After Freezing My Trash Ex's Bank Cards, He Begged Me in the Snow

To bear Ethan Hayes a child, I endured over three hundred progesterone shots. But on the day my water broke and I collapsed on the floor, he was driving the Porsche I bought him, taking the underprivileged girl he sponsored to her job interview. I writhed in a pool of blood, begging him over the phone to come back and save me and our baby. But he only warned me coldly: "Chloe is terrified of her first interview, Audrey. Stop throwing these dramatic tantrums. Call 911 yourself. I can't leave her right now." Because of the delay, I didn't just lose my full-term baby—I was permanently stripped of my chance to ever become a mother. When he finally rushed to the hospital that evening, his eyes were bloodshot. I thought he was mourning our unborn child. Instead, he tucked me in and complained, "Chloe failed her interview and cried so hard she could barely breathe. I couldn't bear to leave her alone." "We can always adopt another child. Chloe is devastated about her interview right now, so don't give her attitude." Listening to his righteous accusations, I didn't shed a single tear. I slammed the divorce papers I had prepared beforehand right into his face. Ethan ripped the papers to shreds in a rage. "All because I borrowed your car? You’re bringing up divorce just to get my attention? Do you really think I can't survive without you?" He had no idea that by tomorrow morning, this high-and-mighty CEO and his manipulative little charity case would be kicked out onto the streets with absolutely nothing. "Are you done throwing tantrums yet?" Ethan threw the shredded pieces of the divorce papers into the trash can, brushing off non-existent dust from his suit sleeves. "Audrey, all of this just because I borrowed your car? You’re bringing up divorce just to get my attention? Do you really think I can't survive without you?" I lay on the hospital bed. The anesthesia hadn't fully worn off, and I could only feel a dull, unbearable emptiness in my lower abdomen. A fully formed baby boy was supposed to be in there. To keep him safe, I had endured over three hundred painful injections in my stomach, leaving my skin covered in bruised, hard lumps. Now, it was all gone. I stared at Ethan's impatient face. His brows were slightly furrowed, his tone condescending, as if he were passing judgment on me. "Audrey, if you just drop this spoiled heiress attitude of yours, we can go back to how we used to be." "Chloe just graduated. She’s sensitive. You’re the mature one here, why are you picking fights with her?" This time, I didn't scream or cry like I used to. I just quietly stared at the white fluorescent light on the ceiling. "The car is mine. The company is mine. Even the penthouse you live in is mine." My voice was barely a whisper. "Ethan, take Chloe and get the hell out." Ethan froze, clearly caught off guard by my tone. In the past, I would always cry and demand to know why he prioritized that charity girl over his own wife. But soon, he let out a cold chuckle and pulled up a chair to sit beside the bed. "Audrey, are you doing this again?" He looked down at me, his eyes full of confidence. "Every time we fight, you throw your money in my face. Do you really find this amusing?" "Yes, I used your resources. But have I made little profit for the company over the past two years?" "Do you still think you're the high-and-mighty Vance family heiress who can look down on everyone?" "If I hadn't been running the company for you, you would have gone bankrupt long ago." He casually erased all my sacrifices, acting as if everything he had was earned solely by himself. "Stop acting up. I’m exhausted today." "Chloe failed her interview. She stood on the rooftop in the freezing wind for half an hour, almost jumping off." "It took everything I had to calm her down." "And what do you do? The moment we meet, you threaten me with divorce." He reached out to pat my head, but I turned my face away, dodging his sickening touch. Ethan’s hand froze mid-air, and his expression instantly darkened. "You just have to ruin my day, don't you?" "I'm devastated about the baby too." "But the doctor said you’re still young. Once you recover, we can try again." "But Chloe’s trauma is irreversible. She’s an orphan, Audrey. I’m the only family she has left." This man placed a mother who had just lost her baby and a manipulative girl who had failed a job interview on the same scale, and without hesitation, he chose the latter. Looking at him, I felt nothing but utter disgust. "Just leave." I closed my eyes, refusing to look at him. Ethan assumed I was giving in. He let out a sigh, his tone softening slightly. "I’ve hired the best private nurse for you." "I'll be spending more time with Chloe these next few days. She’s emotionally unstable and can't be left alone." "Be good. Once things settle down, I'll buy you whatever bag you want." He always did this—slapping me first, then offering a cheap sweet, absolutely certain that I could never leave him. Right then, his phone rang with a custom ringtone. It was Chloe. Ethan picked up immediately, his voice incredibly tender. "What's wrong, Chloe? Did you have another nightmare?" Chloe’s fragile sobbing came through the speaker. "Ethan, I'm so scared alone in this hotel room." "Is Audrey mad at me?" "It's all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on taking Audrey's car to the interview, her baby wouldn't have..." "Don't talk nonsense." Ethan cut her off, casting a quick glance at me. "This has nothing to do with you. She was just careless." "Wait for me in your room. I'm coming over to keep you company right now." He hung up and turned back to me. "Chloe is scared by herself. I’m going over to check on her." "Get some rest." Without another word of comfort, he turned and strode out of the VIP room. The moment the door slammed shut, I ripped the IV line out of my hand. Blood immediately welled up, dripping onto the white sheets. Using my other hand, I picked up my phone and dialed my lawyer. "Marcus, initiate the asset recovery process." "Before eight tomorrow morning, I want all of Ethan Hayes’s bank cards frozen." "And revoke all the shares he holds on my behalf." Marcus paused on the other end. "Ms. Vance, are you sure? This will bankrupt Mr. Hayes instantly." "I am sure." I stared out at the night sky. From the hallway, the faint rolling sound of a nurse's cart echoed.In the early morning, the hospital room was so quiet that only the ticking of the heart monitor could be heard. Maria, the private nurse, gently wiped my body. Ethan never showed up. Around noon, Ethan’s assistant, James, pushed the door open. He was holding a thermal container, looking extremely awkward. "Ms. Vance, Mr. Hayes is accompanying Miss Mills to her therapist today. He really couldn't make it." "He specifically ordered this porridge for you to help you recover." I leaned against the pillow, making no move to take it. Maria took it warmly and opened the lid. Instantly, the rich aroma of peanuts filled the room. It was peanut and red date porridge, topped with a thick layer of crushed peanuts. Looking at those crushed peanuts, a wave of nausea hit my stomach. I have a severe peanut allergy. Just a single bite could cause acute laryngeal edema or even anaphylactic shock. Ethan knew this better than anyone. During our first year of marriage, we went to a restaurant where he accidentally ordered a dish containing peanut butter. I took one bite and was rushed to the ER. That day, his eyes were red with panic. He held the doctor's hand, apologizing repeatedly, swearing he would never let me touch peanuts again. But now, he had completely forgotten. After all, Chloe’s favorite food was peanuts. He remembered every single one of Chloe’s preferences, but forgot whether I would live or die. "Ms. Vance, have some while it's hot," James said, attempting to scoop some into a bowl. "Throw it away," I said calmly. James froze, his hand holding the spoon suspended in the air. "But Ms. Vance, this is Mr. Hayes’s gesture..." "I said, throw it away." James didn't dare say another word. He immediately tossed the porridge, along with the expensive container, into the trash can in the corner. At three in the afternoon, the door opened again. Chloe walked in. She was wearing a high-end cashmere coat—the very one I had custom-ordered from Paris last month. It was slightly too big for her, making her look exceptionally petite and fragile. Around her neck, she wore the pearl necklace my late mother had left me. "Audrey, are you feeling better today?" Chloe walked to the bedside, looking at me timidly. "Ethan wanted to come himself, but he went to line up for me at that trendy Starbucks in Soho." "He said when I'm sad, eating something sweet makes me feel better." As she spoke, she intentionally adjusted her coat, making sure the pearl necklace was fully visible. "I'm so sorry, Audrey. Ethan insisted on buying this coat for me. He said I look much better in it than you do." "You aren't mad at me, are you?" Staring at her pathetic performance, my heart didn't even flicker. "Since you've worn it, don't take it off." "I find it dirty." Chloe’s eyes welled with tears instantly, and they began to stream down her face. "Audrey, how could you say that to me?" "I know you're hurting because you lost the baby, but you can't take your anger out on me." She cried as she backed away. Her high heel caught on the leg of a chair, and with a soft cry, she fell to the floor. Almost at the exact same moment, the door was violently pushed open. Ethan strode in, holding a Starbucks bag. Seeing Chloe on the floor, his expression changed instantly. He dropped the bag and rushed over to lift her up. "Chloe, are you okay?" Chloe clung to his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm fine, Ethan. I just fell because I was clumsy. Don't blame Audrey." Ethan looked up, his eyes ice-cold as he glared at me. "Audrey, can't you even tolerate a young girl?" "She came all this way just to check on you. Why did you push her?" Staring at his furious face, I felt nothing but supreme irony. "Ethan, do you remember that I'm allergic to peanuts?" Ethan froze. His eyes instinctively darted to the trash can in the corner, where the peanut porridge lay. Guilt flashed through his eyes, and his confidence visibly faltered. "It was just some peanuts. You could have just picked them out." "Was it really necessary to torture Chloe over such a small thing?" I lowered my head and smoothed out the edge of my blanket, utterly refusing to give him another word.Ethan took my silence as submission. He helped Chloe to the sofa, then walked back to the bed, looking down at me. "Audrey, I know you’re emotionally unstable right now after the miscarriage." "But you can't go around treating everyone like they're your enemy." He lectured me in his usual logical, cold tone. "Chloe is about to start her internship at the company. It’s hard for a young girl just entering society." "Give her the position of director for the New York project. It'll be good practice for her." The New York project was something I had pulled all-nighters for, drinking countless cups of black coffee to secure. It held the core profit for the company's second half of the year. With one casual sentence, he wanted to hand it over to a fresh graduate who couldn't even pass a basic interview. I looked up at his arrogant face. "Okay," I agreed, my voice completely flat. Ethan was visibly stunned. He hadn't expected me to agree so easily. All the arguments he had prepared died in his throat, replaced by an uncontrollable look of satisfaction. "You’re finally growing up." He even reached out, patting my hair with the haughty grace of a master rewarding a pet. "This is what a good wife should be like." "Once you’re discharged, I’ll put my work aside and take you to the Bahamas for a vacation." "Don't worry about the baby. We can always have another one later." Sitting on the sofa, Chloe watched Ethan’s gentle gesture toward me. She bit her lip secretly, then suddenly clutched her chest with a soft groan. "Ethan, my chest feels so tight. I think I caught a cold on the rooftop the other day." "Audrey just had a miscarriage, so she should really rest at home. Going to the beach might make her condition worse." Ethan immediately pulled his hand back from my head and turned to Chloe. "You're right. Audrey's body is too weak for long-distance travel." "Once Chloe’s internship stabilizes, I’ll take you out." He turned back to me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I won't be coming to the office for the next few days. Chloe is unwell, so I’ll stay at the apartment to take care of her." "Get some good rest. If you need anything, call the nurse." I didn't speak. My phone screen lit up. It was a WhatsApp notification from Marcus, my lawyer. "Ms. Vance, the asset liquidation is complete. We can pull the net at any time." My fingers tapped on the screen, replying with four simple words. "Wait till I'm out." Seeing me staring at my phone, Ethan’s brow furrowed. "I’m talking to you. Did you hear me?" "I heard you." I locked my phone screen. My submissive attitude pleased Ethan immensely. He tucked the blanket around me, his movements incredibly gentle. As if he were the perfect, loving husband. But looking at a strand of Chloe's curly hair stuck to his suit sleeve, another wave of nausea washed over me. "I’m tired. I want to sleep." I turned my back to him. Ethan said nothing and left the room with Chloe. For the next few days, Ethan never showed up again. He didn't even call. I took my medication on time and cooperated with the doctors, quietly watching the leaves turn yellow outside the window. Maria, the nurse, looked at me several times, hesitating. "Ms. Vance, your husband..." "He’s dead to me," I interrupted. Maria gasped and didn't dare say another word. On the day I was discharged, a light drizzle was falling. I changed into my clothes and folded my hospital gown neatly on the bed. My phone vibrated. A Snapchat message from Ethan popped up. "Chloe got bullied at the office and is crying hysterically. I really can't leave her." "Take a cab back yourself. Stay safe." I looked at the message, not even feeling the desire to reply. I handled the discharge paperwork myself and walked out of the hospital gates holding my duffel bag. The cold wind, mixed with rain, bit into my skin. I hailed a cab and gave the driver my villa’s address. The villa was paid for in full by me before our marriage. The car stopped at the gates. I paid the driver, carried my bag, and walked up to the front door to enter the passcode. "Incorrect passcode," the mechanical voice chimed in the rain. I stared at the flashing red light on the digital lock.I stood in the rain, my finger hovering over the keypad. For three years, our home's passcode had always been the anniversary of my mother's passing. I tried entering Chloe’s birthday. "Beep—" The lock clicked open. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a wave of the cheap perfume Chloe loved hit my face, completely clashing with the elegant, classic decor of my villa. The living room was in absolute chaos. My prized vinyl records were scattered carelessly on the floor, some even bearing visible shoe prints. In the antique vase I had bought at an auction, someone had stuffed cheap, plastic flowers. Chloe was standing in front of the full-length mirror in the center of the room, wearing the haute couture gown I had prepared for an upcoming charity gala. The dress was far too large for her, so she had crudely pinned it back with plastic clips, wrinkling the delicate silk. Ethan sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hand-drip coffee, watching her with a face full of adoration. "Ethan, do I look pretty in this?" Chloe spun around, holding up the hem. "Beautiful. You were born to be a princess," Ethan’s voice was filled with pampering warmth. Hearing the door open, both of them turned. Seeing me standing at the door drenched in rain and holding a duffel bag, the smile on Ethan’s face vanished. He frowned and slammed his coffee cup onto the glass table. "Why didn't you knock before coming in?" He questioned me with the authority of a master, making me look like an unwelcome intruder in my own home. Ignoring his question, my gaze locked onto Chloe. "Take it off," I said, my voice eerily calm. Terrified, Chloe shrank behind Ethan, grabbing his sleeve tightly. "Audrey, I was just trying it on..." "Take. It. Off," I repeated. Ethan stood up, shielding Chloe behind his body. "Audrey Vance, don't cross the line." "It's just a dress. What's the big deal if Chloe likes it and keeps it?" "Do you have to show us that miserable face the moment you step through the door?" He pointed toward the bedroom at the end of the first-floor hallway. "Chloe will be moving into the master bedroom. She’s easily scared and gets nightmares, and the guest room doesn't get enough sunlight." "Pack your things and move into the maid's room on the first floor." The maid's room. He took away my rights in this house so casually, believing he was being incredibly generous. I stared at him, finding the entire situation absolutely absurd. This was the man I had loved for three years, the man for whom I had almost died on the operating table trying to give him a child. I didn't scream, and I didn't cry. I simply turned around, grabbing my bag, and walked back out into the rain. Ethan was completely enraged by my silent defiance. He marched to the door and roared at my retreating back. "Audrey Vance! If you walk out of this door today, don't expect me to ever comfort you again!" "Do you still think you're some high-and-mighty heiress?" "Without me, you can't even keep this home together!" I stopped my steps and slowly turned around. The rainwater ran down my face, freezing cold. "Ethan, did you forget?" "The deed to this villa only has my name on it." Ethan let out a harsh laugh. "So what? All the executive power of the company is in my hands." "With one word from me, you’ll be a penniless nobody tomorrow!" The moment the words left his mouth, a sharp, wailing siren echoed outside the gates. Several police cruisers and court enforcement vehicles pulled up right outside the courtyard. The doors opened, and Marcus, followed by several court marshals, walked briskly toward the house. Ethan froze, his smug grin stiffening on his face. "What is the meaning of this?" he stammered, instinctively taking a step back. Marcus walked over to my side, respectfully handing me an umbrella, before turning a cold stare toward Ethan. "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Vance has officially revoked all assets held under your name." "This includes all company shares, the vehicles registered under the company, and this very villa." "You and Miss Mills have exactly ten minutes to pack your things and vacate the premises."