| What's wrong with me?|

|Ethan|

She signed it.

She actually signed the divorce paper.

And as she wrote her name across the page, something inside me cracked. I don't know what it was—but it broke.

Ava didn't look at me after she finished. She didn't say a word. She didn't ask for anything. She just sat there, still and quiet, like the fight had finally left her body.

Her eyes stared ahead, empty.

No tears.

No anger.

Just silence.

My mother, without missing a beat, snatched the paper from the table like it was some kind of prize. She pulled out another set of documents and threw them in front of Ava.

"Here," she said coldly. "This is some property paper. Take it. I don't want you crawling back to my son one day begging for money."

She didn't even look at Ava. Just waved the papers like it was a final deal being closed.

"Your father didn't give a single penny during the wedding. Don't think we owe you anything."

Ava didn't speak.

She didn't even lift her head.

She just sat there.

Still.

Defeated.

Beside me, Natalia shifted on her feet and grabbed my hand, squeezing it. "Baby, let's go. My feet are hurting… and my throat too. I need to lie down."

She smiled sweetly, like we were leaving some boring family dinner instead of a hospital room where my marriage had just ended.

Mom walked over to us, her tone sharp and cold. "Yes, yes. Let's not waste more time here, especially not in front of a worthless person like her."

She glanced back at Ava like she was something disgusting.

Then turned to Eleanor.

"Do you need an invitation, Eleanor?" Mom snapped. "Let's go!"

Eleanor didn't move. She was standing near Ava, her hands curled tightly at her sides, her jaw clenched.

"Now," Mom said louder.

Natalia tugged at my arm. "Let's go, baby."

And just like that, we walked out.

No goodbye.

No second look.

I didn't turn back.

I don't know why.

Maybe I was scared.

Maybe I didn't want to see her face one last time.

Or maybe…

Because if I had looked back—I might have seen the last bit of love I once knew crumble completely.

The ride from the hospital to home felt endless.

Mom and Natalia talked the entire way, laughing, gossiping, as if nothing had happened. As if no one had just signed a divorce paper in a hospital bed.

I glanced at Eleanor through the rearview mirror. She sat quietly, staring out the window, her face unreadable. But I could feel it—the disappointment in her eyes, the way she avoided looking at me.

She hated what I had become.

When we got home, Natalia moved in like she owned the place. She had already brought all her stuff—bags, clothes, even framed photos of us. Mom insisted she stay close, calling it "rightful" now that she's carrying my child."

She was given the master bedroom—the one Ava and I used to share.

My chest tightened as I watched Natalia throw herself onto our bed. The same bed where Ava once slept, where she cried, begged held me close.

It felt wrong. All of it. I don't know why my heart felt so heavy as it tearing me from inside.

"Baby, why are you still standing there?" Natalia asked, lying back against the pillows. Then, without a care, she slid off her underwear and tossed it across the room.

I caught it in the corner of my eye—but I didn't react. Right now this side of her didn't excite me.

Why? I don't know.

I turned and walked into the bathroom.

Later, I settled on the couch in the corner of the room. I couldn't bring myself to lie beside her.

"What's wrong with you?" Natalia said with hint of smile, "Come sleep next to me. It's not like we haven't shared a bed before."

"I'm tired," I said flatly, avoiding her gaze. "Just sleep."

She didn't stop.

"You got what you wanted, right? I got what I wanted - A divorce. She's gone from our life. Don't you think we should celebrate this winning. I will bring a bottle of champagne."- as she brought and opened it , poured me ad and her.

The moment she went drink I stopped her, "You are pregnant ,Natalia. You shouldn't drink."

"Oh… Yes."- With that her smile faltered a bit but as she lose her straps from one shoulder and licked my neck, kissing me lightly. I closed my eyes for a second but Ava's face suddenly flashed before my eyes as I push her abruptly.

Natalia looked at me shocked, "Why are you acting like this now? We had slept numerous nights together when you were still married with her and now you are divorced you don't want to sleep with me? You literally push me."- She asked didn't understand his behavior.

"Can you please explain it to me because I am not understanding this ? You didn't say a word the whole divorce drama and now you are refusing to sleep with me?"- Natalia asked, clearly annoyed by his reaction.

I didn't answer right away.

But something inside me cracked.

"Yes, I wanted this but I never wanted you to get pregnant," I said, the words sharp and bitter. "I told you I didn't want anything serious. You knew that."

Natalia sat up straight, her eyes wide. "You said you loved me and when you came to know I am pregnant, you were happy and confessed your feelings."- Natalia snapped, her voice rising.

"….And now you are sad because I am pregnant."-

"I didn't say that."- Ethan tried to calm her down. But Natalia is desperate to know what is going on inside his mind,

 "Yes you are. I am pregnant Because you had sex with me. Repeatedly. What did you expect? Magic?"

"You could've taken the pill," Ethan shot back coldly, he couldn't control his emotion anymore.

"And you could've used a condom," she fired, without missing a beat. "Don't put this all on me."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, thick with tension.

I rubbed my temples. The pressure in my head was unbearable.

Natalia stood up from the bed, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at him. "You think you can just blame me and wash your hands clean? You were there too, Ethan. Every time. And not once did you stop. Not once did you say no."

Ethan looked away, jaw tight. He couldn't argue. Not really.

"And now that it's real—now that there's a baby involved—you suddenly act like I tricked you?" - She continued, her voice cutting deeper.

"You didn't?"- Ethan fired back.

"Are you fucking kidding me now, you are so sweet when I was letting you inside me and when the moment it came you have to take responsibilities you are acting like a fucking victim."

"When I am the one who is victim here."- Natalia didn't stop as she is continued to scream as Ethan left the room with clenched fist.