voice grew rough and husky. "You asked for this. Take it!" Nausea surged in my gut. I desperately wanted to rush out and demand an explanation. It took every ounce of strength I had to suppress the rage boiling within me. That night, they didn't return until ten o'clock. "Serena? You're still awake?" "Let me tell you, that checkup was exhausting today. We ran all over the place for tests. My legs are completely weak." Chloe linked her arm through mine the moment she stepped inside, acting cute. Up close, I could smell the faint trace of Ethan's cologne on her. I sat stiffly on the couch. Why her legs were weak was something I knew better than anyone. Seeing my silence, Ethan quickly leaned in with concern. "Why are you so pale?" "Did you get into an argument with a coworker today?" Before I could speak, Chloe cut in with a chuckle. "Ethan, you're overthinking it." "She can tolerate the man she loves cuddling another woman every day without batting an eye. She's practically a saint. How could she possibly argue with anyone?" Chloe said it lightly, but I caught the clear mockery underneath. Ethan instantly shot her a warning glare. She quickly shut her mouth, wrapping both hands around my arm and shaking it gently. "Oh, Serena, you know I'm just blunt. Don't take it to heart." "The doctor said today that Ethan's condition might actually be curable soon. Your suffering is finally coming to an end." "As the medicine that kept him going for three years, let me congratulate you in advance. Just don't forget about me in the future." She laughed and changed the topic. Yet every word felt loaded. It was as if she were reminding me that once Ethan recovered, I would be the one cast aside.I didn't say a single word from beginning to end. Sensing that something was off, Ethan glared at Chloe again. "Haven't you talked enough tonight?" "If you have nothing else to say, go back to your room." Chloe didn't get angry at his harsh tone. Instead, she stuck her tongue out at him. "Ethan, that's not very fair of you." "What? The moment you're not having an episode, I'm just disposable?" "Don't come begging to hug me when you start feeling miserable later." They bickered back and forth, completely ignoring me, as if I were nothing more than thin air. Back when Ethan and I first started dating, Chloe had looked down on him in every possible way. Every time they met, sparks flew. "He's almost thirty and still just a low-level corporate drone. Serena, what do you even see in him?" Ethan never backed down either. "Being an ordinary employee is still better than being someone who only knows how to gossip behind people's backs." Back then, their arguments always seemed centered around looking out for me. Because of that, I never doubted their loyalty. Who could have predicted that everything was merely an act? If this had happened in the past, I would have stepped in to mediate. Tonight, however, I only felt deep exhaustion. "If there's nothing else, I'm going to bed." The moment I stepped away, the living room fell dead silent. I lowered my head, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. They never needed me as a middleman in the first place. Right after I lay down in bed, Ethan followed me into the room. He knelt by the bedside, leaning over to look at me. "Serena, you've been acting strange today. What happened?" "Don't carry everything on your own. You have me." He was so close that his dark pupils reflected only my face. My heart filled with bitterness. Ethan probably hadn't even realized that a faint hickey was still visible on the side of his neck. "Nothing. I'm just tired." Ethan opened his mouth to say more, but his phone suddenly buzzed. He pulled it out quickly, glanced at the screen, and his brows furrowed slightly. Less than a minute after putting his phone down, he clutched his chest, his breathing turning rapid and shallow. "Serena, I... I think an episode is starting... I can't catch my breath..." "Serena, it hurts so bad..." In the past, I would have rushed out to find Chloe, begging her to help soothe his symptoms. Now, I just stared blankly at him. Through the reflection in the window glass, I had already seen the notification on his screen. It was a text from Chloe. Just one simple sentence: [Five minutes. If you don't come comfort me, I'm leaving with the baby.] That was why he had staged this sudden episode so desperately. Honestly, Ethan's acting was terrible. In the past, I had only believed it because I was blinded by guilt and constantly made excuses for him. Not anymore. "If you're having an episode, call a doctor. What's the point of telling me?" A flash of genuine shock crossed Ethan's eyes. For a split second, he nearly dropped the act entirely. "Serena, you..." I rolled over, turning my back to him. Ethan's phone buzzed repeatedly. With a helpless sigh, he offered an explanation, as if trying to clear his conscience. "Serena, I really feel terrible right now. Can I go stay with Chloe for a bit?" "Don't overthink it. I promise it's just to get through this flare-up..." I didn't answer. The messages on the other end were relentless, so he didn't wait for my reply before rushing out. Less than a minute later, their voices drifted from the adjacent room. "What took you so long? You're so slow! Why are you just standing there? Come hold me!" Ethan didn't move. "Serena was acting weird tonight. Do you think she found out something?" "You're just too tense. Come over here and tell me if this new lingerie looks good on me." "I'm talking about something serious." Chloe lost her temper. "So what if she found out? We're going to tell her sooner or later anyway." "I'm sick and tired of sneaking around like this!" Ethan sounded exasperated. "Chloe, stop talking out of anger. She can't know anything before the wedding." "Otherwise, Serena won't be able to handle it. We already owe her too much." Chloe fell silent for a long moment before answering coldly. "You saved her life. You don't owe her anything." "Ethan, you know deep down whether you're doing this out of love or out of guilt." The man didn't reply. The night was so quiet that even their hushed whispers carried clearly into my ears. Clenching my teeth, I quietly booked a plane ticket back to my hometown.When morning arrived, both of them were gone. A note was left on the dining table in Ethan's handwriting: [I had a terrible night. Chloe spent hours calming me down and ended up running a fever this morning. I took her to the clinic. Don't worry, we'll be back soon.] I stared at it in silence. My phone screen lit up, displaying a new post on Instagram. It had been uploaded thirty minutes ago. Just a simple caption: [First ultrasound! So nervous. Our family of three is finally meeting for the first time.] The attached photo showed two hands tightly intertwined. It was Chloe's burner account. She had probably forgotten that she ever added me on it. I crumpled the note into a tight ball and tossed it into the trash. Then, I submitted a request for paid time off, booked the earliest flight home, and began packing my bags. Halfway through packing, the front door clicked open. They must have assumed I had already left for work. In the living room, they embraced each other without hesitation. "Happy to see the first picture of your baby?" Chloe pulled out the ultrasound scan and waved it in front of him. A wide smile spread across Ethan's face as he lovingly kissed her eyes and the tip of her nose. "Of course I am. Happier than I've ever been in my life." "Chloe, thank you for keeping this baby. I swear I'll take good care of you and our child for the rest of my days." Tears welled in Chloe's eyes as she playfully pounded his chest. "Why are you being so cheesy all of a sudden?" "Hmph, weren't you snapping at me last night?" Ethan pulled her back into his arms, showering her with kisses and whispered apologies. "Wasn't that because an outsider was watching? I had to keep up appearances, didn't I?" The word "outsider" pierced my heart like a dagger. Ethan had been the one to pursue me relentlessly. It took him three years and twenty-seven confessions before I finally said yes. On the day of his proposal, Ethan had dropped to both knees in front of everyone. "Serena, thank you for agreeing to marry me." "I, Ethan, swear that you will be the only woman in my heart for the rest of my life. I will never do anything to betray you." I had laughed, teasing him that nobody proposed on two knees. He insisted it made him look more sincere. Who could have guessed that his "lifetime" was so short? Snapping out of my memories, I saw the two of them getting carried away in the living room. "Why are you starting again... wait... the blinds aren't closed!" Ethan's breath was ragged. "I can't wait... Nobody's home anyway, why care? I..." Mid-sentence, he happened to look through the crack of the bedroom door, locking eyes with me. Ethan's face drained of color. He shoved Chloe away in sheer panic. Both of them stared at me, eyes wide with terror. "Serena... why aren't you at work?" I didn't answer his question. Instead, my eyes locked onto their intertwined hands, and I asked the question I already knew the answer to. "You're pregnant? With his baby?" "When... when did this start?" Ethan didn't dare meet my gaze, keeping his head low. Chloe stepped forward nonchalantly, shielding him. "Serena, since you've seen it, there's no point in hiding it anymore." "I'm almost four months along. It's Ethan's." "He and I... we've been together since your second year with him..." Before Chloe could finish, Ethan snapped coldly, "Enough! Stop talking!" A suffocating darkness closed in around me. The second year... That was the year I had suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with mild depression. Ethan claimed he was overwhelmed with work, disappearing for days at a time. So he was spending that time with her? A wave of utter breakdown crashed over me. I slapped Ethan across the face. Aching for him, Chloe stepped in to pull me away. In the scuffle, my lower back slammed into the sharp corner of the table, while Chloe lost her footing and tumbled to the floor. Ethan's expression morphed instantly into horror. "Chloe!" He lunged forward, gathering her into his arms, his glare at me freezing cold. "Serena! You've crossed the line!" "If you're angry, take it out on me! The baby is innocent!" I gasped in agony, my face turning deathly pale from the impact against the table. Only then did he seem to realize I was hurt, hesitating for a fraction of a second. Chloe suddenly burst into tears. "Ethan, my stomach hurts so much... our baby... take me to the hospital, quickly..." He instantly tore his eyes away from me, lifting Chloe into his arms and bolting for the door without looking back. Before stepping out, he threw a final warning over his shoulder. "If anything happens to Chloe and the baby, I will never forgive you!"Tears streamed down my cheeks in silence. I couldn't tell if the pain was in my lower back or my heart. Perhaps I was already numb. I didn't let myself wallow in the sorrow. Enduring the throbbing ache, I continued packing my bags. Just as I was about to walk out the door, my phone rang. It was an urgent call from HR. "Serena, your PTO request has been rejected." I frowned in confusion. "I haven't used any of my vacation days this year. Why was it rejected? Who did this?" The HR representative hesitated on the other end for a long moment before answering. "Manager Ethan rejected it personally." "Also, a major project was reassigned under your name today. The deliverable is due tomorrow, otherwise the company faces massive breach-of-contract penalties." My vision blurred. Bracing myself against the wall, I stumbled into the study and booted up my laptop. Sure enough, an incomplete project file was sitting under my internal workspace account. I clicked it open. It was the account Chloe had been managing for the past few weeks. Worse, several core data metrics were completely botched. The draft had already been submitted to the client once. A rough estimate showed damages exceeding thirty thousand dollars. Clenching my fists, I dialed Ethan's number immediately. "What is the meaning of this project reassignment?" Silence hung on the line for a few seconds before he finally spoke. "Chloe's pregnancy has been rough. Her mental state has been terrible these past few months." I gritted my teeth, asking through clenched jaws, "And so?" He let out a heavy sigh, sounding exasperated. "She made mistakes at work because she was constantly anxious about keeping this from you to avoid hurting you." "She worked so hard to get to where she is today. If this fall falls on her, her career is finished." I couldn't hold it back anymore and screamed into the phone. "So to protect her, you decided to ruin me instead?!" Ethan knew better than anyone how hard I had fought to earn my current position. Yet without a word of warning, he threw me under the bus for another woman. Tears poured down uncontrollably. I felt completely gutted, yet all he offered was a callous, dismissive remark. "You have me backing you up. You won't get fired." "At most, your quarterly bonus will be docked. It won't affect you that much." But that quarterly bonus belonged to my entire team! My team members had worked their fingers to the bone alongside me for months. And now, they would end up with nothing. How was I supposed to lead them after this? Ethan didn't care. His voice turned icy. "Because of what you did today, Chloe nearly had a miscarriage! Don't you owe her some compensation?" "Serena, don't be so selfish." With that, he hung up without hesitation. Seconds later, an official announcement popped up in our department WhatsApp group: [Due to Serena's negligence, the project suffered over thirty thousand dollars in losses. The quarterly bonuses for her entire team are hereby revoked.] Within a minute, my phone blew up with calls from my team members. Everyone was demanding an explanation in sheer outrage. The final string holding my composure together snapped completely. In a daze, I took a cab straight to the office. The colleagues who had fought alongside me now looked at me with cold fury. I went straight to HR, handing over my personal debit card. The money inside was what I had saved up for my wedding with Ethan. I wouldn't be needing it anymore. "Please distribute this among my team members as compensation for their lost bonuses." "And here is my letter of resignation." The HR specialist stared at me in shock for a moment. Seeing my unwavering determination, she finally processed it. With everything settled, I grabbed my ID and headed straight to the airport. The boarding call for my flight was just echoing through the terminal. Before stepping onto the jet bridge, my phone vibrated. It was a text from Ethan: [Chloe and I talked it over. You take the blame for her this time, and she'll take the baby and move far away so she won't disrupt our lives anymore. We'll be even, and you and I can live peacefully together from now on.] There would be no "from now on." In this three-person relationship, I had lost completely.