He Defended Her, He Said I Deserved It Chapter 09

He Defended Her, He Said I Deserved It Chapter 09

From that day on, Ethan started waiting outside my building every day. 

He brought hot food in the morning. 

Flowers at night. 

Sometimes he left personal safety devices by my door. 

He slipped apology letters through the crack under the door. 

It would be filled with remorse, begging me to give him 

another chance. 

I never opened a single one. 

Whenever I passed him, I threw the letters and flowers into 

the trash right in front of him. 

Avery.” 

I’m only trying to take care of you.” 

‘Stop using your self–pity to make me sick.” 

I walked past him without slowing down. 

A month later, Chloe’s case went back to court. 

Ethan submitted the recording, the financial records, and the 

phone records. 

He testified in person. 

The other man changed his statement and admitted Chloe 

had hired him. 

This time, the truth could no longer be hidden. 

Chloe was sentenced to ten years. 

The fraudulent mental health evaluation used to help the 

other man was also exposed. 

His sentence was increased as well. 

When Chloe heard the verdict, she lost control. 

“Ethan!” 

“How dare you destroy me?” 

She was taken away in handcuffs. 

“You didn’t believe Avery back then!” 

“You defended me!” 

You stood in court and told them she was lying!” 

Now you’re giving them everything and pretending you’re innocent?” 

Ethan’s face was pale. 

He said nothing. 

Because every word was true. 

That evening, Ethan came to see me. 

He looked thinner than ever. 

Dark circles surrounded his eyes. 

He held the judgment in both hands. 

Avery.” 

Chloe was sentenced.” 

“So was the man who attacked you. 

His voice shook. 

“I did it.” 

I got you justice.” 

Can you at least look at me again?” 

I took the judgment. 

Hope appeared in his eyes. 

I tore the papers to pieces. 

The scraps scattered at his feet. 

Ethan stared at me. 

“You got me justice?” 

I laughed softly. 

“Do you really think sending Chloe to prison means you’ve 

made up for everything?“

“She was punished because she committed a crime.” 

“He was punished because he committed a crime. 

“You gave the evidence because that was your responsibility 

“That isn’t something you get to use to earn forgiveness.” 

His lips trembled. 

“I wasn’t asking for praise.” 

“I just wanted to make things right.” 

“How?” 

cut him off. 

“With flowers?” 

“With food?” 

“With apology letters?” 

With a court judgment that should have existed from the beginning?” 

When I was attacked, you doubted me.” 

When I begged you to believe me, you defended Chloe.” 

‘When I stood in court waiting for justice, you were the one who tore open my wounds.” 

You told everyone my clothes were to blame.” 

“You told everyone I had brought it on myself.” 

Ethan staggered backward. 

I did’t stop. 

The cruelest thing you did was not believing the wrong person.” 

It was never truly believing me.” 

“I slept beside you for six years.” 

But when your pride and professional judgment wère 

involved, my pain meant nothing.” 

“You believed edited footage.” 

You believed your own theory.” 

You believed Chloe’s tears.” 

“You did’t believe me.” 

“Now the truth has come out.” 

So you kneel and cry.” 

You act as if the pain belongs to you now. 

As if your regret is my responsibility.” 

I stared into his eyes. 

“But why?” 

“Why should the person who was hurt be the one who makes you feel forgiven?” 

“Why should I be the one who lost a child, lost my health, 

lost my marriage, and then make room for your guilt?” 

Tears rolled down Ethan’s face. 

Avery.” 

I really am sorry.” 

“You don’t finally understand.” 

I looked at him calmly. 

“You finally lost.” 

Ethan flinched. 

If Chloe had not confessed, you would still think you had won.” 

“You would still believe you had handled the case perfectly.” 

“You would still believe I was jealous, emotional, and 

irrational.” 

He looked as if those words had broken the last thing holding him up. 

I looked at the torn judgment on the ground. 

Chloe has been punished.” 

“The court handled that.” 

“But nothing can erase what you did to me. 

“She destroyed my body.” 

“You destroyed everything I believed about love, marriage, 

and trust. 

So stop telling me you avenged me. 

“Ethan.” 

“You became one of the people I have to survive.” 

His body swayed. 

The last bit of hope disappeared from his eyes. 

I turned and walked into the building. 

This time, he did’t follow. 

He stayed where he was. 

The torn pages lay around his shoes. 

His shoulders shook. 

heard him crying behind me. 

did’t turn around. 

The moment he stood in court and chose Chloe over me, 

something between us had already died. 

There was no appeal.