Missing Love Chapter 3

Past scenes flashed through my mind like a movie.

Ethan pulling my hand through the Carter family's door.

Ethan teaching a lesson to classmates who mocked me...

And what else? Ethan saying he was sick, hoping I'd come abroad to be with him. I refused.

Ethan saying the sunrise from the mountaintop was beautiful, hoping I'd come. I refused that too...

I watched Ethan and Vanessa's figures walk further and further away, ultimately unable to do anything. I didn't know when tears had covered my face.

I must have been in too much physical pain. Otherwise, why would I be crying?

I staggered to support my body, walking step by step toward the bar's exit.

Derek came over saying he could take me to the hospital. I said don't worry, I won't die.

But the last few words he said in my ear surprised me. I couldn't help turning to look at him.

"Don't look at me like that. I just think you're a thousand times better than Vanessa Stone." He scratched his head.

Looking at this big kid in front of me, I raised my hand and patted his head.

"Hey, why are you patting my head..." I'd walked quite far when I heard Derek shouting loudly behind me.

I weakly waved my hand behind me.

Derek watched the somewhat unsteady figure in the distance, couldn't help clutching his heart. It was beating too fast...

Forcing myself to hold on, when I returned to the Carter house, it was already morning.

What did I see when I walked in?

I saw Ethan and Vanessa Stone, along with Mother Carter, having a harmonious breakfast together.

I hadn't expected Vanessa to be so capable—she'd actually managed to make Mother Carter this happy.

They really looked like a family.

While I stood awkwardly in the living room, truly an eyesore.

Mother Carter looked at me, her expression changing repeatedly. She put down her utensils heavily and said: "Summer, even though you'll have nothing to do with our Carter family in the future, as your elder, I still must advise you—young women should have self-respect."

Yes, I had no self-respect!

Before, I thought Mother Carter was just strict with me. But hearing her speak so warmly and gently to Vanessa, I finally understood: once someone is prejudiced against you, everything you do is wrong.

Holding onto my last shred of hope, I looked at Ethan and said: "Ethan, don't you have anything to say?"

It was both hope and the death of hope.

But I still hoped he could be like before—like a mountain sheltering me from wind and snow.

But before Ethan could speak, Vanessa said: "Sister Summer, what can Ethan say for you? Mother Carter said your engagement is already void."

"Ethan, I'm asking you to speak. Are you mute?" I no longer wanted to maintain my previous accommodating manner.

The more I yielded, the more others took advantage.

"Summer, what can I say? Didn't you give up on our relationship long ago?"

"I gave up? You gave up first!"

"You only know how to fight for power and profit at the company. Did you ever answer my calls? Did you ever read my texts? Didn't you tell Vanessa to take care of me? Didn't you say to find Vanessa for everything? Now I've fallen for Vanessa—doesn't that suit you perfectly? No one will cling to you like an immature child anymore..."

"I didn't..." Hearing Ethan's accusations, I kept shaking my head. This wasn't my intention.

"Enough... Summer, leave here today. We'll proceed according to our agreement." Mother Carter looked at me and said.

"What agreement?" Ethan looked somewhat puzzled at his mother, then at me.

"Sister Summer said she'd give up your engagement and go to the overseas branch to be CEO..." Vanessa stepped forward, taking Ethan's hand. "Ethan, don't be angry. Maybe Sister Summer has her reasons?"

I looked at them nestled together, their clasped hands, and said with a dead heart: "I have no reasons. I do want to dissolve the engagement. I do want to be overseas CEO..."

After speaking, without another glance at Ethan, I clutched my about-to-explode stomach and hurried upstairs to my room.

I only heard the sound of shattering porcelain downstairs, Vanessa's scream, and Mother Carter's scolding.

I couldn't be bothered to judge Ethan's behavior. Soon, everything here would have nothing to do with me.

I quickly packed my frequently worn clothes and was about to pull my suitcase out when I saw the worn panda plush on the bedside. I stopped and walked over to hold it in my arms.

This was the first birthday gift Ethan gave me. He said pandas lived carefree lives and hoped I would too...

My eyes stung as I held the plush tightly. Suddenly, "bang"—the bedroom door was kicked open.

Ethan charged in like an angry lone wolf. He looked at me, then at the suitcase in my hand, and laughed coldly: "You're in such a hurry to leave? Do you hate it here that much?"

Before I could answer, he lifted his foot and kicked over my suitcase.

Then seeing the panda plush in my hands made him even more furious. He grabbed it, about to throw it on the ground...

I couldn't let him have his way. I desperately pried at his hands as he roared: "Summer, what's the point? Aren't you leaving? Why are you taking this panda? You've always been cold-hearted, but now you have feelings for a plush toy?"

"I'm cold-hearted? How dare you say that? If I hadn't drunk ten bottles of beer, you'd still be stuck at that bar!"

"Ten bottles is nothing for you, right? Our General Manager Summer is unmatched at the drinking table..." Ethan continued relentlessly.

Before Ethan finished speaking, I slapped him across the face.

The "crack" seemed to stun Ethan.

Anyone could mock me—except him.

I straightened my back with effort, snatched back my panda plush, pulled my suitcase, and walked heavily toward the door.

Vanessa stood not far away. The look she gave me still carried mockery and triumph...

But seeing me look at her, she immediately put on a pitiful expression.

I thought about how, step by step, Vanessa had forced me to this point. I'd been more than fair to her, yet she knew no gratitude, had no shame.

I couldn't help saying with hatred: "Vanessa Stone, Derek asked me to tell you—the OB-GYN said your follow-up appointment is scheduled for next Wednesday."

Under Vanessa's panicked gaze, not giving her any chance to speak, I continued: "Derek also said the aborted child was a boy..."

"Summer, you're lying. It was so small, how could he know it was a boy..." Vanessa panicked and glanced at Mother Carter beside her.

Mother Carter disgustedly shook off her hand. The previous harmony seemed never to have happened.

Unable to bear the secret being torn open, Vanessa charged at me like an arrow.

Though I wanted to dodge, a whole night of exhaustion and stomach pain had left me physically and mentally drained. The tremendous force made the panda plush in my hands fly upward while I crashed into a nearby pillar like a broken kite.

Blood uncontrollably poured from my mouth, mouthful after mouthful.

I seemed to hear Ethan crying out my name.

"Summer..."

"Don't do this, I'm scared. I'll never quarrel with you again. Don't leave me..."

Leaning in Ethan's arms, I struggled to raise my hand to touch his face, wanting to say "coward"...

But in the end, my hand fell powerlessly as I slipped into unconsciousness.

...

When I woke again, I felt my hand being held by a warm palm.

I instinctively tried to pull away, only to hear Ethan's voice in my ear: "Summer, you're awake?"

I looked at him somewhat confused. He looked haggard, his beard looking like it hadn't been shaved in a long time.

It took me a while to remember what happened before. Thinking of all his previous disgust toward me, I sadly pulled my hand away.

"Are you still in pain?" Seeing me silent, he grew anxious.

"The doctor said you had a gastric hemorrhage... It's all my fault..."

I interrupted him with a headache, saying despite the discomfort: "Ethan, you can leave..."

I really wanted some quiet. Too many emotions pressing down made me feel like I couldn't breathe.

"Summer, don't make me leave. Getting close to Vanessa Stone was really just to make you jealous..." "I wanted you to care about me more, to look at me more... I actually knew about her and Derek all along..."

He said somewhat guiltily.

Hearing his words, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. My painful ordeal, he now claimed, was just petulant behavior. Was he ridiculous, or was I...

Not only had I lost my job, I'd ended up in the hospital...

His face gently pressed against mine. Perhaps he was too warm—I couldn't help shrinking back. "Summer, don't make me leave. I don't want to lose you again."

Something wet and cool touched my face. Was he crying?

I desperately restrained my restless heart, tightly gripping the bedsheet beneath my hand.

Ethan stayed with me in the hospital room for a long time, but was finally called away by incessant phone calls...

I looked at the closed door and smiled self-mockingly. What was this...

I don't know how much time passed before the door was opened from outside again.

I looked at the visitor. It was Vanessa Stone.

She walked straight to the chair beside the bed and sat down.

Her round cheeks had thinned considerably. Her makeup wasn't as refined as before. My earlier words had apparently made her feel Mother Carter's cruelty.

"Summer, I never expected you'd stab me in the back on your way out... Aren't you the one who most hates people who gossip behind others' backs? How is it okay when it's you?"

"Was I behind your back... I told you to your face..."

"You... Vanessa and Derek were fine until you made me care for Ethan 24/7."

"Do you know how happy I was when Ethan said he liked me?"

"He's so proud. Who has he ever had eyes for? No one but you! But you didn't know how to cherish it."

"You didn't know how to cherish it, but I did. I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"For this, I didn't hesitate to abort my child with Derek..." She grew more agitated, anger distorting her face.

I had a bad premonition. I quietly reached for the button by the bed to call the nurse.

But she grabbed my hand, her expression even more twisted: "Now not only has that old woman fired me, Ethan says it was all fake, and Derek hates me too... Tell me who I should hate. Should I hate you?!"

She actually pulled a knife from her bag, about to stab me.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Having just woken up, I had no strength to escape.

Looking at her crazed expression, thinking of everything before, I wondered if my indulgence had encouraged her delusions.

Feeling the cold blade, I trembled and said: "Don't be impulsive..."

But she actually laughed coldly.

"So you know fear? Weren't you tough? I won't take your life. I just want to slash your face and see if Ethan can still say he loves you with that face."

Just as the blade was about to pierce my face, I fearfully closed my eyes.

But the pain didn't come. Instead, Vanessa let out a startled cry, followed by the sound of falling to the floor.

I opened my eyes to see—it was Derek.

Derek glanced at the red-eyed Vanessa on the ground. Afraid she'd hurt me again, he bent down to carry me out of the room.

He held me and walked to the doorway, looking back at Vanessa: "I warned you..."

Vanessa looked up at Derek holding another woman and finally dropped the knife, collapsing on the ground and crying loudly.

Feeling Derek's unsteady chest rise and fall, I quietly said "I'm sorry..."

He just kept walking quickly, as if unwilling to hear Vanessa's cries.

Coming toward us were anxious nurses and security guards...

...

He carried me to an outdoor bench.

Early summer sunlight was bright but not scorching.

I sat on the bench for a long time without speaking. He sat beside me without saying anything either.

I'd indulged Vanessa. Ethan had given Vanessa an opportunity.

And Derek completely gave up on Vanessa.

Derek said he and Vanessa had planned to marry once her job was stable, but everything changed after meeting Ethan.

To be with Ethan, she didn't hesitate to abort their child.

She said, "Can love pay the bills? Besides, Ethan is handsome and rich. It's not like I'm marrying an old man. This is my only chance to achieve financial freedom."

After speaking, Derek smiled self-mockingly.

"See, I fulfilled her wishes, then exposed her. I'm pretty bad too... Actually, I'm unwilling to accept it. Why should she abandon me and still be righteously happy... In the end, it was just a game among you rich people..."

Listening to this big kid's confession, I couldn't help recalling the past. Was it a game?

But I'd truly felt the pain.

I neglected Ethan, and Ethan took revenge on me...

...

The day I was discharged, I didn't notify Ethan.

I figured he had neither the time nor energy to see me. I heard he was now drastically reforming Carter Corporation, encountering many obstacles, some instigated by Mother Carter. He was probably overwhelmed.

And now, having given up my obsession with love and work, I felt unburdened and light.

I suddenly wanted to travel, to see distant scenery.

I stood at the boarding gate for a long time.

Finally, I saw Ethan arrive in a rush. His steps were quick, but the airport was so crowded he didn't notice me.

This time I didn't choose to wait. Instead, I called out behind him: "Ethan..."

He turned around sharply and saw me.

I looked at him too. He seemed somewhat changed—his handsome features had gained more angles.

He took a few quick steps and hugged me, saying: "Summer, go travel if you want. I used to always tell you to put down work and travel. You always said you had no time. I thought it was an excuse. Now it's my turn to say I have no time. You won't think it's an excuse too, will you..."

I also reached out to hug him tighter. He'd grown much taller than me. My head only reached his shoulder.

Feeling his unfamiliar yet familiar scent, I said: "I won't..."

We'd experienced each other's most important years. Inevitably, we'd separated for a long time at life's crossroads.

We shouldn't feel we owed each other.

Maybe when I was willing to return, maybe when he'd handled everything, we'd be like before again.

Even separated by thousands of miles, we'd still think of each other.