I'm Done Being Your Safety Net

On the day I was discharged from the hospital after my major surgery, Chloe promised she would come to pick me up. But I waited at the hospital curb for what felt like an eternity. As I watched Ubers and taxis pass by one after another, I realized she was never coming. Eventually, I had to hail a cab and head home by myself. When I finally unlocked the front door and sat down, I opened Snapchat. That was when I saw the story she had posted an hour ago. It was a photo of a thumb wrapped tightly in bandages, tied with a cute little pink bow. Her caption read: “Someone actually complained that my bandaging skills are ugly. Humph, I’m mad now!” My heart sank. I dialed her number. The call went through, but the voice that answered wasn't my wife's. It was Austin, her ex-boyfriend, his voice dripping with mockery. "Hey Chloe, your husband is checking in on you again. Does he ever leave you alone?" It was always like this. Every single time I needed my wife, Austin would conveniently have an emergency. He would get a minor scratch and need her to nurse him, or he would suddenly feel deeply depressed and lonely because he had "no other friends." And every single time, Chloe would choose him without a second thought. She rushed to his side, leaving me behind as if I were the intruder in her life. I slumped onto the sofa, completely drained. Looking around the quiet, empty house and recalling everything that had happened over the past few years, I finally made up my mind. I pulled out my phone and messaged my lawyer. I was done. I wanted a divorce. My lawyer messaged me the draft of the divorce agreement. I stood up and walked over to the desk, the silence of the empty house pressing down on me. The dozens of pages of legal text felt like a cruel joke, laughing at the three years of marriage I had poured my heart into. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a FaceTime call from Chloe. "Hey, babe, I'm so sorry," Chloe said as her face appeared on the screen. She looked stunning. She was wearing a tight, sexy slip dress with perfect makeup, though her expression was dismissive. "Something urgent came up, so I couldn't make it to the hospital to pick you up. Are you home?" Her tone was perfectly casual, as if she hadn’t just been laughing at me with her ex on the phone minutes ago. "Yeah," I replied quietly. I didn't know what else to say. I had heard the same excuses too many times. I was completely numb. Sensing my cold silence, Chloe tried to explain. "Austin was doing some home remodeling today and accidentally crushed his thumb. I was just so worried, so I..." "So you abandoned your husband of three years on the operating table to rush to an outsider?" I snapped, my voice cold and sharp. Chloe froze on the other side of the screen. When she found her voice, her tone immediately turned defensive and loud. "Don't talk about Austin like that! He is not an outsider, he's my friend! Besides, your surgery was a success, wasn't it? You're fine!" "Ethan, can you stop throwing a tantrum over nothing?" I wanted to laugh, but my chest just felt tight. What kind of "friend" was more important than her own husband? "Who is the one throwing a tantrum here? A friend? Chloe, do you share drinks and eat from the same plate with a regular 'friend'?” “Does a 'friend' call you in the middle of the night and make you run to him instantly? Does he only call you when he's drunk? I am not an idiot!" "Austin gets a tiny scratch on his finger, and you lose your mind. I was literally throwing up blood in the hospital from a severe stomach ulcer, and you didn't even send a single text!" "It's always like this, Chloe. What am I to you?" I stood up too fast, and a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my surgical wound. Dizziness washed over me, and I had to grip the edge of the sofa to keep from collapsing. My lips must have turned completely white. But Chloe didn't even notice. Her voice grew sharper, filled with utter annoyance. "I told you, we are just friends." "If you want to think of it in such a dirty way, there's nothing I can do." My burning anger felt like a heavy fist hitting a soft pile of cotton. It did nothing but leave me feeling exhausted. "I'm not coming home tonight," Chloe announced flatly. She held up a small mirror, adjusting her lipstick. As her phone tilted slightly, the camera caught a glimpse of the background. A man was standing there, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. "Are you spending the night with your 'good friend'? Sharing the same bed?" "What is wrong with you? Why do you always have to make our friendship sound so disgusting? Ethan, your own mind is dirty, so you think everyone else is dirty too!" She was clearly flustered now, dropping her lipstick and yelling into the camera. I mocked, "Oh, really? What a pure, innocent relationship you have with your ex-boyfriend!" Suddenly, Austin leaned into the screen, pressing his shoulder tightly against Chloe's. "Ethan, please don't be mad at Chloe. It's all my fault," Austin said, his voice soft and apologetic, but his eyes were filled with smug provocation. "If I hadn't been so clumsy and hurt my hand, Chloe wouldn't have rushed over out of worry. I didn't mean to cause a fight between you two." "It's just... I don't really have any other friends in this city. Chloe is the only one who cares. She's such a sweet girl, always helping me when I'm down..." As he spoke, he looked at me through the screen like a predator enjoying his victory. "Ha," I let out a dry, cold laugh. "Right. You've been broken up for years, yet you still only run to your married ex-girlfriend whenever you stub your toe. Pathetic." Chloe’s expression darkened instantly. She stepped in front of the camera, shielding Austin behind her. "Ethan! Don't you dare bully him!" As she moved, the angle of the camera shifted. I saw it clearly now. Underneath her slip dress, Chloe was wearing provocative, matching lace lingerie. And her thigh was pressed firmly against Austin's hip. Austin was subtly rubbing against her. It was so intimate it made me want to throw up. This woman, whom I had loved deeply for seven years, now felt like a complete stranger. From falling in love with her at first sight in our youth, to being bruised and battered in this marriage. I had walked this path in excruciating pain. I had risked everything for a happy ending, only to end up with nothing. "If you have nothing else to say, I'm hanging up," Chloe said, her breathing sounding slightly shallow. She reached for the screen to disconnect. "Chloe," I interrupted, my voice barely a whisper. "How can you look at yourself in the mirror?" Years ago, Chloe and Austin had a passionate, high-profile relationship. But in the end, Austin was only after her family's money. He embezzled a massive portion of the Vance family's business funds and fled the country. The company's cash flow broke, and Chloe's father aged overnight. Her father had to sell their properties to pay off the debts. He had to beg and bow to former partners for loans. Some creepy, wealthy investors tried to prey on Chloe, but her father blocked them with everything he had. Her father worked day and night without sleep, eventually suffering a fatal heart attack. Chloe had claimed to hate Austin with every fiber of her being. "Do you even remember that I gave up everything to move here with you?" I asked. During her darkest hours, I was the one who stayed by her side, pulling her out of the abyss. When she drowned her sorrows in alcohol every night, I was the one who took care of her, cooked for her, and encouraged her to rebuild her life. I gave up a promising career and a prestigious graduate school offer in my hometown. Without a second thought, I followed her to this city, three thousand miles away. I worked four jobs a day. I stayed up all night with her to help her relaunch her father's company. Four years later, we got married. Chloe cried tears of joy, saying that meeting me was the luckiest thing that had ever happened to her. Her company grew bigger and more successful. And then, Austin suddenly showed up again.At first, Chloe swore to me that she was only getting close to Austin to get revenge. But as time went on, she started coming home later and later. Soon, she stopped coming home at all on some nights. I began to sense that something was deeply wrong. Then, one day, a notification popped up on my phone—a receipt for a hotel room booking. I called Chloe immediately. No answer. I kept calling, over and over. When she finally picked up, I heard soft, rhythmic breathing in the background. Chloe quickly gasped out an explanation, saying she was just getting a massage at a spa, and hung up immediately. She was terrified I would hear more. I was an adult. I knew exactly what they were doing. But I lied to myself. I forced myself to believe it was just part of her "revenge." I told myself to wait. I trusted her. I loved her. I tried to understand her. What I got in return was only cold distance and endless silence. Our arguments became more frequent. She started defending him, saying Austin had no choice back then, that he didn't mean to steal the money and run. She said he had severe depression. And she kept throwing that pathetic excuse in my face: “We are just friends.” On the other end of the video call, Chloe looked slightly uncomfortable. I delivered my final ultimatum: "Chloe, if you don't come home tonight, don't ever come back." With that, I hung up. I printed out the divorce agreement on our home printer. I flipped through the photos on my phone. There were barely any photos of us together. She loved taking photos. Back when she was with Austin, she couldn't stop posting couples' photos on Instagram. She just didn't want to take photos with me. I waited until 4:30 AM, but Chloe never returned. My stomach flared with a burning, intolerable pain. The physical exhaustion finally forced me to close my eyes. When I woke up the next morning, the house was still empty. Just as I was hesitating to call her, the front door clicked open. Chloe walked in with a bright smile, holding a grocery bag. "Ethan, look! I bought some fresh shrimp. I'm going to make you a nice seafood soup to help you recover." She rarely cooked. The few times she did were always when I was furious, and she would reluctantly whip up a dish to pacify me. Even though I knew her apologies were always empty words, I had always forgiven her. I kept hoping that one day, she would finally wake up and love me back. But this time, I was just too tired. I took the grocery bag from her hands, fighting the nausea in my stomach. I gave her a pale, tired smile. "Chloe, did you forget? I'm severely allergic to shellfish." Of all the ingredients in the supermarket, she had to choose the one thing that could literally kill me. How was I supposed to believe she was actually trying to make amends? "Oh," Chloe laughed awkwardly, scratching her neck. "Well, you just have so many dietary restrictions. No this, no that... I guess I just forgot." "We've been married for three years, Chloe. Once, I had anaphylactic shock and ended up in the ER because of shrimp. Another time, I broke out in hives for three days. Do you really not remember any of that?" Chloe’s smile vanished, replaced by an annoyed scowl. "I have a million things to manage at the company, Ethan! How am I supposed to remember every tiny detail? Do you have to pick a fight over such petty things?" I didn't want to engage in this meaningless argument anymore. I chose silence. Then, my eyes fell on her other hand. She was holding another large bag of groceries, packed to the brim with various ingredients. But what she said next turned my blood to ice, making my entire body tremble. She smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling. "Austin is coming over in a bit. I was worried he wouldn't like my cooking, so I wanted to make some of his favorites." "He's very picky about food. He loves spicy dishes, and he absolutely hates the taste of garlic and ginger..." Once she started talking about Austin, she couldn't stop. She rambled on and on, her voice filled with excitement. Every single word was a knife, plunging deep into my chest. I couldn't take it anymore. I roared, "Enough! Is he your husband, or am I?!" "Ethan, how can you yell at Chloe like that?" Suddenly, a tall figure barged into the kitchen. Before I could react, he shoved me hard, sending me crashing against the kitchen island. It was Austin. I clutched my lower back where I had hit the counter, a sharp pain shooting through my spine. My head spun. "This is our home! Chloe, what the hell is he doing here?!" I demanded. Hearing my harsh tone, Chloe snapped too. "I told you, he is my friend! What's wrong with inviting a friend over to our house? Besides, Austin came here today to apologize to you. Why do you have to be so aggressive?" "Yeah, Ethan," Austin said, stepping closer to me. He pat my shoulder with mock sympathy. "It's all my fault. I hate that I'm always causing friction between you and Chloe." "It's just... I'm all alone in this city. Everything is so unfamiliar, and I don't have anyone else to turn to..." Austin lowered his head, pretending to look incredibly hurt and vulnerable. Then, he sighed. "Maybe I should just leave. I don't want to ruin your marriage. It's my fault. Chloe is such an amazing person, she shouldn't have to fight with you because of me..." Before he could even finish his sentence, Chloe threw her arms around him. Right in front of me, she gently patted his back to comfort him. She glared at me, her eyes filled with resentment. "It's not your fault, Austin." "Some people are just incredibly insecure and petty. He has to check my location and call me a thousand times a day! He's suffocating!" Austin smirked at me from over her shoulder. He gently took Chloe's hand. "Chloe, please. I'm sure Ethan only does that because he loves you and is worried about losing you." I took a step back, leaning against the wall for support. I forced myself to stand straight, refusing to show any weakness, even though the metallic taste of blood was rising in my throat. I looked at the two of them clinging to each other. I closed my eyes and let out a long breath. "Chloe, let's get a divorce." "I've already printed out the divorce agreement. It's on the desk. Just sign it." Chloe froze. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Divorce? Ethan, are you out of your mind?" "You're divorcing me over this?" She asked repeatedly, but I only looked back at her with absolute certainty. "Yes. A divorce." "I'm setting you both free." I turned and walked out of the kitchen, not wanting to look at them for another second. Behind me, Chloe screamed in frustration. "I told you, Austin and I are just friends! Stop making things up!" "Divorce? Fine! Don't you dare regret this, Ethan Miller!" Seeing that I wasn't responding, she chased me into the living room, pointing a finger at my face. "I am so sick of your jealousy! Don't you have any friends of your own?" "I told you, nothing is going on between Austin and me! You just can't stand to see him happy!" "He has severe depression and has no one else in this city. I'm just showing him some basic human decency! Why do you have to be so heartless?"Chloe’s words stabbed directly into my rawest wounds. My head throbbed, and I actually laughed out loud. "He has no one? Chloe, I gave up my entire life to move here with you! I didn't know a single soul in this city either! When did you ever show me any concern?" Back then, I had only agreed to move here because she had cried and begged me to. She said she couldn't survive the pressure alone, that she was terrified of failing her late father. I comforted her, packed my bags, and left everything behind for her. I couldn't even understand the local accent when I first arrived. Everything was incredibly difficult for me. At least Austin was born and raised in this city! I worked day and night to help her manage her company. Where would I even find the time to make friends? And after a brutal day of work, I had to open Instagram only to see photos of her cozying up with Austin. "Do you even have a heart, Chloe? Ask yourself—have I not given you everything these past years?" "And you? What have you ever done for this marriage?" "Do you even remember the vows you made at our wedding?" I roared the last words, my chest heaving violently. Suddenly, a sharp fit of coughing seized me, and I coughed up a splatter of bright red blood. Chloe gasped, visibly terrified by the sight of the blood. She took a step toward me, reaching out her hand. But Austin quickly pulled her back into his embrace, whispering softly, "Chloe, don't worry. Ethan is just overwhelmed by his emotions right now. He'll calm down once he cools off." Chloe clung to him, tears starting to stream down her face. Austin then looked up at me, a mocking smirk playing on his lips, though his voice sounded incredibly gentle and submissive. "Ethan, I know you don't mean those words." "Chloe is still young. As her husband, you should be more patient and accommodating. That's what marriage is about, right?" "After all, you've been married to her for three years. I could never compete with that..." The mockery in his eyes was blinding. He was looking at me like I was a pathetic clown. "Shut up." I couldn't hold it in for another second. I lunged forward, shoving Chloe aside, and slammed my fist directly into Austin's smug face. BANG. My fist connected hard, sending his head snapping to the side. I didn't stop. I grabbed him by his collar, slammed him onto the hardwood floor, and pinned him down. Though I had been sickly, my doctor had advised me to take up martial arts and strength training to recover. I had plenty of power in my body now. Lifting Austin was effortless. I threw another heavy punch right into his face. I poured all the pain, betrayal, and humiliation of the past years into my fists. I didn't hold back. Within seconds, his face was swollen and covered in bruises. SLAP. A stinging pain exploded on my cheek. I froze and looked up. Chloe had slapped me.