Chapter 4 You All Can Have Each Other

KATELYN'S POV

My thoughts were a mess.

Somewhere in the middle of the kiss, when I should have pushed him away, I hesitated. I didn't know if it was longing or habit-something deep I hadn't shaken off, or just my body reacting without my permission. I couldn't tell.

And I hated that I couldn't tell.

His hands were still on my waist when the sharp ring of his phone cut through the room.

We both froze.

He let out a slow breath, jaw tight, and reached for the phone with one hand. Still holding me with the other.

"Yeah?" he answered, voice lower than usual.

I didn't need to hear the other side. I heard it in him. The way his tone shifted-guarded, careful, like he didn't want me to hear too much.

Scarlett.

The sting in my chest was sharp and immediate, cutting through the confusion I'd just been struggling with.

I didn't want to be in his presence any longer-least of all while he whispered sweet nothings to her like I wasn't even here.

As silent as I could, I pulled away from his grasp, grabbed my pillow off the bed, and walked out without a word.

***

The next morning, I didn't expect him to be waiting at the table when I walked into the kitchen.

He was already dressed for work, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, sipping coffee like nothing had happened.

"Morning," he said casually, without looking up from his phone. "I told my secretary you can call the office directly from now on. You won't need to go through her anymore."

I gave him a blank stare.

"And," he added, placing the cup down, "I'll give you thirty thousand a month for personal expenses. No restrictions. Use it however you want."

I paused by the counter.

In the past, I might've thanked him. Might've felt like it meant something-recognition, trust, maybe even care.

But not this time.

I looked at him calmly. "That won't be necessary."

His eyes flicked up to mine. The coldness there was instant.

"Don't start throwing another tantrum," he said flatly. "I'm trying to be reasonable."

I didn't answer.

He stood and adjusted his cufflinks, tone clipped as he walked past me. "Marcus and Derek will be coming to the house today. There's a family lunch. Make sure lunch is ready."

Then he left the room.

......

I would have loved nothing more than to stay in bed. But we were supposed to have lunch together as a family, and being a housewife , the task fell on me. Had I known I would feel so poorly on this day, I would have hired someone to do all of the cooking. But I had made no such arrangements.

Walking down the stairs to the kitchen, I heard my husband talking to someone, and stopping to listen, I noticed he was speaking to a woman, and the woman's voice was familiar.

It was my sister, Scarlett.

Scarlett had been unaware of everything until today, and after our father and brother had filled her in, Ethan took the role of comforting her very personally. That was more than he gave to me, his actual wife.

Never the less, I quietly made my way down the stairs and watched them from the doorway. They were so lost in each other, that they couldn't even see me.

At the table, I watched as Derek poured a drink, and cut up a slice of cake for her, meanwhile, Dad took his time to dish out Scarlett's meal, engaging her in a warm chat as he did.

That was more than they ever gave to me, and chastised myself for letting it get to me. I knew better.

She was their prized possession, she always would be. I was just the extra. The spare.

I watched as Ethan brought out a gift box, turning to Scarlett with it. From the box, he brought out a four-clover necklace, with an S embedded in it. It was beautiful, but I guess it should not have surprised me, Ethan always made a point to remember the things Scarlett liked. He always did his best to give them to her.

"Oh, Ethan!" Scarlett exclaimed, "It's so beautiful."

I watched her get oh-so emotional over the gift and felt a vice wrap around my heart.

Ethan never got me anything. Ethan never so much as did a thoughtful thing for me. But here he was, giving gifts to my sister, right before me.

"Ethan, when was the last time you got me anything?" I murmured to myself.

"I'm glad you like it." He said to Scarlett, and she beamed, while I died a little on the inside.

"I love it!" Scarlett squealed and turned to me, but I looked away. I didn't need her rubbing it in.

Scarlett directly hugged Ethan around the waist right in front of me.

"Hope you don't mind. You know how we sometimes get." She said and let him go. It was all an act though, the whole innocent display of affection. Because I knew Scarlett, and that was definitely not an innocent hug.

"Please don't be offended by my presence, I'll only be here a couple of days, and after that, I'll go get my place. You won't even know I'm here."

"Do I even have a choice? Seeing as you both choose to frock in my presence ," I said and turned to look at Ethan who was watching us.

"You're being overly emotional. Maybe you should rest." He suggested and I narrowed my eyes on him.

"Am I being overly emotional? Maybe , just maybe I am. But tell me how else I'm supposed to react to my husband being caught cheating on me with my sister?" I questioned, and felt a pit out in my stomach when I remembered a recent incident.

"What are you talking about, Katelyn?"

"Oh you don't know? Really? Because Just last week, there was a news report on Scarlett's mystery boyfriend. They didn't say who, but the speculations were high. Was that not you?" I asked Ethan.

"Ethan, wasn't that you?" I asked with a choked voice.

"Katelyn, let me explain..."

I interrupted him. I tried my best to hold back my tears. "There's no need."

"Just what I thought." I said and I couldn't help the way my heart broke in two.

"Scarlett is the hostess and she is the one who is most worthy of Ethan. Could it be that Ethan would attend events outside with you? You should take a good look at yourself. You don't even have a job," Derek said.

I felt really hurt by the question. I opened my mouth to speak, but Ethan got to it before I did.

"Derek, don't speak to Katelyn like that," Ethan said firmly. "She is my wife and also your sister. You should show her respect." Derek looked like he had something to say, but stayed quiet.

"Come on now, Derek was just trying to speak up for me," Scarlett said and turned to Derek. With a big smile, she brought a small gift box from her bag, "I wasn't sure what you would like, so I bought a couple of small little gifts."

"Oh, Scarlett, you didn't have to," Derek said, receiving the gift box with a big smile. He opened it, and from it, brought out a global limited edition wrist watch and I watched his eyes grow big.

"Oh wow! A global limited edition watch. You're the best Scarlett! Truly incomparable! Thanks!"

Scarlett only giggled, and I averted my eyes from them to pin it on Ethan.

"You owe me an explanation, Ethan," I said through grinded teeth, but he only looked weary of me.

"What explanation, Katelyn? She'll only be here a couple of days, we can go back to our lives right after." he said, and he even seemed like he dreaded the possibility himself, " you don't have to make a big fuss out of everything."

"a big fuss. Really? Is that what I'm doing now? You think I'm making a big fuss when you bring your first love to our matrimonial home like it's nothing?"

Scarlett looked between us, guilt written on her expression.

"It's okay... maybe I could just go now," she said, starting to rise, but Ethan pulled her back down.

"You aren't going anywhere." Then he looked at me directly, "As long as I'm here, no one dares to bully you."

My husband was protecting another woman right in front of me. I knew that I had lost him once again.

All he has always cared about is Scarlett. I'm just an outsider, nothing more than that.

"So she won't leave? You won't let her?"

"no," Ethan responded firmly.

"No?" I asked, my heart cutting up in two at his words, but did my best to keep my expression serene.

"Once I've sorted things out with Scarlett, I'll explain whatever you need to know to you."

I nodded and felt the first sting of tears as I began to rise.

"Fine, then I'll go. You all can have each other."