The room became completely silent.

Ethan Lu stared at me as if he was trying to recognize someone from a distant memory.

Five years ago, I had stood in front of him with tears in my eyes.

I had asked him one last time.

—Ethan, do you really want to end this marriage?

And he had answered without hesitation.

—Clara, we are no longer the same people.

At that moment, I thought those words would destroy me forever.

I never imagined that one day I would hear his voice again and feel nothing.

The man who once knew every detail about my life was now standing in front of me, unable to understand the woman I had become.

The general manager stepped forward.

—Mr. Lu, Northstar Global has reviewed your company’s investment request.

Ethan looked away from me.

For the first time, his confidence disappeared.

—This is a misunderstanding.

I looked at the documents in my hand.

—No.

My voice was calm.

—It’s not a misunderstanding.

Everyone became quiet.

I continued.

—Your company is facing a serious financial crisis. The previous reports hid several problems.

Ethan’s expression changed slightly.

Five years ago, he would have interrupted me.

He would have told me I didn’t understand business.

But now he simply listened.

Because he needed something from me.

Not as my husband.

Not as the man who once promised me forever.

But as someone standing in front of the person who could decide his company’s future.

—Clara…

I looked up.

It was the first time he called my name since seeing me again.

Not Miss Lin.

Not President.

Clara.

The old name.

The name only he used.

But it no longer had the same effect.

—Please.

That single word surprised everyone around him.

Ethan Lu was asking.

The same man who once believed I would always wait for him was now asking me for help.

I closed the folder.

—Why should I invest?

He froze.

The executives behind him looked uncomfortable.

I continued.

—Five years ago, when I needed you, you chose to leave.

—Today, when you need me, you come back.

His lips moved.

But no words came out.

Because he knew there was no answer that could change the past.

Before he could respond, my assistant approached me.

—Miss Lin, the board meeting starts in ten minutes.

I nodded.

Then I looked at Ethan.

—The investment decision will be reviewed by the company.

I turned around.

—Not by me.

I walked away.

But even after entering the elevator, I could still feel his eyes following me.

That evening, when I returned to the hospital, my mother was awake.

She looked at me carefully.

—You saw Ethan today.

I stopped.

—How do you know?

She smiled sadly.

—Your face.

I touched my cheek.

—What about it?

—Five years ago, whenever someone mentioned him, your eyes changed.

She paused.

—Today, they didn’t.

I didn’t answer.

Because she was right.

I had spent five years rebuilding myself.

Five years learning how to stand without depending on anyone.

Five years proving that losing a marriage didn’t mean losing my life.

The next morning, something unexpected happened.

A package arrived at my office.

There was no sender.

Inside was an old notebook.

My notebook.

The one I had lost before the divorce.

My hands froze when I opened it.

Every page contained memories from the years Ethan and I were together.

Our first trip.
Our first apartment.
The day he proposed.

And on the final page, there was a sentence written in Ethan’s handwriting.

“I hope one day Clara understands that I never stopped loving her.”

I stared at those words for a long time.

Then I laughed softly.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was too late.

Love was not only about feelings.

It was about choices.

And Ethan had made his choice five years ago.

That night, Ethan came to the hospital.

My mother let him enter.

I almost asked him to leave.

But I didn’t.

He stood beside the window.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Finally, he said:

—I didn’t know you became this successful.

I looked at him.

—You never tried to know.

His shoulders lowered.

That sentence hurt him.

Good.

Some truths needed to hurt.

—Clara, I made mistakes.

—Yes.

—But I never forgot you.

I smiled faintly.

—People always remember what they lose.

He looked at me.

—Do you hate me?

I thought about it.

Five years ago, I would have answered yes.

But now…

—No.

His eyes changed.

Maybe he thought there was still hope.

Then I continued:

—I don’t hate you because I don’t care anymore.

Those words were quieter than anger.

But they hurt more.

Ethan lowered his head.

Before leaving, he stopped near the door.

—There is something you don’t know.

I looked at him.

—What?

His voice became serious.

—Olivia wasn’t the reason I divorced you.

I frowned.

—What are you talking about?

He took a deep breath.

—Your father knew about our divorce before it happened.

I froze.

My father?

—He met me.

—When?

—One month before we separated.

My heartbeat became faster.

—What did he say?

Ethan looked at me.

—He told me if I ever hurt you, he would make sure I regretted it.

I was confused.

—Then why did you leave?

His eyes became full of regret.

—Because someone threatened your family.

The room went silent.

For five years, I believed my marriage ended because Ethan chose someone else.

But now I was discovering there was another secret.

A secret hidden before my departure.

A secret that involved my father.

My sister.

And the reason Ethan Lu allowed everyone to believe he was the villain.

I looked at him.

For the first time in five years, I wondered if the story I knew was only half the truth.

And outside the hospital room, someone was standing there listening.

Someone who had never wanted me to return.

Someone who knew exactly what happened five years ago.

Olivia.

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