"It really is you. I thought Ethan had gotten it wrong. What are you doing here with us?" She pointed at the scraper in Chloe's hand and the clay beside her as if it were something filthy.

Chloe set down her tools, removed her apron, and calmly patted the dust off her hands. She looked at Lily, then at Ethan, whose expression was tied in knots behind her. "Ah, I see. The true leading lady was worried and came to inspect her battlefield in person.

Miss Lawson, is there something I can help you with?" Chloe asked neutrally. Lily seemed caught off guard by her calm reaction, taking two steps forward while trying to make her voice sound earnest and apologetic. "Miss Shen, I came here specifically to see you about what happened at the airport that night.

I am so terribly sorry. My ankle injury flared up and hurt so badly, and having lived abroad alone for so long, I was terrified, so I couldn't help calling Ethan. I had no idea it would cause such a huge misunderstanding between you two, let alone cause you to run away from home. I came here to apologize to your face, hoping you can forgive me and go back home with Ethan to live happily.

After all, you two are husband and wife." What a touching, selfless speech, washing her own hands squeaky clean while painting all the blame. As Chloe's petty misunderstanding and temper tantrum departure, Chloe listened quietly, even offering a light nod after she finished, acknowledging that she had heard her. Then she turned to Ethan, who had remained silent throughout, and asked, "Mr. Vance, is this your idea, too?

Bringing Ms. Lawson along to convince me to go back and live happily." Ethan's frown tightened further. He shot a look of strong disapproval at Lily. Sternly, he said to Lily, "Lily, stop talking.

This has nothing to do with you. Go back." "Ethan, I just don't want to see you two fight because of me." Lily's eyes welled with tears, her voice quivering softly.

""Miss Shen, you can yell at me or blame me, but Ethan is genuinely worried about you. He hasn't been sleeping or eating well these past few days, setting aside his work just to search for you. For the sake of your three years together, please stop throwing a fit, okay? I'll apologize and I'll leave.

I promise I won't ever bother you two again." Tears streamed down her face convincingly.

In the past, seeing Lily play the fragile martyr while Ethan stayed silent, which she used to interpret as his tacit agreement, Chloe would have felt a stabbing heart pain and overwhelming humiliation, meekly backing off to digest the grievances alone. But now, watching this staged melodrama unfold, she found it utterly absurd, almost laughable. She casually waited for Lily to sob for a moment before speaking up at an unhurried pace, her tone undisturbed. "Ms. Lawson, I've received your apology.

However, there are a few things I think you need to get straight." She stepped forward, her eyes clear as she locked gaze with Lily. "First, I didn't run away from home. I left an unhappy marriage to start a new life.

This requires nobody's permission. Nor is it a temper tantrum. Second," her eyes flicked over to Ethan, laced with subtle irony, "if Mr. Vance isn't eating, sleeping, or working well, that is his business. He chose to come look for me, and those are his emotions and problems to process.

As an adult, he is responsible for his own choices. I bear no obligation for his well-being, nor do I have any duty to change my life. Just because he is uncomfortable. Lily's crying choked mid-sob, staring at her in disbelief as if never expecting such a response.

Chloe continued smoothly, her voice modest yet piercingly clear. Third, and most importantly, Ms. Lawson, the issues between Ethan Vance and me were never about you or any specific third party. The issue was that he didn't care about me, and during the years I cared about him, he never learned to care back. Disappointment builds up piece by piece.

A heart freezes day by day. That rainy night at the airport was merely the straw that broke the camel's back. Even without your phone call, something else would have eventually woken me up to see the truth and walk away. So, please, don't overestimate your importance and don't bother coming all this way to put on a show.

Your apology is completely meaningless and entirely unnecessary. Her words were delivered with calm composure, yet they functioned like a surgical scalpel, stripping away all fake sympathy and excuses to expose the raw truth. Lily's face turned red then pale, choked into silence, turning helplessly toward Ethan. Ethan's face was as grim as could be, not because of Chloe's coldness toward Lily, but because of the absolute detached chill in her words that severed him entirely from her life.

He didn't care about me. The issue was him. Woken up to see the truth, then walk away. Every word pounded like a chisel into his chest, exposing his days of anxiety, confusion, and subtle regret for all to see.

Chloe. He rasped out, his voice thick with gravel. Stop talking. Turning to Lily, he growled, "Lily, leave right now and go back to the city.

I'll handle my own matters." "Ethan." Lily stomped her foot in frustration. "Get out."

Ethan roared, his eyes flashing with lethal fury. It was a cold, disgusted glare Lily had never once seen him direct at her. Trembling in shock, she didn't dare utter another word, casting a venomous glare at Chloe before turning on her heels and stumbling out of the yard. Quiet descended on the courtyard once more, leaving only the faint ambient hums and the scent of earth in the air.

Ethan looked at Chloe. She still stood there erect and poised, her gaze bright, showing no triumph of a victor, nor any anger from being offended, only a calmness like a deep well. This tranquility made him feel far more powerless and panicked than any heated accusation or weeping could have. "I'm sorry."