Chapter 995

I wrapped my arms around his neck, tucked my face against his shoulder, and whispered, “We’ll stay together for the rest of our lives. I promise.”

His arms tightened around me, drawing me securely against him.

The following evening, Ethan returned home much earlier than usual.

By the time he stepped inside, I was sitting in the living room with the children, reading them a story. Ruby was nestled against my side while Silas sat cross-legged on the carpet, both completely absorbed in the tale.

The moment they heard the door open, their attention snapped toward the entrance. As soon as they spotted Ethan, they scrambled to their feet and rushed over.

“Dad!”

“Daddy, you’re home!”

Ethan crouched down and lifted them both into his arms, one on either side. Ruby looped her arms around his neck, laughing happily, while Silas immediately launched into a detailed account of everything that had happened at school.

Their excitement breathed life back into the room, washing away the oppressive atmosphere that had lingered before.

Ethan listened to their stories with patience, laughing along with them as though nothing were wrong. But I noticed the difference. There was something weighing heavily on him. Even when he smiled, his eyes remained distant, and a faint shadow of fatigue lingered across his features.

I asked casually, “Why are you home so early today? You don’t have to go see Melisa?”

“I happen to have some free time,” he replied lightly, offering no further explanation.

Since he clearly had no intention of discussing it, I let the matter drop.

Not long afterward, Jeremy called.

Ethan glanced at the screen, then looked briefly in my direction before deliberately heading into the master bedroom to take the call. He closed the door with unusual care, but somehow that only made it more obvious that he didn’t want me hearing what was being said.

A faint uneasiness stirred inside me, yet I stayed where I was with the children and resisted the urge to follow him.

Roughly ten minutes later, Ethan came back out. The call was over, but whatever Jeremy had told him had left its mark. Frustration and concern were written plainly across his face. He sank onto the sofa, his brows drawn together while his fingers tapped absently against his knee.

I asked the nanny to take the children upstairs for their baths before heading into the kitchen. I prepared a fresh cup of coffee and brought it over to him.

He accepted it with both hands but made no attempt to drink.

I sat down beside him and spoke softly. “If things are getting too difficult, you don’t have to carry everything alone. Tell me what’s happening. Maybe I can’t solve it, but I can listen.”

For several seconds, he said nothing. Then, in a low, emotionless voice, he finally replied, “There’s still no good news.”