I never loved him.
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That was the truth I kept telling myself… over and over again.
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Yet here I was—standing in a quiet house that was now supposed to be my home, wearing a ring that felt heavier than it should.
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Ethan Cole.
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My husband.
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A good man. Everyone said that.
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Kind. Responsible. Successful.
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The kind of man any woman would be lucky to marry.
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Just… not me.
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The door clicked open behind me.
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I didn't need to turn around to know it was him.
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His footsteps were always calm. Steady. Careful… like he was afraid to disturb me.
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"Ariana."
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His voice was low. Gentle.
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Always gentle.
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I tightened my grip on the edge of the kitchen counter.
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"Yes."
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"I brought dinner."
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Of course he did.
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He always did.
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I turned slightly, just enough to glance at the bags in his hand. Expensive packaging. The kind of food I used to only see through glass displays when I was younger.
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He placed them neatly on the table, like it mattered.
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Like this marriage mattered.
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"You didn't have to," I said.
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"I wanted to."
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Simple answer.
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No hesitation.
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That was Ethan.
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We ate in silence.
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Again.
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The sound of cutlery against plates echoed softly in the room. It wasn't uncomfortable… just empty.
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Like two strangers sharing a table.
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Ethan looked up a few times, like he wanted to say something.
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He didn't.
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He never pushed.
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"Do you not like it?"
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I paused.
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He was watching me now.
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Carefully.
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"It's fine."
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Just fine.
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I didn't miss the way his eyes dimmed slightly before he nodded.
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"Alright."
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That was all.
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No complaints. No questions.
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He just accepted it.
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I hated that.
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I didn't even know why.
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Maybe because he made it so easy.
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Too easy.
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"I'll be late tomorrow," he said after a while.
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"Work?"
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"Yes."
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I nodded, taking another bite.
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He worked a lot.
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Running a company wasn't something you could just leave behind.
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Even now… after we got married.
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Even now… when he was trying.
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"I can pick you up after work," he added.
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"No need. I can go back myself."
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Another pause.
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"Okay."
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Again.
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No argument.
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After dinner, I stood up first.
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"I'll wash the dishes."
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"You don't have to—"
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"I said I'll do it."
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My tone came out sharper than I intended.
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But I didn't take it back.
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Ethan just stopped.
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"…Alright."
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The water ran quietly as I washed the plates.
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Behind me, I could feel his presence linger for a moment… before his footsteps slowly faded away.
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He always did that.
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Gave space.
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Too much space.
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Later that night, I sat alone on the bed, staring at my phone.
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A small, old habit I never got rid of.
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Checking my bank app.
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Numbers.
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Balances.
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Security.
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I let out a slow breath.
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Even now… even after marrying someone like Ethan…
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I still couldn't stop.
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Because I knew what it felt like to have nothing.
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To count every coin.
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To choose between food and bills.
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I never wanted to go back there again.
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Never.
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The door opened quietly.
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Ethan walked in, already changed into something comfortable.
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He paused when he saw me still awake.
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"You're not sleeping yet?"
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"In a bit."
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He nodded.
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Then… hesitated.
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Like he wanted to say something again.
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"…If you need anything, just tell me."
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There it was.
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Always the same line.
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Always careful.
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Always distant.
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I looked at him.
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Really looked this time.
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He was… good.
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Too good.
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The kind of man my parents trusted without question.
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The kind of man who would never hurt me.
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The kind of man I should've loved.
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But I didn't.
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Because my heart had already chosen someone else.
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A long time ago.
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I turned away first.
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"Goodnight."
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"…Goodnight, Ariana."
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The lights went off.
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The room fell into silence.
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And as I lay there beside a man who treated me better than I deserved…
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I closed my eyes—
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and thought of someone else.
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Someone who once promised me the world.
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Someone I never truly let go of.
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Daniel.