Back Off, You Cheating Ex Wife!

Chapter 8

"What?" Vivian's pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks as she snatched the document from her assistant's hand. "Let me see!"

The investigation report shows that Ethan has only been in frequent contact with two people during this period: one was Ethan's old friend David, and the other was the famous lawyer from Portland, Joshua Whitmore.

Vivian's fingers gripped the door frame tightly. Why did he need a lawyer? Did he want a divorce?

With doubts, Vivian continued to scroll down.

The section on his whereabouts was equally simple. After leaving Vivian's villa that day, Ethan only went to a small inn, the Welsh Inn, and stayed there for one night.

The hotel surveillance shows that Ethan wrote something in the guestbook in his room. The next day, Ethan took his suitcase and left, disappearing without a trace. Even Shirley couldn't find out where he went.

Vivian frowned tightly. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead vigorously, trying to sort out her thoughts and figure out what Ethan was really up to.

After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes wide and let out a cold laugh.

"So this is your trick. Contacting a lawyer is to make me panic; disappearing is to make me feel guilty while experiencing the taste of losing you, so that I would eagerly check your messages, making me think they were all your heartfelt words, and then being easily manipulated by you.”

"Ethan, you're truly pathetic," Vivian sneered again.

"Should I send someone to the inn to check?" Shirley asked, pacing at the door. "Maybe he left something behind, or the inn staff might know where he went next."

"No." Vivian waved her hand dismissively. "He's just playing games. Let him play by himself.”

If he wanted to disappear, let him. Vivian doubted whether he had the guts to disappear forever. Besides, Jack had already moved in, so Ethan leaving was also beneficial for Jack. Let him bear the consequences of leaving out of spite.

Vivian returned to her study and began working.

......

Another three days had passed, and the continuous meetings for three days had left Vivian's temples throbbing persistently. Ethan's continued absence in taking care of her made her even more irritable.

She took out her phone, planning to send Ethan a sharp text message—one that would make him fully understand her situation.

Her thumb hovered above the chat history.

Ethan's last message was sent seven days ago. She didn't reply. Before that, there was another message—unread. Then another one.

She swiped up on the screen. A series of gray bubbles, all sent by him, spanning several weeks.

Ethan: "Your dinner is in the fridge. I'll wait for you.”

Ethan: "Hope your meeting goes well. I made your favorite soup."

Ethan: "There's a really good movie out recently; do you want to go?"

She hadn't paid attention to him for a long time, and it had become a habit. The concern he showed to her was like background noise, something useless, and even occasionally annoying.

However, she felt a sense of inexplicable confusion. His care had already become a part of her daily life. Without this care, she always felt something was off.

Vivian stared at her phone, becoming increasingly irritated.

"Alright, I'm in. Let me see what kind of trick you're playing." she muttered, then called Shirley. "Shelly, take me to the Welsh Inn!"

Thirty minutes later, Vivian sat on the bed of the small inn, a leather-bound notebook spread open on her lap.

The paper was densely filled with Ethan's handwriting—neat, precise, with a slight rightward slant, just like when he wrote quickly.

Some pages are dotted with water stains. Circular, clearly visible water droplet marks.

So pitiful. He cried while writing.

She read the first paragraph, expecting to see obsequious flattery.

These words hit her like a bucket of ice water.

Vivian, I understand German. I heard everything. It was you who hired those people to attack us, ruining our anniversary.

I have always been just a substitute, a placeholder. The moment Jack came back, I completely disappeared for you.

I hope deep down you really wished I had died that nite.

Everything is over. I'm leaving. I took a job - dangerous, remote, the kind of place that only the desperate go to. Maybe there, my medical training will really come in handy. Maybe I can help those who are eager to be helped.

Goodbye, Vivian. Even though we were married for five years, even though we had many pleasant times together, I hope you go to hell.

Vivian's hands trembled uncontrollably, and the notebook trembled along with them. Her mind went blank.

It turned out Ethan knew everything; all her secrets had been discovered. So his departure wasn't some underhanded trick; he was genuinely heartbroken and wanted to leave her!

For a moment, Vivian's mind went blank from this realization. When she finally came to her senses, her first reaction was to call Ethan and explain everything!

But just like a few days ago, Ethan's phone was still unreachable!

A wave of immense panic surged from the bottom of Vivi's heart. Ethan said he was going to a very dangerous place to carry out a mission, and that he might not come back.

Her Ethan, her Ethan, how could he choose to die without her permission, how could he leave her forever without her consent!

Even if she were to abandon him, it must be her who abandoned Ethan, not Ethan who left her!

Vivian had her assistant look for Ethan again, but the assistant still couldn't find him.

With no other options left, Vivian suddenly remembered that during dinner a few days ago, Ethan had told her where he was going.

Vivian ran home, only to suddenly see that Ethan's room was empty. It was only then that she noticed Ethan had already moved out!

Vivian became even more flustered. She quickly opened the surveillance system and pulled up the video from that night.