The Man They Never Knew

4

For a moment, she could only stare at Ethan, then her pride took over.

She wiped away her tears and lifted her chin, forcing a cold smile onto her face.

“Fine.”

Ethan paused.

Jenny’s voice became defiant. “If you want a divorce, then let’s get divorced.”

She swallowed her pain and continued, “You think I’ll beg you to stay? I won’t.”

Ethan said nothing.

Jenny clenched her fists beneath the blanket.

“Perhaps this is for the best,” she said coldly. “At least after the divorce, I’ll finally be free to marry David.”

Ethan’s expression remained unchanged.

Jenny forced herself to smile. “He saved my life. I’ve owed him for years.”

Her eyes flickered toward David. “Maybe marrying him is the best way to repay that debt.”

Ethan stared at her for several seconds, then he simply nodded.

“Then I wish you both happiness.”

Deep down, Jenny was desperate for Ethan to stop her. She wanted him to beg.

To tell her he still loved her. To say he couldn’t live without her. But Ethan remained completely indifferent.

He simply nodded.

“My lawyer will draft the divorce papers.”

Jenny’s heart sank.

Ethan continued calmly, “I’ll also be resigning from my position at your company.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re resigning?”

“Yes.”

He looked at her without any emotion.

“As for our marital assets, we’ll divide everything equally. Fifty-fifty.”

Jenny stared at him, unable to believe how calmly he was discussing the end of their marriage.

“And since we have no child,” Ethan added, “there won’t be any issue of child support.”

His words felt like a final blow, Jenny’s fingers tightened around the blanket.

She had expected anger, or him to fight for her. But she had never expected him to simply let her go.

“Ethan…” Jenny’s voice trembled.

“Did you ever love me at all?”

Ethan stared at her for a moment.

Then, surprisingly, a faint trace of amusement appeared in his eyes.

“After everything you’ve done, you still want to play the victim?”

Jenny froze while Ethan gave a quiet, humorless laugh.

“If I never loved you, Jenny, then answer me something.”

He stepped closer. “Why did I tolerate your behavior for all these years?”

Jenny’s lips parted.

“Why did I help you build your company from the ground up?”

His expression hardened. “And when your PTSD became severe after your kidnapping, who stayed awake beside you every night?”

Jenny’s eyes reddened.

“Who held you when you were terrified? Who took care of you when you couldn’t even sleep alone? Who helped you slowly become the woman you are today?”

He paused, before adding. “That was me, Jenny.”

Her tears began falling.

“So don’t stand there and ask whether I ever loved you.”

Jenny stood completely silent.

For the first time, she was forced to confront everything Ethan had sacrificed for her.

The sleepless nights. The years of support. The countless times he had stayed beside her when she was at her lowest.

She opened her mouth, but no words came.

Ethan had already regained his composure.

“The divorce agreement will be ready shortly,” he said calmly. “After that, you’ll be free.”

Jenny’s heart tightened.

Free… That was what she had wanted, wasn’t it?

Yet now that Ethan was actually giving it to her, she suddenly felt terrified.

Ethan turned and walked toward the door.

“Ethan…”

He stopped.

For one brief moment, Jenny hoped he had changed his mind.

But Ethan merely glanced back at her and David.

His expression was cold. “Oh, and by the way…”

His gaze settled on Jenny.

“I was the one who rescued you from those kidnappers back then.”

Jenny froze while Ethan’s lips curved into a faint, bitter smile.

“Not the guy who merely handed you a glass of water.”