6
Ethan returned home in the evening, exhausted.
Upon realizing the house was still empty, his expression soured.
He checked his phone and saw our chat, with his morning message being the last one.
A sense of frustration overcame Ethan, as if something was constricting his throat.
He loosened his tie, allowing himself a moment of relief as he breathed more easily.
Ethan then sent me another message on his phone.
[Yolanda, quit playing games. Did you know Chris scolded me today? Are you feeling proud that someone's got your back?]
[I'm warning you for the last time. If you don't return now, don't bother coming back at all.]
I sat beside Ethan, amused as I watched him glare at his phone.
Previously, I had always tried to mediate between Chris and Ethan to prevent conflicts, taking the blame myself.
Yet Ethan repeatedly demeaned and insulted me.
Now that I was gone, he couldn't handle it.