He Defended Her, He Said I Deserved It Chapter 08

He Defended Her, He Said I Deserved It Chapter 08

After leaving Ethan, I picked up my paintbrush again. 

For three years, I had turned down projects. 

I had given up exhibitions. 

I had put my illustration career aside to take care of Ethan’s life. 

Now I worked until late every night. 

I filled every hour with work. 

That was the only way I could stop thinking about the child I 

never got to meet. 

But the trauma did’t disappear. 

I became afraid of the dark. 

I flinched whenever an unfamiliar man came too close. 

At night, I dreamed about the rooftop again and again, 

Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with PTSD. 

When I walked out of the therapist’s office, it was already 

dark. 

I carried my medication toward the old apartment building 

had rented. 

A figure suddenly rushed toward me. 

“Avery!” 

My whole body jolted. 

The medicine bag fell to the ground. 

I did’t know how Ethan had found me. 

He looked nothing like the man I remembered. 

He had lost a frightening amount of weight. 

His beard had grown out. 

His shirt was wrinkled. 

The polished attorney I had once known was gone. 

He reached toward me. 

I stepped back instantly. 

‘Don’t touch me.” 

My back hit the wall. 

Ethan froze. 

His hand trembled in the air. 

Then his knees gave out. 

He dropped to the ground in front of me. 

“Avery.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“I know I was wrong.” 

“I was completely wrong.” 

He grabbed the edge of my coat. 

His eyes filled with tears. 

Chloe has been charged again.” 

“I gave the police the recording, the financial records, and the 

phone records.” 

“The other man changed his statement too.” 

“I gave up my career.” 

I only wanted her punished.” 

I didn’t sign the divorce papers. 

Please.” 

“Give me one more chance.” 

I looked down at him. 

felt nothing. 

‘Don’t call me your wife.” 

His face went pale. 

“You spent all night preparing nearly a hundred pages of 

evidence to prove Chloe was innocent.” 

“Did you think about your wife then?” 

His expression collapsed. 

“You stood in court and told everyone I hadn’t been wearing underwear.” 

“You made it sound like I caused what happened to me.” 

“Did you think about your wife then?” 

“Please.” 

“Stop.” 

I looked at him. 

“Why?” 

“That night, you took Chloe out for sushi.” 

“I called you several times.” 

“You never answered.” 

“I had no one.” 

“No family member.” 

‘No husband.” 

“No one asking whether I was okay.” 

Ethan’s body shook. 

“The doctor said the procedure caused permanent damage.” 

I looked directly into his eyes. 

“I can never have children again.” 

“Are you satisfied now?” 

A broken sound escaped him. 

He lowered his head and struck it against the ground. 

Blood appeared at his forehead. 

“Avery.” 

“I know what I did.” 

“We had six years together.” 

“If you want to hit me, curse at me, hate me, do it.” 

I’ll take it.” 

As long as one day you can forgive me. 

I said nothing. 

I bent down. 

took the hand he had wrapped around my coat. 

Ethan looked up. 

For a second, he thought I had softened. 

I did’t. 

pulled his fingers away one by one. 

Then I pressed my hand against the wound on his forehead. 

He gasped. 

I looked down at him. 

“You think this makes you the victim?” 

“You think bleeding a little makes you worth forgiving?” 

“The blood you’re losing now.” 

Is it even a fraction of mine?” 

“I am not your second choice.” 

And I am not your way to feel better about yourself.” 

The divorce papers are waiting for you.” 

Sign them or don’t.” 

I will still move forward.” 

His hand fell weakly. 

picked up my medicine. 

Then I turned and walked into the building. 

“Avery!” 

His voice followed me. 

I kept climbing the stairs. 

I never stopped. 

His cries faded behind me. 

This time, even if he stayed there all night, I would not turn around. 

At least this time, I had to choose the child I lost.