Erasing Our Ten-Year Marriage

When I discovered Lily's existence, I didn't scream or fight with Ethan. I just handed him the divorce papers. He sat there, head bowed. After a long, painful silence, he ripped the papers to shreds. "Ten days," he whispered. "Just give me ten days. I'll send Lily far away, and she will never appear in our lives again." Without waiting for my answer, he turned and walked out of the house. So, the ten-day countdown began. Ethan took her rafting, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, and skydiving. He took her to do every thrilling thing they could think of. He also took her to watch the sunrise by the beach, doing everything romantic. Until the night of the ninth day. I was packing my bags when my Snapchat rang. It was a video call glitching from a number I hadn't seen in forever—it was me, from ten years ago. "Oh my god, you're really me in ten years!" Her bright, sunny face on the screen was glowing with excitement. "So, did Ethan and I get married? Do we have kids?" A pang of bitter pain hit my chest. I walked out to the balcony. I turned the camera toward the driveway below, where Ethan and Lily were locked in a passionate, tearful embrace, unable to let each other go. "This is the reality." Her eyes widened, looking like she'd been struck by lightning. "That's... that's impossible..." My voice was dead, stripped of all energy. "Chloe, please. Do not marry him." 1 She was sobbing on the screen. Grief and shock flooded her eyes, and she kept shaking her head. "How... how did we end up like this?" I couldn't answer her. Honestly, I didn't know either. I could only warn her, "You won't be happy after you marry him. Chloe, promise me, okay?" She wiped her tears, her eyes red and puffy. "But he's not even with me right now. He went to San Francisco to beg that retired specialist to treat my legs." I froze. Right. I had almost forgotten. Back then, a stage accident had crushed my legs. I could barely stand. Ethan was more devastated than I was. He stayed up night after night, massaging my legs and changing my bandages until dawn. When we heard about a retired specialist in San Francisco who might be able to save my legs, Ethan left without a second thought. He camped outside the doctor's house in the freezing rain for three days and nights, refusing to eat or leave, until his own legs were dangerously swollen. That was how he moved the doctor to treat me. But now... I gently touched my leg. It was completely healed. But we had lost each other. The cruelest irony of all? "Do you know who that woman downstairs is? Lily." She shook her head, looking like a lost puppy. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "She's that doctor's granddaughter." She stopped breathing. She covered her mouth to muffle a sob. "So... Ethan fell in love with someone else on the way to saving me?" I shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe it wasn't love back then. They reunited two years ago—which is five years in your future." We fell into a heavy silence. Just then, the sound of the smart lock chimed at the front door. Instinctively, I hid my phone behind my back. Ethan walked in. His eyes fell on my movement, but he didn't ask. His eyes were red, and he looked completely drained. "Are you happy now?" A sarcastic smile played on his lips. "I sent her away." I stared at him blankly. Behind my back, my nails dug deep into my palms. It stung. "Happy?" "Ethan, is this marriage a solo project? Am I the only one who has to fight for it?" He ripped off his tie and threw it onto the couch. "Don't start acting crazy," he muttered coldly before brushing past me into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. My entire body went numb. After a long time, I slowly brought the phone back to my face. On the screen, my younger self was covered in tears. "That's not the Ethan I know. It's not him..." But I couldn't cry. I wanted to scream and cry like her, but my eyes were bone-dry and burning. "People change, I guess." Just as I grabbed my suitcase to leave, a sudden thunderstorm cracked outside, and rain began to pour. My phone buzzed with a notification: Your flight has been canceled. I sighed. I wasn't leaving tonight. I dragged my suitcase to the guest bedroom and pushed the door open. "Are you guys... sleeping in separate rooms?" she asked quietly. My hand froze on the doorknob. The bitterness in my throat was suffocating. "Yeah. We've been in separate rooms for almost a year." She sobbed louder. "But Ethan... he literally can't sleep unless he's holding me right now..." My chest tightened. It had been so long that I'd almost forgotten. Ethan used to have severe insomnia. He could only sleep peacefully when I was in his arms. We had never spent a night apart. I said softly, "He found someone else to help him sleep now. Lily is a great doctor. She knows how to soothe him." After a long silence, the girl on the screen looked at me with bloodshot eyes. "Three days. Ethan will be back in three days in my time. Let me use these three days to completely give up on him." I nodded. "Okay." 2 The next morning, when I walked out of my room, Ethan was already making breakfast. He acted as if nothing had happened. "You're up? Let's eat." I looked at the breakfast on the table and felt exhausted. "I'm allergic to eggs, Ethan." His hand, which was spreading egg salad on the toast, froze. Without a word, he threw the toast into the trash can. "I forgot. Go eat out then." "Okay," I murmured. As I turned to leave, Ethan's voice cracked behind me. "Don't you think we're being weird?" "Chloe, we're acting like strangers." I turned to meet his dazed eyes and let out a mocking laugh. "No, Ethan. Strangers don't hate each other. We're worse than strangers. But whose fault is that? Mine?" The air turned icy. We stared at each other, neither of us willing to back down. Finally, his phone rang, breaking the tension. "Yes, Grandpa," Ethan said, his voice flat. "Chloe and I will be there on time." He hung up, pinching the bridge of his nose in sheer exhaustion. He looked at me with a complicated expression. "Let's just leave the past in the past." "Tomorrow is Grandpa's 80th birthday gala. We're going together. Don't let him notice anything." I let out a silent sigh. "Fine." I walked down to a local café, keeping the Snapchat call active. She had been quiet, so I broke the silence. "What are you thinking about?" She looked lost. "I just never imagined that the future Ethan and I would have nothing to say to each other." "No sharing, no love. Only blame and resentment." I choked up and couldn't find the words. The autumn leaves outside were scattered all over the pavement from last night's storm. They crunched under my feet. It sounded just like the time Ethan carried me on his back through the woods when my legs were hurt. But everything had changed. The café owner smiled when he saw me. "Morning, Chloe! The usual? Beef sandwich, no mayo, no eggs?" I smiled back. "Yes, please." Even the café owner remembered my egg allergy. But my husband of ten years had forgotten. The next day, Ethan picked me up for the gala. I sat in the passenger seat, staring blankly out the window at the passing city. Suddenly, Ethan spoke. "You know Lily saved Grandpa's life once, right?" I turned to look at him. "What's your point?" He gripped the steering wheel tighter. "So, Lily is attending the gala today. I didn't invite her. Grandpa did." I didn't know what face to make. I wasn't even surprised. Suppressing the suffocating pain in my chest, I replied hoarsely, "Okay. I don't care." It didn't matter anymore. There were only three days left. In three days, the younger Chloe would rewrite history. We wouldn't have a future anyway. Hearing my response, Ethan actually seemed taken aback. He frowned, his knuckles turning white on the wheel. "Good," he finally muttered. In my earpiece, the younger Chloe was crying. I was used to this coldness, but for her, it was pure torture. It was like falling straight from heaven to hell. "How could he treat you like this..." I couldn't comfort her. I could only remain silent. Soon, we arrived at the family estate in the Hamptons. The moment we got out of the car, a petite figure rushed toward us. "Ethan..." "I thought I'd never see you again." Lily was crying, and Ethan immediately comforted her. Ignoring everyone else, he gently wiped her tears away. "Don't cry. Since you're back, I won't let anyone send you away again." I let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Do whatever you want. I won't stop you. Just don't make me look like the evil villain tearing you star-crossed lovers apart." Lily pouted, a flash of disdain in her eyes. Ethan's brows furrowed. He looked confused. I knew why. He was confused about why I was suddenly being so generous. I looked away. It was simple—I had just given up. 3 The guests around us whispered and stared. Some looked at me with pity. Others were clearly enjoying the drama. I ignored them all, walking straight into the main hall to hand Grandpa Arthur his gift. "Happy 80th birthday, Grandpa." He smiled warmly at me. "Thank you, sweetheart." Ethan walked in a step behind, standing side-by-side with Lily. They looked more like the married couple. Grandpa paused, looking at them, then grabbed mine and Ethan's hands, placing them together. "So, when are you two going to give me a great-grandchild?" Ethan and I stiffened at the same time. I pulled my hand back first. Under Ethan's shocked gaze, I said, "Grandpa, Ethan and I..." "Chloe," Ethan interrupted quickly, turning to Grandpa with a forced smile. "Don't worry, Grandpa. We're working on it." Grandpa laughed heartily. But the moment we were cleared, Ethan dragged me into the backyard garden. His face was dark, radiating frustration. "What were you trying to do back there?" "Tell Grandpa the truth. That we're getting a divorce, and there won't be any kids," I said flatly. His lips thinned into a harsh line. "Why do you keep bringing up divorce? Didn't we agree to move past this? Chloe, can you stop throwing tantrums?" I looked at him, genuinely puzzled. "Since we hate each other so much, why don't you just marry Lily? Isn't that what you want?" His breath hitched. "Hate? I never—" "Ethan!" Lily's voice interrupted us from the pathway, making the air even tenser. She walked up, biting her lip, looking incredibly pitiful. "Chloe, please don't use Grandpa to threaten me." I frowned. "What are you talking about?" Lily looked like she was about to burst into tears. "Are you going to tell Grandpa that I ruined your marriage?" "You know Grandpa's heart is weak." "I can't let anything happen to him, so I'll leave Ethan. Is that what you want? Is that your plan?" I stared at her, completely dumbfounded. Then, a wave of sheer absurdity washed over me. I let out a mocking laugh. "You've been watching too many soap operas, Lily." Who would actually fall for such cheap drama? "Chloe." Ethan's heavy voice cut in. "Is this true? Are you threatening her again?" My jaw tightened. He believed her... I wanted to defend myself, but looking at the doubt and accusation in his eyes, the words died in my throat. Finally, I just said, "Believe whatever you want." I turned and walked away, not caring about the complicated look on his face. In my earpiece, my younger self whispered, "Don't be sad." My nose tickled with unshed tears. "I'm not. So, Chloe... when the surgery is over and he proposes to you in your timeline, do not say yes." This time, she answered without a second of hesitation. "I won't. I promise." I let out a breath of relief. A little later, after Grandpa cut the cake and went upstairs to rest, the relatives at the table stopped pretending. Cousin Jessica sneered openly. "Honestly, some people are so pathetic. Someone practically invades their home, and they still sit there like a quiet little mouse." "Oh, come on, look at who Lily is. She's Ethan's absolute favorite." I listened to it all. My hand tightened around my fork, then slowly released it. I looked up with a cold smile. "If you're so brave, Jessica, why are you still acting blind to the secret kid your husband has with his secretary?" Her face turned instantly pale. "You! Chloe! That's family business, none of your concern!" I shot back, "Then my marriage is none of yours." She choked on her words. The table fell into an awkward silence. Ethan spoke up, his voice cold. "Chloe, that was uncalled for." I looked at him. Only then did I notice that his tie perfectly matched Lily's dress. His stance was clear. That was why these people felt they had the right to humiliate me. The last bit of fight left my body. I set my fork down and whispered, "Ethan, of all people, you have the least right to judge me." His breath caught. I stood up and left the table. The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over the moment I stepped out of the estate. The tears fell like rain, and I couldn't wipe them away fast enough. The estate was far from the city. I walked alone down the dark, cold road. I had never felt so lonely. I looked up at the sky. The moon was bright, but I felt absolutely no warmth. Just then, a choked voice came through my earpiece. "Chloe... Ethan is back with the doctor." 4 "Chloe, I'm back. Don't worry, I'm here now." Hearing that voice from the phone felt like a lifetime ago. It had been so long. So long that I had forgotten what Ethan's voice sounded like when he was being gentle. On the other end, the younger Chloe gave a cold, detached reply. "Thanks." The teenage Ethan sounded a bit hurt. "Chloe, why are you being so formal?" She didn't answer, and he didn't press. He just hurried the doctor to prepare for her surgery. After a moment, she whispered into the phone from under her blanket, "I'm leaving the second the surgery is over. I won't be there for his proposal." I nodded, feeling a massive weight lifting from my chest. When I got home, Ethan stormed in right behind me, with a sobbing Lily in tow. He grabbed my wrist, his face twisted in anger. "Did you tell Grandpa about Lily and me?!" My wrist throbbed with pain. The injury I had gotten years ago while trying to protect him in that car crash—he had completely forgotten about it. I violently shook his hand off. "I wouldn't waste my breath on your dirty laundry. If you don't care about your dignity, I still care about mine." His pupils dilated in shock. Then he let out a harsh laugh. "Dignity?" "You're always so high and mighty. If you told Grandpa, he'd send Lily away for you, wouldn't he? Why play innocent?" Lily was practically hyperventilating next to him. There was a prominent red slap mark on her cheek. "Chloe, I beg you," she cried, throwing herself to her knees in front of me. "I just want to be with Ethan. I don't even care about a title! I beg you!" Before I could even react, Ethan violently pulled her up, his face full of heartache. Then he glared at me. "Do you really have to push her this far?" "She never tried to take anything from you. She's been so quiet, never asking for anything!" He shook his head, his eyes filled with pure disappointment. "How did you become so vicious over the years? You're not the Chloe I used to know." My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold hand. A mock smile formed on my face. "I changed? What about you?" "Did you stay the same? The one who changed first was always you, Ethan." In my earpiece, the teenage Ethan's voice echoed: "Chloe, they're taking you to the OR now. Don't be scared, okay? I'm right here." "The moment you get out, let's get married." "I don't care if your legs ever heal. I'll be your crutches for the rest of your life." His voice was so tender, so full of love. But it only made the cold reality of the man standing in front of me more agonizing. My eyes welled with tears. Ethan froze, his tone softening slightly. "Just apologize to Lily, and I'll let this go." I closed my eyes. "Apologize..." "To her? Who the hell do you think you are, Ethan? Get out." "Chloe!" he snapped, his chest heaving with rage. "You know if I leave now, I'm never coming back!" I didn't look at him. Ethan gave me one last, deep look. "Fine. You asked for this. Lily, let's go!" The house fell dead silent. I let out a soft laugh, packed my remaining things, and headed straight to the airport. Sixteen hours later. The younger Chloe suddenly burst into tears in my earpiece. "Chloe... I sent him away. It's over. We're completely done." I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. In my mind, my memories of Ethan began to blur and fade. At that exact moment. In his office, Ethan was reviewing documents when a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. He collapsed onto the floor. When he woke up, he was in a hospital bed. Grandpa Arthur and Lily were sitting beside him. "Grandpa? What happened to me?" He looked around, feeling an instant wave of disappointment. He muttered, "Where's Chloe? Why isn't she here when I'm sick?" Grandpa Arthur slapped him hard on the arm. "Your wife Lily is right here!" "You ungrateful brat, why are you bringing up a girl you haven't seen in ten years?!"