Chapter 5 No More Stalking
When Emily woke up, she was in a hospital bed.
Melissa stopped by to check on her, telling her she’d need two days of in-hospital rest before discharge. And even after that, she’d have to take it easy for weeks—abortions took a toll.
Emily agreed to every word. She decided to rest for a full month to heal properly.
Her body was hers, and she was done neglecting it.
Once Melissa left, Emily picked up her phone. As expected, there wasn’t a single call from Ethan.
Last night’s fight, her breakdown… they’d probably been just a blip on his radar.
But for her? It was a reset button.
Seeing things clearly wasn’t painful anymore. It was a relief. Better than twisting herself in knots over a man who didn’t care.
Out of habit, her thumb hovered over the video app.
Predictably, Nancy’s profile popped up first, with a tiny line under the username: “This might be someone you know.”
The video showed Nancy holding a kid’s hand; even from the back, Emily recognized Sophie instantly.
The caption read: “Nothing beats feeling needed.” And the background was Joy Gardens’ living room.
Emily smiled faintly, then long-pressed the screen and tapped “Not Interested.”
No more secret stalking. No more torturing herself. That chapter was closed.
After discharge, Emily hired a caregiver to help her recover.
She stayed in bed for a full month, sleeping, eating, and letting her body heal.
When the month was up, she paid the caregiver, put on a nice long dress, did some light makeup, and drove back to Los Angeles.
Today was the 15th—her and Ethan’s “routine” night for trying for a second kid.
Actually, Emily never had great experiences when it came to sex. Every time Ethan was with her, he just went through the motions, rushing to finish so he could go see Nancy.
But tonight? She wasn’t there for a baby. She was to talk about divorce.
She pulled into Brocade Estates at seven.
Jane greeted her and made her dinner.
After eating, Emily headed upstairs to the study.
The divorce agreement was still on the desk—exactly where she’d left it a month ago, untouched. Ethan hadn’t been back once.
She waited until nine. Just as she was about to give up, she heard footsteps outside.
But when the door opened, it was Jane, not Ethan.
“Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Wilson called,” Jane said. “He said he has plans tonight and won’t be back. He asked you to come again next month.”
Emily sneered.
Next month? She’d shown up this time, but there was no guarantee she’d be here then.
She was tired of being stuck in this cage. Tired of waiting for a man who didn’t deserve her time.
After a second of hesitation, she stood up. “When he comes back, tell him I left something for him on the desk.”
Jane nodded. “I will, Mrs. Wilson.”
Emily grabbed her bag and left.
She got in her car, but for a moment, she didn’t know where to go.
After driving aimlessly, she spotted it: the Los Angeles Grand Hall, where a crowd of well-dressed people was spilling out. Most of them scattered quickly, but three figures stopped her in her tracks.
Ethan and Nancy, each holding one of Sophia’s hands. They were laughing, their heads tilted toward each other, the intimacy of the moment cutting through her.
“Nancy, you were so pretty!” Sophia gushed. “Like a fairy! And that piano song? It was amazing! When I grow up, can you teach me to play?”
Sophia tugged on Nancy’s arm, her face a perfect mix of admiration and childish excitement.
Nancy, glowing in a white evening gown that shimmered under the lights, knelt down to boop Sophia’s nose, her smile radiant. “I’ll teach you whenever you want, sweetheart.”
Sophia jumped up happily, then turned to ask Ethan, “Daddy, isn’t Nancy the best?”
Ethan’s eyes crinkled at the corners. He nodded. “Mm.”
Just one word, but it was full of pride and full of love.
“I wanna be just like her when I’m big!” Sophia said.
Emily watched through the windshield.
That look of admiration? Sophia had never given it to her.
After the marriage, Emily poured all her energy into Ethan and Sophia, letting her own needs slip away. Her hair had become an afterthought, her hobbies abandoned.
To Sophia, she was just the woman who cooked and cleaned.
And Nancy? She was the shiny, perfect one, bringing fun and attention.
A dull ache spread through Emily’s chest.
At the hall’s entrance, Sophia held out her arms. “Nancy, hug me!”
Ethan stopped her just in time. “Sophie, Nancy’s wearing a dress, and it’s not easy to hug. Wait till we get in the car.”
Sophia’s face dropped, obviously upset.
Nancy knelt down immediately, lifting Sophia with ease, and shot Ethan a grin. “It’s okay. If Sophie wants a hug, she gets one.”
Ethan smiled. A soft, warm look Emily had never seen directed at her.
He followed them down the steps, his hand lifting the train of Nancy’s dress so it wouldn’t drag on the ground.
This was the man who ruled boardrooms and never backed down from a fight, now bending over to fix a woman’s dress.
They got in the car and drove away.
So this was his so-called “plan” tonight? Emily couldn’t help but laugh.
She sat there for a long time. Then her phone rang. It was the hospital.
“Ms. Dolton,” she said, answering politely.
Emily was a pediatric surgeon. After spending four years as a full-time mom before returning to work, she was still one of the most junior doctors on staff.
On the other end of the line, her supervisor, Shirley Dolton, spoke. “The training program can end early. You can come back to work next week.”
Emily hesitated. “Does the hospital still have that spot for the countryside charity clinic? The one for kids’ health checks? I want to apply.”
Shirley sounded surprised. “The countryside is tough. No perks, no help with promotions. We have the quota, but no one’s forcing…”
“I’m sure,” Emily cut in. “Think of it as a vacation.”
Shirley heard the firmness in her voice and gave in. “Alright. Then go for two months.”
******
A month later.
Ethan’s family was breathing down his neck again—two months without their “second kid” routine. So on the 15th, he showed up at Brocade Estates earlier than usual.
He walked in at six, and Jane’s eyes widened. “Mr. Wilson, you’re early today!”
Ethan didn’t answer. He headed upstairs, pausing to tell Jane, “When Emily gets back, tell her to meet me in the bedroom.”
Jane nodded and watched him go.
He passed the study without a second glance. He was only here for one thing, so no need to linger anywhere else.
After showering, Ethan waited on the bed.
Seven o’clock came and went. Eight, then nine. Three hours passed, and Emily still wasn’t back.
Just as his patience ran out, he heard footsteps outside the door.
