Ethan Cole didn’t know when it started.
He only knew that the woman in front of him was no longer the Natalie Brooks he remembered.
The Natalie he knew used to wait for him.
She waited for his calls.
Waited for him to come home.
Waited for him to explain every time Claire appeared between them.
But now…
She didn’t even ask.
And that terrified him more than anger ever could.
After leaving the hospital room, Ethan carried Claire back to her ward.
Claire leaned against his shoulder.
Her voice was soft.
“Commander Cole…”
Ethan lowered his head.
“What?”
“Your wife hates me, doesn’t she?”
He remained silent.
Claire smiled sadly.
“But I understand her.”
“I was the reason your family became unhappy.”
Ethan frowned.
“Don’t say that.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Claire lowered her eyes.
“Then why does she look at me like I destroyed everything?”
Ethan opened his mouth.
But no answer came.
Because deep inside, he knew.
Natalie wasn’t angry because Claire existed.
She was angry because every time she needed him…
He chose Claire.
Even when Noah was alive.
Even when their son needed both parents.
Even after the accident.
He had always believed Natalie would understand.
Because she always did.
That was his biggest mistake.
The next morning, Natalie went through the final procedures for the Fox Hunt Project.
Her medical examination.
Her psychological assessment.
Her background clearance.
Everything passed.
The officer in charge looked at her file for a long time.
“Major Brooks.”
“You understand the risks?”
“Yes.”
“Ten years.”
“I understand.”
“No contact with your husband.”
Natalie lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
The officer hesitated.
“You really decided to disappear completely?”
Natalie looked out the window.
Outside was the military district where she had spent the happiest and most painful years of her life.
“No.”
“I am not disappearing.”
“I am just returning to myself.”
When Ethan returned home that evening, the house was unusually quiet.
No dinner waiting.
No light left on.
No message asking when he would arrive.
For ten years, no matter how late he came back, Natalie always left something for him.
A bowl of soup.
A warm meal.
A note.
Anything.
But that night…
Nothing.
He walked into the bedroom.
The room was clean.
Too clean.
The photos on the bedside table were gone.
The small decorations Natalie loved were packed away.
Then he saw the envelope.
His name was written on it.
Ethan Cole.
His heart suddenly sank.
He opened it.
Inside was the divorce agreement.
And another document.
Application approval for the Fox Hunt Project.
His fingers froze.
Ten years.
International classified mission.
No contact.
No return.
His face changed.
“Natalie…”
For the first time in years…
He felt afraid.
Not because she was angry.
Not because she wanted revenge.
Because she had truly left.
Ethan immediately called her.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then connected.
“Natalie.”
Her voice was calm.
“Yes?”
That simple response made him uncomfortable.
Before, when he called, she would immediately ask:
“Where are you?”
“Are you coming home?”
“Did you eat?”
Now there was nothing.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“About what?”
“The project.”
“Oh.”
A short pause.
“I didn’t think it was necessary.”
Ethan’s chest tightened.
“You are my wife.”
Natalie smiled faintly.
“Was.”
The word made him freeze.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why?”
Her voice remained gentle.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“You always said I worried too much.”
“I asked too many questions.”
“I controlled you.”
“So I changed.”
Silence.
Ethan suddenly realized something.
Every habit he hated…
She had removed them one by one.
She stopped asking.
Stopped waiting.
Stopped needing him.
And now she was leaving.
“Natalie.”
His voice became softer.
“Can we talk?”
“We are talking.”
“Face to face.”
“No need.”
“Why?”
She looked at the divorce papers beside her.
“Because every time we talked before, I was the only one trying to save something.”
“And you were the one deciding whether it was worth saving.”
Ethan’s breathing became heavier.
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know.”
That answer hurt more than anger.
Because she wasn’t accusing him anymore.
She had already accepted him.
Accepted that he was someone who could hurt her.
“Natalie…”
Before he could continue, another voice came from his side.
Claire.
“Ethan, are you coming back tonight?”
The silence on the phone lasted three seconds.
Natalie heard it.
Then she laughed quietly.
Not sadly.
Just tired.
“You should go.”
Ethan immediately said:
“Natalie, it’s not what you think.”
“I didn’t think anything.”
“That’s the truth.”
She paused.
“Four months ago, when Noah died, I thought I lost my son.”
“After tonight, I realized I also lost my husband a long time ago.”
Ethan’s face went pale.
“Natalie…”
But the call had already ended.
Seven days later.
The divorce became official.
The same day, Natalie disappeared from the military district.
No farewell.
No explanation.
No final argument.
Only one message sent to Ethan.
“Thank you for the ten years.”
“From today, please live the life you always wanted.”
Ethan read those two lines repeatedly.
He wanted to call.
Wanted to ask where she was going.
Wanted to tell her he was wrong.
But for the first time…
He didn’t know how to reach her.
Because the woman who once chased him everywhere…
Had finally learned how to walk away.
And Ethan Cole only realized one thing too late.
He hadn’t lost Natalie when she filed for divorce.
He lost her the moment she stopped being hurt by him.
