Early in the morning, the first sprinkler truck of the city passed by downstairs, playing a song Ava liked—Goodbye Is Just a Stranger. A ray of morning light spilled into the bedroom, and the curtains fluttered.
Ethan was no longer by her side. Last night, he hadn’t forced her. He’d just woken up many times in the night, kissing her repeatedly. He seemed to have been holding back for a long time. In those drowsy kisses, Ava thought she heard Ethan say, “Ava, let’s start over.”
Start over…
Those four words had once been incredibly tempting to Ava. But the hardships of the past made her afraid. That night at [Hermitage Club], Ethan had been like a gentle beast, and that scared her too. She feared it would all end up as just another dream.
After that, Ethan came for three or four days in a row. Nothing special. He only came late at night, ate a bowl of noodles, held her to sleep without any intimacy, then left before she woke up—lingering like lovers at the start.
Later, Ethan stopped coming. He didn’t call Ava, and she didn’t call him. She was busy setting up her studio, wanting to start with a small gallery and later plan for art auctions.
She kept in touch with Vivian, who praised her when she heard about her plans: “Mrs. Ethan is really capable.” Ava didn’t tell Vivian about her marital troubles. Things with Ethan were still unsettled, and it wasn’t wise to make a big deal of it.
Days passed. In the blink of an eye, late autumn arrived, with yellow leaves falling. One day, Ava received a call from a maid, whose voice sounded urgent: “Grandma Rose accidentally fell. She’s been taken to Grace Memorial Hospital. Miss Sinclair, please come quickly.” At the time, Ava was negotiating for a storefront. She rushed to the hospital as soon as she got the call.
For Ava, nothing mattered more than her grandmother—That cold winter month. Five-year-old Ava had been starving on the street, skin and bones, shivering all over. It was her grandmother who took her home, wrapped her in a warm quilt, and nursed her back to health over a month, helping her gain a little weight. She and her grandmother had depended on each other. Her grandmother had suffered a lot to raise Ava. After getting married, Ava had the means to buy her grandmother a big house and hire two maids to take care of her.
Half an hour later, Ava arrived at the hospital. Fortunately, her grandmother had only twisted a tendon. Ava finally relaxed. She squatted beside her grandmother’s hospital bed, stroked her silver hair, and said softly: “I’ll go finish the admission procedures.”
An Aunt, who was nearby, praised Ava to the grandmother: “Ava is really amazing! This ward is the best in the hospital. The director made an exception as soon as he saw Ava.”
Grandmother’s eyes crinkled with a smile: “Our Ava is the most capable.”
Ava stroked her grandmother’s hair again, then stood up and left. The VIP inpatient department of the hospital was two old-style small western-style buildings. The garden between them was pleasant, and in late autumn, the maple leaves were as red as fire. Ava couldn’t help but look a little longer—The next second, her gaze froze.
At the end of the corridor, Ethan was carrying Lily, followed by Arthur Garcia and his wife Gwendolyn Garcia. The four walked out in a line. Lily leaned on Ethan’s shoulder, looking weak, while her husband, Ethan, had a look of pity on his face.
Ava watched almost numbly. The scumbag who had held her at night and said he wanted to start over with her was now carrying another woman in public, not caring at all about outside rumors. She couldn’t help thinking: How much love must there be to ignore gossip?
Ava didn’t want to look any longer. She turned to leave, but a soft voice called from behind: “Margret.” Ava turned around, looking at the pair of adulterers. Lily clung tightly to Ethan’s neck and called again: “Margret, there’s nothing between me and Ethan! I’m not feeling well, that’s why he’s carrying me.”
Before Ava could reply, Gwendolyn said politely but distantly: “You must be Ethan’s wife, right? Lily and Ethan grew up together; he just takes a little extra care of her. You won’t mind, will you?”
Ava looked at Ethan. Her husband was still holding the young girl, not letting go, only frowning slightly. Ava had no interest in jealous quarrels. She just felt disgusted by the mother and daughter, so she sneered: “Gwendolyn, your daughter and Ethan can enjoy themselves in secret. Why come out to disgust people? Whether I mind doesn’t matter. What matters is whether your daughter minds that Ethan is a second-hand man.”
Gwendolyn was furious and blurted out: “An orphan really has no manners.”
“Aunt Garcia!” Ethan scolded in a low voice. Though young, he had an air of authority. Gwendolyn fell silent at once.
Ethan put Lily down, then came over to grab Ava’s wrist: “I’ll explain later.”
But Ava gently shook him off. She looked at Ethan, her tone mocking: “What’s there to explain? Ethan, let’s leave some dignity for each other. What’s left between us to explain?”
Arthur tried to smooth things over: “It’s all a misunderstanding.”
“Is it?” Ava turned to Arthur: “Can you guarantee that your daughter will never contact Ethan again?” Arthur hesitated.
Gwendolyn snapped sharply: “Miss Sinclair, the one who isn’t loved is the third wheel!” Arthur scolded his wife.
Ava didn’t want to tangle with these people. She only said to Ethan: “Think it over! Sign the papers early, so you can give your lover a proper title.” She turned and left without a trace of regret. Life was too fragile to waste on such things.
Behind her, Ethan stood among the red maples, quietly watching Ava’s back. His eyes were deep, and no one could tell what he was thinking.
In the evening, on the hospital rooftop. The sunset filled the sky, with red clouds floating in the wind—dazzling and spectacular.
Ava leaned on the railing, looking out at the whole city of Newglory, thinking about her next steps. Just as she was lost in thought, steady footsteps came from behind. Ava turned around, surprised to see Benjamin.
Benjamin walked up to her under her gaze, leaning on the rusty railing like her. After a while, he turned his head to look at Ava’s beautiful profile and asked softly: “Because of Ethan?”
Ava didn’t answer.
Benjamin didn’t mind. He turned to look at the sunset, his voice calm: “It was normal for you to like him back then! Among our group, Ethan was the most outstanding. He knew what he wanted from a young age. I thought I was ruthless enough, but I didn’t expect Ethan to be even more so. He’s not only ruthless to others, but also to himself.” After speaking, Benjamin turned to look at Ava quietly.
The setting sun was bright, and the tip of her straight nose was slightly red, as if she had been crying. Benjamin’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
