Falling for My Ex-Husband's Enemy

Lily gave the office door a push and was greeted by the usual scent of coffee and paper. As soon as she came in, she gasped to find her friend Mia in the office. There was a desolate stillness in her, as her lively mood was nowhere to be seen.

The only thing noticeable on Mia was the redness around her eyes and the tears along her cheeks. The way she felt looked like a result of nights spent crying, and that bothered Lily a lot.

"What's going on here?" She softly called out to Mia, kneeling as she spoke. "Why are you like this?"

She cried and said, "Jackson... he broke up with me."

Lily became very angry. "What? How could he do such a thing? He is a jerk!" She hugged Mia close in her arms. Having her close was a little bit of comfort for Mia after her heartbreak.

Helping her friend with gentle hugs, Lily tried to ease the stress by saying, "Ignore him. You should not be with someone who doesn't deserve you. His selfishness doesn't fit with how much you are worth. You will meet someone who truly values you." After a little while, Mia loosened in her arms, and the tension in her shoulders lessened.

Quickly after, Mia retreated, wiping her eyes with her hand.

"Let's get you ready," Lily said, her determination firm. "We're going club to have a great night. You deserve it."

"Okay," she said, her voice still shaky but a hint of resolve creeping in. "But what about your plans? Your ice cube?"

Lily chuckled lightly, grateful for the small shift in mood. "I'll message him. He'll understand. Tonight is about you, Mia. Let's go to the club and set your mood right."

Mia managed a smile, the corners of her lips lifting just a fraction. "Okay," she said, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes.

****

The club buzzed with the energetic beats of music, so when Lily and Mia stepped into it, the place was alive. It was throbbing, a bracing cocktail of manic laughter, strobe lights, and the pungent smell of drunken beverages. She & he came for another reason: to escape sometimes as well, just to let their lives fade away, and for Mia to clear her head from the breakup.

They twirled on the dance floor, the beat surrounding them, and for a split second all their cares were left on the side in the background. Mia twirls around with her carefree laughter and the way it echoes as a melody. Even though she was half carrying the burden of her own heartbreak, Lily was carried away by the night.

In the midst of Mischief, however, Mia saw a sight. She squinted through the mob, gazing at a particular figure.

She shouted over the music, "Lily," just her voice barely carried. "Is that your ice cube?"

Lily's heart sank as she looked at Mia. There he was-Ethan following behind the bar, eyeing a girl who Lily had never seen in real life other than in photos that Ethan left on the coffee table of his study.

""I don't know..." Lily said, her voice trailing a little with sorrow.

Mia's brow furrowed as she watched the scene unfold. "With whom is he? Who is that girl?"

"Oh... I know her," Lily said, her voice barely a whisper. "She's a friend from his college. She's Sarah."

The look on Mia's face changed from curious to incredulous as the couple appeared to interact. "two are acting like a couple ... Lily..." she saw the one moment that destroyed Lily with her own eyes. The kiss of Ethan as he crushed his mouth to the girl was like a knife in the heart,

Mia shouted while her face was a painting of shock..." "your husband is cheating on you... Lily..." Mia said horrified.

Turning to Lily, the tears were pouring from her eyes.

"let's go to him... come on...". Mia needed to breathe because three different fires exploded in her chest: anger, protectiveness, and fear.

"No thanks, let's go home..." Lily answered back, and her voice broke. Mia put up the slightest resistance before Lily snapped and walked out of the club, to the boisterous energy that is so not her.

"LILY... LILY... wait for me!" Mia shouted, trying to run with him. There was a matching sadness on both their faces. "I am aware that you are in pain... However, you ought to explain that you know about his cheating... And then punish him so he knows better next time!"

Lily frowned and said it with a sad voice. "What is the point of all this? He isn't in love with me. Notice how much happier they are together. Because he never loved me in the first place. He loves her. Now, I feel like there's no one around, and I really miss my parents now. I feel so alone."

Words burst from her, and the tears poured down, unstoppably. Mia moved over and gave Lily a comforting hug. Through tears, she completed, "I'm here by your side."

There was silence between the two again; they hailed a taxi to Lily's home, and the twinkling night sky gave the city a magical look, while Lily felt low. Mia put her arm around her, giving her peace as they went to Lily's place.

Lily's spirits felt even more low as soon as she arrived. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she turned to Mia. "I'm grateful you are here," she whispered.

With a loving squeeze, Mia agreed and said, "Always." Lily, you don't have to suffer alone. We will make it through as a team."

Lily opened her house door and stepped inside.

***************

Lily sat down at the dressing table and watched her face in the mirror. Her heart felt more and more burdened every day. My name is Lily, and my husband is an ice cube. She laughed cynically at what she was thinking. In fact, it's even more than that...

Ethan's reputation as a cold, unyielding CEO preceded him. He was a man of few words; those who met him admired his authority and respected his commands. She had been in love with him since they were both young and innocent. Still, those times now seemed like distant history.

She began to remember her childhood days. Lily's parents were employed by the kind Mr. Gray, who began caring for her after something bad happened to her. Her parents were taken away from her by an accident when she was only ten, which made everything around her seem enormous. Ethan's parents expanded her family by providing her a house and a sense of belonging.

They had loved and cuddled her as if she were their own family member. When she was ready to marry, their choice made everything different. They believed her marriage to Ethan would develop into a beautiful relationship. Even so, Ethan had not bought into everything they wanted. He did not want to be in this marriage, and it was plain from his behavior.

Lily felt her heart break when she remembered their wedding. She imagined what her life could be with him, but Ethan just watched without really caring. It seemed like he was standing next to a total stranger, not to the girl who had loved him.

He never talks well to me, Lily thought, her heart sinking further. He scolds me for the smallest mistakes as if I were a child. She had tried to be the perfect wife, but nothing she did seemed to penetrate the icy barrier he had built around himself.

It seemed to Lily there was no chance of him falling in love with her or changing. At the same time, she still told herself that she loved him. It felt as if the love she had brought her was nothing but grief and constant unhappiness. Their living space was one, but they shared nothing inside it.

Because he was CEO of his father's company, Ethan spent most of his time on work. He worked steadily, wanted to achieve big things, and was entirely dedicated to his compositions. Still, Lily chose her own road and got a job with another firm to make a living. She didn't want to inconvenience others, mainly because Ethan rarely said anything to her.

******

I am trying my best to make this marriage last long... I love him very much... but... She sighed, running her fingers through her hair. He never even tries, and this makes me so upset and all alone. and now I know why, he had his love already, and I am between them.

Almost every day seemed to be about fighting the walls that came between them. Her desire for him to show love and see her as he passed them by was not met. She felt that life would not be fair until he loved her like she loved him.

Things at home were quiet and full of desperation day after day. There were some ups and downs; perhaps it just appeared to us as a normal marriage, she would try to tell herself. Every morning, she'd wake up while the sun was still low outside, cook breakfast, and make sure her husband was well cared for. He really hated going out to eat and would always choose home cooking. That way, she packed his lunch almost every day, neatly arranging what he liked best inside, in the hope that he would really acknowledge her efforts.

He loves to read books, she mused as she cleaned his study room, dusting the shelves filled with novels and business tomes. She took pride in keeping the space immaculate, but there was an unspoken rule: she couldn't touch his things. The thought of moving a single book or shifting a paper felt like a betrayal. It was a reminder of the boundaries he had set, a line she dared not cross.

When she was sorting through the room, she suddenly felt very sad. It's unclear to me when he will start to feel the same about me. All the moments that passed reminded me of her unrealized hopes. She'd been hoping that day would arrive, when he'd finally welcome her as a companion and partner, not only as someone he needed to care for. She quickly wiped the tear from her eye to stop herself from feeling overwhelmed.

Lily's head spun, a wave of dizziness washing over her. She felt a sudden surge of nausea, and before she could react, she was dashing towards the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before she was retching violently, her body convulsing as she threw up.

She collapsed onto the floor, her back against the cool wall as she continued to vomit. Her stomach churned, and her throat burned. She felt weak and disoriented, her mind foggy.

As she sat there, helpless and miserable, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. She didn't understand what was happening to her body. The nausea, the dizziness – it all felt so overwhelming.

She leaned forward, her head resting on her knees, and waited for the wave of sickness to pass. But it seemed to linger, leaving her feeling drained and bewildered. What was going on with her? And why did she feel so awful?

******

Leaning on the wall in his office, he looked out at the busy city below. I'm Ethan... I'm likely the most stupid man of all time. It became a painful saying that stayed in his thoughts and wouldn't go away. Why? Because I married a person I didn't love and knew she was a stupid woman.

Sarah had stolen his heart long before his parents planned for his future, and this made him feel close to tears. I was very fond of her before... But I still do so now. Flashbacks of what we shared came to me: kisses in the park, soft promises made while looking at the stars, and chats we shared late at night. Those memories seemed so far away these days.

His marriage to Lily had been an obligation, a decision made by his parents without his consent. They had arranged for him to marry her, believing it would solidify their family's legacy. But to Ethan, it felt like a prison sentence. I don't like her, not since childhood. He recalled how Lily had always been there, a constant presence that had kept his friends at bay. She had hovered around him, trying to win his affection, but all she had succeeded in doing was pushing everyone away.

And now she's taking my love away from me, he thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Lily was a reminder of everything he had lost, a living testament to the choices made for him.

Ethan's heart raced. For five years, they went through all the stages of their relationship while Lily's presence loomed overhead. They frequently got into arguments over her because the strain of his marriage was getting harder for them to accept.

Caressing her hair, Ethan lay on the couch, shutting out everything else. He was about to kiss her when Sarah jumped up and pulled away his hand.

"I don't get why you're so upset, honey." Confusion could be read on his face when he looked at her and asked.

"Seriously, Ethan... There's no need to play dumb," Sarah told him through gritted teeth. She looked at him with sad eyes.

A heavy feeling of heaviness settled into Ethan's heart. "Honey, I know you are upset because of Lily."

"You're going to have to decide: me or Lily. Say it!" The things she said felt like the sharp edge of a dagger breaking through their intimate moment.

Ethan felt his stomach turn. "What do you mean? You know very well how much I love you."

"Then prove it," she said, now shouting a little. "Why haven't you divorced her by now? It's been 3 years since your wedding. Or are you not considering divorce? Is it possible you've developed feelings for her, or was she responsible for taking you from me?" There was a rapid pounding in Ethan's chest at what Sarah had said.

"Please, don't over think it. You're thinking of the wrong thing... The point is, I love you, and that's all that matters. I never touch her, babe, I only love you and you know that." He tried to pull her into a hug with his outstretched arms. "So don't make me any longer. Come to me."

Still, Sarah shook her head and maintained a steady look. "Nothing on this scale will happen now. I won't allow you to touch me until your divorce from Lily is finalized."

Ethan felt a wave of frustration wash over him. "Babe...?" he started, but she cut him off.

"I'm serious... and get out now. Leave." Her tone left no room for negotiation.

"What? Seriously? I'm getting frustrated right now, babe!" This baffled him completely. The earlier closeness they shared had simply disappeared, and they were now left with a cold and difficult reality.

"I'm not concerned about it. Just go to your wife now," she replied firmly, getting up and walking out, making sure the door was shut.

He felt his anger and sadness building at the same time. He stood quietly, trying to make sense of all the mixture of feelings inside him. What he decided had a crushing effect on his spirit.

Giving an annoyed sigh, he picked up his jacket and walked quickly out of Sarah's home. Cold air greeted him as he walked to the first bar, hoping to soothe his mood with a drink.

Entering the bar, he recognized the smell of whiskey and could hear the calm sound of people talking. Cool wood encircled his legs as he took a seat and ordered a glass of something. He let the bartender pour a shot of whiskey for him, then drained it all in a second, sensing its heat go down his throat.

What is happening right now? He wondered as his mind sped up. Her words from the fight were constantly repeating in his mind. He did love her, yet his thoughts about his past marriage were constant and kept things ashen over everything.

He drank some more, as the alcohol dulled any anger he had. Why can't I stay with Sarah? It ate at his mind. He was stuck, torn between two places, and neither felt perfect to him.

Sitting in the corner, the sounds of the bar around him softly disappeared, and his mind drifted away. To him, everything he had done seemed like a mess, and he wasn't sure how to get free. Although he truly loved Sarah, so was the obligation he felt toward Lily.

He stared into his glass and wondered what he wanted. He kept trying to find the answer, yet it was always just slipping past him. He realized that he created the chaos on his own, but had no idea how to get through the difficult waters.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his choices pressing down on him. He had built a life around expectations, around the image of what a good son should be. But in doing so, he had lost sight of his own desires, his own happiness.

I'm trapped in this marriage, he thought, a sense of resignation washing over him. But I can't keep living in this loveless meaningless marriage.

With one last glance out the window, Ethan steeled himself for the conversation ahead. He had to confront the tangled web of emotions, the love he still held for Sarah, and the frustration that came with being bound to Lily. It was time to take action for his own happiness, no matter how painful it might be for Lily or his parents.

*******************