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391words2026-01-26 09:12

In our eighth year together,I broke up with Ethan Carter.
Because he wanted to check my phone,and I refused.
"Who knows what she's hiding?"

"She's been talking about losing weight lately—maybe she's pregnant with some bastard’s kid!"
But I knew this was the advice he got from his fling tonight.
Later,Ethan,holding my medical report,asked,
"Lily,this is my child,right?"
"Let's get back together,give him a complete family,okay?"
But Noah Evans smirked,

"Sorry,uncle."
"You can't compete with the youths on that."
...
"Ethan,pushing the wedding back a couple days is fine,but you can't keep our “sister-in-law” waiting for eight years!"

I froze,hand on the doorknob.
Ethan's voice,like a suffocating rain,chilled me to the bone."Don't call her that."
"We'll see how she behaves."
We bought the house together,and my working hours were regular,so...
Ethan meant for me to hear that.
Realizing this,my palm sweated on the knob.
I wanted to flee,but the door swung open.
"Alright,I hope you know what you’re doing.Let's head to my place—"
Jake's words cut off as he met my gaze."Sis..."
"Lily."
I looked past him directly to Ethan,lounging on the sofa.
Throught the cigarette smoke, I could still see clearly the blatant mockery in his eyes.
He was reminding Jake to watch what he was saying.
I steadied myself,hiding my trembling.
Taking Ethan's cigarette,I said,"Don’t pick up smoking again when you’ve already quitted it—it's bad for you."
Ethan's eyes glinted with cold amusement,but he didn't contradict me in front of others.
"You’ve heard our whole conversation,yet still trying to control me?You're really..."
Cheap.
I knew what he meant,but my thoughts tangled.
I sighed,"Drink less tonight."
Ethan paused,likely surprised I wasn't begging him to stay.
"Guess I underestimated you."He sneered,went out,slamming the door behind him.
My left hand,hidden behind me,was trembling like crazy.I tried several times but couldn't pull a cigarette from the pack.
Finally,I relit the half-smoked one I took from Ethan's mouth.
As thick smoke obscured my path,my phone pinged.
Noah:Why'd you block me?
Results are in...no smoking or drinking for you lately,okay?
My hand trembled,ash falling on my pants.
This kid...can't he know better than to contact me after he was blocked?
"You know you're blocked—stop contacting me."
The cigarette burned to the butt.I pinched it out,booking a checkup.
I didn't fully trust Noah,but I couldn't ignore him completely.
Another message:Lily,I saw you booked my appointment.You're pregnant?