My Heart of Stone

When I was undergoing my partial gastrectomy, my wife, Chloe, who had promised to stay by my side the entire time, was nowhere to be found. My surgeon, Dr.

Evans, looked behind me in surprise. "Didn't Dr. Miller come to support you?" I called Chloe.

Instead of her voice, I heard her exboyfriend, Julian, in the background: "Chloe, babe, can you grab me some boxers?" Chloe spoke into the phone in a rushed whisper. "Julian hurt his leg.

I’m his doctor, and I can't just leave him like this. "Yours is just a minor surgery anyway. There's no risk.

Just find someone else to sign the consent form." Chloe was a doctor, but she was also my wife. Yet, she gave the care and warmth that belonged to me to her exboyfriend instead.

As long as Julian was around, her eyes would always follow him. Right up until the day I was discharged, Chloe never showed up. I finally decided to let her go.

I signed the divorce papers. I lay in the hospital bed, comforting my worried cousin, Mason. "I'm fine now.

Go on, don't miss your study group." Mason, wearing his high school varsity hoodie, glanced anxiously toward the door and tried to sound cheerful. "Where’s Chloe?

Don’t tell me she's still stuck in the operating room?" Just then, my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call. It was the custom ringtone I had set specifically for Chloe: Wifey calling!

Answer quickly! Mason smirked and rolled his eyes. "Ugh, more PDA. I won't thirdwheel you guys.

I need to get to the library anyway." I offered a weak smile, my heart filled with bitter irony. When I answered, Chloe appeared on the screen.

She was wearing exquisite makeup, her dark curly hair falling perfectly over a gorgeous dress that accentuated her curves. I stared at her, dazed.

In our two years of marriage, she had only ever worn oversized tshirts and jeans. Whenever I tried to buy her nice clothes, she would say: "I'm exhausted from hospital shifts.

I don't have the energy to play dressup." Turns out, she just didn't want to dress up for me. Seeing my stunned expression, Chloe flipped her curls with practiced grace.

She lifted her chin proudly. "What, mesmerized? See, I told you the surgery would go perfectly.

It’s just a minor procedure, nothing to worry about." She was incredibly confident in her medical expertise, so much so that she didn't even bother to ask how I was actually feeling. "Julian is different from you.

He's a total workaholic with a million health issues.” “ Now that he hurt his leg, he can barely move. If I'm not here to watch him, he'll just crawl back to his desk.

How is his wound supposed to heal like that?" Watching her get completely swept up in her worry for Julian, a wave of bitter pain washed over me.

I interrupted her. "So you threw your own husband aside just to keep another man company?" Chloe froze, instantly defensive. "Why are you acting so jealous? We're just good friends!

He's a patient, and as his doctor and friend, of course I should look after him!" I let out a cold laugh. "A friend who gets all dressed up, goes to his apartment, and fetches his underwear for him?" Caught in her lie, Chloe stood up abruptly. "Ethan, can you grow up and be a little secure?

I already told you he has mobility issues, so I came to help.

Besides, if there were actually something going on between us, do you really think you'd even be in the picture?" Looking at her frantic excuses, I scoffed. "Is he completely paralyzed, or did he lose all his limbs?

Why does he need a doctor to provide roundtheclock, handson care?" Suddenly, Julian's voice chimed in from the screen. "Ethan, please don't misunderstand.

Chloe and I are completely innoc—" Before he could finish, Chloe gasped, and the phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.

Through the camera's angle on the floor, I saw Chloe catch a falling Julian with open arms. They tangled together, embracing tightly.

Whether it was on purpose or not, Julian planted a loud, wet kiss right on Chloe's cheek. The sound of that kiss made my head spin with nausea.

Julian looked down at the phone and flashed a victorious smirk at me. He even kicked the phone slightly to adjust the camera angle so I could see them clearly.

Chloe's face was flushed a deep red. She held Julian tightly, their eyes locked in a gaze of pure affection.

They had completely forgotten I was even on the line. "Are you okay?" she asked softly. "I told you to be careful.

What if your wound reopens?" I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached, holding back the urge to rip out my IVs, drive to Julian's apartment, and beat them both to a pulp.

I let out a dry chuckle. "Chloe, don't forget you have a job." On screen, Chloe’s shoulders slumped, and she looked down guiltily.

Years ago, her parents died in a tragic car accident, and her uncles seized their family business.

In order to stay by Julian's side back then, she had financed his tuition to study abroad.

But when Julian saw that she was broke and helpless, he swindled her out of the remaining inheritance her parents had left her and abandoned her.

She was left so destitute she couldn't even afford to fly back to bury her parents. At her absolute lowest point, I gave up my chance to study art in Europe to stay and help her.

I even had a massive blowout with my parents over it. She wanted to continue her medical studies.

To cover her astronomical tuition and living expenses abroad, I worked day and night, drinking myself to severe stomach ulcers at corporate dinners, but it still wasn't enough.

For her sake, I abandoned my dream of becoming a painter.

I swallowed my pride, bowed my head to my parents, and agreed to take over the family business in exchange for them fully funding her medical school abroad.

While she studied abroad, I worked myself to the bone.

I used every resource I had to reclaim her family's company and secure her shares, ensuring she would never have to worry about money again.

After we got married, I leveraged my family's network to bring highend clients to her company. Because I loved her, I was willing to sacrifice everything.

She hated Julian, so I quietly bought out and dismantled the startup Julian had built using her stolen money.

I couldn't bear to let the woman I loved get her hands dirty with such filth. Her hands were meant to save lives, not seek revenge.

But right when we were about to land the final blow on Julian's company, she backed out. Because Julian crawled back to her, threatening to end his life. "Chloe, I'm so sorry.

I was blind and foolish. Loan sharks set me up and forced me into a gambling debt.

They said if I didn't pay, they'd kidnap you. "I was terrified they'd hurt you, so I took the money and fled as far away as possible to draw their attention.” “They even broke my toes trying to torture your location out of me!

I only built this company so that one day, when I found you, I could return everything to you." Julian wept, desperately bringing up their past. "I love you, Chloe.

If there is a next life, let me make it up to you." Then, he plunged a knife into his own shoulder without hesitation.

The flood of old memories, combined with the sight of his bleeding wound, wiped away all of Chloe's hatred instantly. Julian smiled weakly at her. "I failed you in this life.

I only hope we can be together in the next." Chloe wept uncontrollably, completely moved.

Julian's selfinflicted wound was carefully calculated—it was just a superficial flesh wound. But to Chloe, it changed everything.

Because she still loved him, she would make up any excuse in her mind to justify his pathetic lies.

That night, I sat alone at the dining table, staring at a birthday cake, waiting from dusk until the dead of night. I called her repeatedly, but got nothing but voicemail.

Just the day before, we had promised to have a nice dinner to celebrate my birthday.

Terrified that something had happened to her, I threw myself into my car and drove to her hospital. Halfway there, my phone finally rang.

Hearing her chokedup voice, I panicked so badly I almost swerved into the guardrail. "What happened? Where are you?

I'll come right now!" On the other end, her voice was hurried, accompanied by a low male sigh in the background. "Ethan, I have to cover shifts for a colleague for a few days.

I'll be staying at the hospital." "Do you want me to bring you some fresh clothes?" Chloe rejected immediately. "No, it's fine.

I'll come home once I'm done." Over the next few days, Chloe never picked up my calls again.

She only sent a brief text hours later, telling me not to worry and to take care of myself. She was my wife. How could I not worry?

I was worried she’d forget to eat because of her hectic schedule. I spent the entire morning slowcooking her favorite beef stew and packing a warm meal, wanting to surprise her.

But when I pulled up to the hospital, I saw her helping Julian into a cab. I followed them.

They pulled up to the townhouse I had bought for her—a place just ten minutes from the hospital so she could rest during long shifts. I had bought it to make her life easier.

Now, it had become her private love nest for cheating on me. Feeling my heart turn to ash, I tossed the warm food container straight into a trash can.

I kept brainwashing myself, telling myself not to overthink it. They were just friends. Chloe was just confused.

If I gave her some time, she would surely realize who actually cherished her. But I never imagined my endless compromises would lead to this.

I stared at Chloe through the screen as she put on her usual victim act. "Chloe, you really disappoint me." Chloe looked up in panic. "Ethan, I'll come over right away, I—" Beside her, Julian suddenly let out a dramatic groan.

Chloe's attention snapped back to him instantly. "Oh my god, did your stitches tear? There's so much blood.

I need to suture this right now." The phone rustled as Chloe ran off to grab a medical kit.

Julian picked up the phone, gave me a smug wave, and sneered, "All it takes is one word from me, and Chloe will drop you instantly.

You’ll always lose to me, Ethan." I hung up without an expression. My fresh surgical wound seemed to burn with a sharper pain.

Until the day I was discharged, Chloe never contacted me once. She was consistent as always.

If I didn't make the first move, she could go forever without sparing me a single thought. In this marriage, I was the only one ever trying.

Meanwhile, she was risking everything for another man, even taking a leave of absence from her beloved career just to take care of him. Dr.

Evans looked at me with confusion. "Wait, you didn't know? Dr.

Miller said her mother fell ill, so she took a leave of absence to take care of her." He sighed and patted my shoulder sympathetically. "As her husband, you should be understanding.

Be supportive." I let out a bitter, selfdeprecating laugh. Using her deceased mother as an excuse just to play nurse for Julian... what a grand, beautiful love story.

When we got married, I asked her to take a few days off for a honeymoon, but Chloe had rejected me righteously: "Ethan, my patients need me.

I can't just abandon them for personal pleasure." Back then, I actually felt guilty for being so selfish.

In Chloe's world, Julian was the only one who could surpass her job and take first place. I was nothing but a permanent backup.

I walked back into our home with the divorce papers in hand, only to find Chloe already there. She ran to the foyer, a bright smile on her face.

She was wearing an apron, holding a spatula. Seeing my pampered wife, who had never cooked a meal in her life, standing in the kitchen for me, my hardened heart softened instantly.

The delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen warmed my soul. She actually remembered the day I was being discharged.

I tightened my grip on my suitcase, suddenly feeling relieved that I hadn't taken the divorce papers out of my bag yet. Otherwise, she’d cry and make a scene.

I was lost in my own guilt, completely failing to notice that Chloe's smile had frozen. "Chloe, I bought the soy sauce.

It's pouring out there, I got completely soaked!" A sudden crack of thunder shook me out of my thoughts.

I turned around slowly, my body freezing as I saw Julian walking in, wearing my clothes and looking perfectly at home.

The heart that had just warmed up plunged straight into a deep, icy abyss.

Julian blinked in surprise when he saw me at the door, but he quickly recovered, flashing a friendly grin as he patted my shoulder. "Oh, you're back? Perfect timing.

We're making dinner. Let's celebrate your discharge together." He sounded so casual and selfassured, as if he were the master of this house. I turned my gaze to Chloe.

She stood there awkwardly, nervously shifting the spatula from one hand to another. "Today is Julian's birthday, and he's all alone.

Since you just got discharged today too, we can celebrate both. Two birds with one stone, right?" The smell of burning food began to fill the air.

Chloe and Julian rushed back into the kitchen in perfect harmony. On one side of the dining table sat two neatly set plates and forks.

An awkwardly shaped cake sat prominently in the center—handmade by Chloe herself. In our four years together, she had never once put this much effort into celebrating my birthday.

Two birds with one stone... Ha. My grip on my suitcase tightened as a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

They probably wished I had died in that hospital bed so they could have their happy ending without interruption.

Julian set a third plate directly opposite them, looking up at me with a mocking smile. "Come sit down. Don't be shy.

The soup is almost ready." I threw my suitcase aside, stepped forward, and slammed my fist right into Julian's face.

Hearing the crash, Chloe immediately rushed out and threw herself between us. "What are you doing?! Julian is struggling with clinical depression!

How could you trigger him like this?" Staring at Chloe standing defensively in front of him, my chest throbbed with a suffocating pain.

For another man, she was treating me like a monster. "This is our home! You brought another man into my house to play house, and you think you're in the right?"

Chloe shoved me hard in anger. My lower back slammed into the edge of a dining chair, instantly pulling violently at the fresh stitches in my abdomen.

I doubled over, clutching my stomach in agony. Chloe scowled, her face full of disgust. "Ethan, grow up.

Stop playing the victim." Behind her, Julian hissed, sucking in a sharp breath. Chloe turned around instantly, her hands gently cupping his face.

She whipped her head back to glare at me. "What is wrong with you? Were you trying to kill him with that punch?" She then rushed to grab the first aid kit to tend to Julian's face.

I stumbled over to the sofa and collapsed onto it, clutching my stomach.

Blood was already seeping through my white tshirt, but I could only grit my teeth and endure the throbbing pain.

Julian only got a slap on the face, but of course, my torn stitches couldn't possibly compare to his precious cheek.

Julian offered a weak, gentle smile to comfort Chloe. "It's my fault.

If I had known Ethan was coming home today, I never would have begged you to spend my first real birthday in five years with me. "Chloe, thank you. Let me explain to him.

It's fine if he hates me, but I can't let him misunderstand you." Chloe looked at him with teary eyes. "He has a terrible temper.

You're the one who's always kind and thoughtful." For five years, Chloe only ever remembered my birthday if I practically begged her to.

I took a deep, shaky breath, refusing to watch their pathetic Romeo and Juliet act any longer.

I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and tossed them onto the table. "Chloe, let's get a divorce." "I want a divorce." Chloe never expected me to initiate a divorce.

She rushed over, her face flushed with fury as she pointed a finger at me. "Ethan, you want to throw our marriage away over a petty disagreement?" I couldn't hold back my anger anymore. "You abandoned me right before my major surgery to play house with him!

Is that a minor issue?

You brought him into the home I built for you!” “I put you at the center of my universe, and you degrade yourself by crawling back to this parasitic loser?" Chloe swung her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist effortlessly. "Don't you dare speak about Julian like that!

He was always better than you!

If you hadn't ruthlessly crushed his company when he was down, would he even be this miserable?” “I always knew you were jealous of him, but I didn't think you'd be so terrified of his success that you'd try to drive him to suicide!" "I drove him to suicide?

Chloe, do you have a single shred of conscience left?" Every inch of my body ached. Everything I had sacrificed for her had become a weapon she used to tear me apart.

Julian stepped in and yanked my hand away, standing protectively beside Chloe. They looked like a united front. "Ethan, don't misunderstand.

Chloe and I are purely doctor and patient. She cares deeply for all her patients, which is why she watched over me.

You should be proud to have such a selfless wife, not berate her." Looking at Julian's smug face, a wave of rage consumed me. I shoved him hard. "Get out!

Get the hell out of my house! You don't deserve to breathe the air in my home!" Julian fell backward, knocking over a crystal vase.

It shattered, and a shard of glass sliced his wrist, sending blood dripping onto the floor.

As I grabbed his collar to hit him again, Chloe wrapped her arms around my back, pulling me away with all her strength.

She fell to her knees, weeping, shielding Julian behind her body. "Please, don't hurt him! I'll sign the papers!

I'll sign them, just don't make me regret this!" She was kneeling before me for another man.

I shook with pain, unable to tell if the agony in my stomach or the shattering of my heart hurt more.

I steadied my trembling body, picked up the signed divorce papers, and walked out. As I reached the door, Chloe's voice screamed behind me, "Ethan!

If you walk out that door, I won't forgive you even if you beg on your knees!" Is that so? Good. I couldn't care less.

By the time I pushed through the divorce filing process, my shirt was completely soaked in blood.

Right as my vision began to blur, my phone rang. "Ethan, get to the hospital right now. Your wife was in a car crash. She had a miscarriage, and we need your signature immediately."