Chapter 3
What Ethan didn’t know was that he wasn’t the only one in this world with a childhood companion.
I made up an excuse to go out and called Andrew Martin, who I’d grown up with since childhood.
When he learned that I wanted him to introduce me to a man because I was planning to remarry, he got somewhat angry. “Isn’t Ethan treating you well?”
Andrew’s simple question brought tears to my eyes.
I briefly explained the situation, then heard the angry sound of him punching the wall.
After a long while, Andrew said, “Alright. I’ll introduce you to a reliable man.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Once I left on the day Ethan and Violet got married, I’d have nothing more to do with the Collins family.
However, before that happened, I still had many things to take care of.
Because I was Ethan’s widow, canceling his military registration went exceptionally smoothly, and I collected the survivor
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benefits directly.
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After setting aside the portions for his father Colton Collins and Layla, I deposited all the remaining money into my savings
account.
When I got home, I gathered up all the Christmas items related to Ethan and burned them in the kitchen.
By the time Ethan returned with Violet, those things had long
since turned to ashes.
However, he didn’t notice any of this. Seeing me in the kitchen, he instinctively gave me instructions like he used to: “Aurora, make some spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner tonight.”
It wasn’t until Violet pinched his arm that Ethan snapped back to reality. Then he coughed awkwardly twice and said, “Violet, I remember someone saying Aurora makes the best spaghetti with meat sauce. I’d like her to make some for us to try.”
Violet looked suspiciously between me and Ethan, then snorted coldly, “It’s just spaghetti with meat sauce. What difference does it make who cooks it? Once we’re married, I’ll learn to make it for you too.”
Ethan quickly took her hand. “That won’t do. Did I marry you to make you work? Someone else will handle those household chores. You just need to rest well and give me a child.”
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Violet was delighted by his words. Then the two of them went into the house, chatting and laughing.
I stood there, pondering Ethan’s words, and couldn’t help but let out a scornful laugh.
Layla’s health had never been good. Ethan needed to earn money, and Violet needed to rest well.
Besides me, who else could handle the household chores?
So his plan was to have me serve their entire family.
However, even knowing his intentions, I didn’t argue.
After all, I only had two days left before I’d be gone.
As if I had no temper at all, I let Ethan and Violet order me around constantly.
Even Layla, who had long been convinced by Ethan, couldn’t stand watching it anymore. She warned them a few times, and only then did they restrain themselves somewhat.
However, Violet had been spoiled by her family since childhood. Even though she appeared to listen to Layla on the surface, she was still defiant inside.
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Then she started throwing tantrums with Ethan.
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Ethan indulged her completely. Just hearing her say that walking made her feet hurt, he spent all the money he had on hand to buy a car.
Then he even bought an oven, a refrigerator, and a complete sound system that few people in town would ever purchase.
When these items were delivered, the Collins house became the focus of the entire village.
Everyone was shocked by what Ethan had bought.
One man said, “Logan, you’re spoiling your wife too much.
hase things aren’t cheap, are they?”
r man chimed in, “Yeah, you bought so many things. en marrying a city woman wouldn’t cost this much, would it?”
But Ethan looked at Violet adoringly and said, “Money doesn’t matter. I just want to give Violet the best and make her the happiest bride.”
Hearing his words, many people felt both envious and jealous.
One woman, noticing me standing silently to the side, deliberately stirred up trouble: “Since the Collins family is so wealthy, Ethan must have spent quite a bit when he married
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J
Aurora too, right?”
Ethan’s smile froze. He kept his head down, not daring to look at
- me.
I knew why he felt guilty, so I sighed and said, “When Ethan married me, I didn’t even ask him for a bride price.”
Not expecting me to say it so directly, the woman was stunned and laughed awkwardly twice, saying, “That might be because their circumstances weren’t good at the time.”
After saying this, even she felt guilty.
Both Collins sons had previously served in the military. Now one son had died. They must have received substantial survivor
benefits.
So this ostentatious wedding for Violet was clearly due to favoritism.
Many people looked at me with more sympathy in their eyes.
Seeing that Ethan was also lost in thought, Violet said, “This is my fault. I didn’t consider Aurora’s feelings. Logan, why don’t you return these things? I don’t want Aurora to feel wronged.”
The slight guilt Ethan had just begun to feel toward me quickly disappeared.
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He said, “She doesn’t have these things because her fate isn’t good enough—she doesn’t deserve them. What does that have to do with you? Violet, you’re too kind. You need to be careful not to be bullied by scheming women in the future.”
Ethan was actually suspecting that I was jealous of Violet and deliberately mocking them.
I didn’t want to argue. Watching him work hard to move these things into his and Violet’s room, I sneered inwardly.
Ethan’s money definitely wasn’t enough to buy all these things.
But if you added the survivor benefits, it would be more than enough.
I had thought he would come to me directly to ask for it. But I didn’t expect that the person who came to find me the day before the wedding would be Layla.
She glanced carefully at my expression, then said hesitantly, “Aurora, you must have collected Ethan’s survivor benefits, right? That’s quite a substantial amount. Why don’t I help you manage it?”
I frowned, looking puzzled. “Layla, that would be too much. trouble. Anthony will be starting school in a few years, and there’ll be many expenses. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to
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keep asking you for money, would it?”
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Layla glanced at Anthony sitting on the bed, her expression somewhat hesitant.
Of course she genuinely loved Anthony, but she felt he might not be her only grandson.
After making up her mind, Layla dropped her reserved attitude. “Aurora, you’re part of the Collins family. Shouldn’t I help manage your money? Besides, we need money right now. You can’t hoard Ethan’s pension all to yourself. Logan’s getting married – shouldn’t you help him out?”
lher true intentions, I stopped refusing.
y tears, putting on a meek appearance, and envelope from my pocket. “Layla, you’re right. This
ne pension money for you and Colton. After the wedding tomorrow, I’ll give you the money I’ve saved up too.”
Layla felt the thickness of the envelope and nodded with satisfaction. Then, she comforted me just like Ethan used to when he was manipulating me: “Aurora, don’t worry. Even though Ethan’s gone, you’ll always be my family, and Anthony will always be my grandson. The Collins family won’t let you suffer.
“Oh, and tomorrow will be busy. Since you have time, go help in
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the kitchen with the cooking.”
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I lowered my head and agreed. My obedient manner pleased Layla greatly.
Layla was eager to go back and count the money, not noticing that Anthony and I had already packed most of our belongings.
The next day, before dawn broke, Ethan knocked on the door and woke me up. “Aurora, get up and start cooking. You need to prepare ten tables‘ worth of food.”
He was extremely excited, his voice carrying the joy of getting what he wanted. Looking at the yard full of balloons and flowers, I sneered coldly.
When Ethan and I got married, he said Colton and Layla were getting old and didn’t like too much excitement, so we didn’t have a grand wedding.
Now it seemed it wasn’t that Colton and Layla disliked festivities – it was just that I wasn’t the one they had in mind.
Ethan noticed my distraction. After hesitating for a moment, seeing no one around, he pulled a small silver bracelet from his pocket. “I bought this while getting jewelry made for Violet. It’s for you.”
He shoved the bracelet directly into my hand, then sighed and
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said, “Aurora, you’ve had a hard time these past few days. I know you can’t make it without a man. Don’t worry, after this is all over, I’ll discuss with Violet about taking care of both of you.”
It was almost time, so Ethan turned to go pick up Violet.
I stood there, disgusted, and threw the silver bracelet on the ground, then stomped on it twice.
I thought to myself: “Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!”
After hearing Ethan’s words, I felt like I’d been smeared with dog shit.
He was clearly my husband to begin with, yet now he was talking about taking care of me like it was some kind of charity. How could he shamelessly say such things?
Fortunately, it was time – I had to leave too.
As soon as Ethan left the Collins house with his friends, I picked up Anthony and grabbed our bundle.
Taking one last look at this place where I’d lived for several years, I felt no attachment whatsoever and quickly walked away,
At that moment, Ethan felt inexplicably nervous, thinking: “Is it because I’m finally marrying Violet that I’m so excited?”
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He couldn’t figure it out. After all, this wasn’t his first wedding.
Ethan thought: “But Violet is different from Aurora. Violet is the one I truly love, while Aurora was just suitable as a wife.”
He had thought he’d never have the chance to marry Violet, the woman he truly liked, but then Logan had his accident.
Ethan only hesitated for a moment before deciding to take Logan’s identity and continue living.
He thought: “Violet is so considerate, she should agree to let me take care of both of them. That way I won’t be letting Aurora down.”
Thinking about living with both his beloved and his wife, Ethan felt rather pleased with himself.
Then he picked up Violet and returned to the Collins house
with her. But he saw Layla stumbling out, holding a letter in her
hand.
Layla shouted: “This is terrible! Aurora took Anthony and left, saying she’s going to remarry!”
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