When He Stopped Loving Me Chapter 15

That high-maintenance ex-wife he'd discarded like trash had, over nine years, become fused with his very bones and blood.

Her pride, her talent, her dependence, even her moods—all had become irreplaceable parts of his life.

And he'd personally pushed her away, choosing so-called "gentleness and domesticity"—nothing but a self-deceptive fantasy.

The dream had ended, leaving only boundless emptiness and regret.

But it was too late.

The Claire Morrison who'd once had eyes only for him was already dead, killed in that fire.

All that remained was a hollow shell of Ethan Pierce, trapped in the cage of his own making, condemned to chew on this belated, soul-deep agony for the rest of his life.

Time didn't heal the void in Ethan's heart. Instead, that belated regret and loss fermented into increasingly bitter wine.

Life with Rachel grew nothing like his initial fantasy of cozy domesticity—instead revealing irreconcilable contradictions and sordidness.

After giving birth, Rachel seemed to feel her position was secure and began showing increasing greed and shortsightedness.

No longer satisfied with lavish luxury, she used their son's status as Pierce family heir to constantly demand enormous assets, company shares, even repeatedly meddling in corporate personnel, trying to insert her incompetent relatives into important positions.

"Ethan, my cousin's really honest—could you make him deputy finance director?"

"My niece just graduated. She wants experience in marketing. Put in a word?"

"Our son's the Pierce family heir. Getting him more assets now—what's wrong with that? You're not planning to leave it to outsiders, are you?"

These unreasonable demands triggered strong discontent among company veterans and core executives, who raised objections multiple times in meetings.

Ethan grew impatient. Finally, when Rachel suggested yet another distant relative become branch office director, he snapped coldly: "Rachel! The company isn't a playground! There are strict systems and standards for hiring! Focus on raising our child. Stop interfering with company business!"

Rachel startled, then her eyes reddened, tears falling on cue, voice accusatory: "Ethan Pierce! You're yelling at me?! Who am I doing this for? Isn't it to secure our future?! You... are you still thinking about Claire Morrison?! Is that why you resent me and our son?!"

"Claire Morrison"—those three syllables were poisoned thorns stabbing Ethan's already irritated heart.

He slammed the table, roaring: "Shut up! Don't mention her! I've told you repeatedly—company matters aren't your concern!"

Seeing Ethan's dark expression, Rachel fell silent, but resentment and venom filled her eyes.

Even more embarrassing were family gatherings.

The Pierce family held their annual event, inviting prestigious elders and important business partners.

Rachel dressed elaborately, dripping with jewels, yet couldn't hide her fundamental discomfort and shallowness.

During dinner, trying to flaunt her status as "Mrs. Pierce," she held forth, bragging about jewelry and mansions Ethan bought her, even rudely mocking a respected great-uncle as "old-fashioned."

The table instantly fell silent. People exchanged glances, eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

Ethan's face turned iron-dark, wishing for a hole to crawl into.

His mother was so furious she left mid-dinner. Before departing, she told Ethan in front of everyone: "I'd rather you stayed single forever than acknowledge this disgrace as my daughter-in-law!"