When He Stopped Loving Me Chapter 20

Rachel jumped at his roar, turning to see Ethan's dark, iron expression. She froze, then grievance and anger surged up.

Especially remembering Claire's glory at the gala and Ethan's lost expression—jealous fire burned in her!

"I'M throwing tantrums?!" Rachel shrieked back, losing control. "Ethan Pierce! Why are you yelling at ME?! If you're so capable, go find your ex-wife! GO! See if Claire Morrison still wants you! What do you think you are now? She's got men younger, handsomer, richer than you! You're taking it out on me—how dare you?!"

These words were poisoned daggers stabbing precisely into Ethan's rawest wounds!

He trembled with rage, pointing at Rachel, unable to speak for a long moment.

After ranting, Rachel seemed to realize she'd gone too far. Seeing his terrible expression, she habitually switched to her pitiful act, tears falling on cue, sobbing: "Ethan... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it... I just... I was so humiliated by Claire at the gala today, came home upset... and seeing you so distracted because of her, I... I'm just terrified of losing you... so I spoke carelessly... You know I came from humble beginnings, always insecure around you..."

Once, this retreating-as-advancing, weakness-displaying trick might have softened Ethan.

But now, looking at her tear-streaked face contorted with anger, compared to Claire's calm, confident face—he felt only endless disgust and revulsion!

He couldn't say another word to her. He turned abruptly and slammed out!

The thunderous sound seemed to shake the entire apartment.

Ethan drove to his regular bar, drinking glass after glass of hard liquor, trying to numb himself.

Under alcohol's influence, Claire's radiant image at the gala and Sebastian's tender, protective demeanor intertwined with memories of Rachel's crudeness and the home's toxic chaos. The crushing contrast made him feel nearly insane with pain!

He began uncontrollably revisiting the past.

Remembering Claire's elegant talent. Her silent professional support. Even her "high-maintenance" behavior had carried endearing charm... And Rachel? Beyond that initial false gentleness, what remained?

Greed, shallowness, vulgarity!

He truly... regretted it!

Stumbling home drunk late at night.

Rachel was already asleep, her room filled with heavy snoring.

Ethan didn't turn on lights. By dim window light, he looked at the ungracefully sleeping, plain-featured woman on the bed, then thought of that brilliant Claire in the investigation report. Regret seeped through his limbs like poison!

Just then, the old nanny Zhang who'd been caring for the child and long resented Rachel's behavior—perhaps unable to stand it anymore, perhaps emboldened by Ethan's drunkenness—summoned courage and entered.

"Sir..." Zhang's voice trembled. "There's something I've kept inside too long... If I don't speak, I'll betray my conscience!"

Ethan looked at her with bleary eyes.

Crying, Zhang revealed everything from years ago—how Rachel had snuck into Claire's hospital room after the miscarriage, used vicious words to torment her, even... even mixed the unformed child's blood and tissue into soup and force-fed it to Claire. And later, how she'd staged falls, twisted facts, framed Claire for all her evil deeds!

"...Mrs. Pierce vomited until nearly dying! Miss Chen... she's not the innocent, kind person she appears! She's a viper!" Zhang sobbed uncontrollably.