When Spring Finally Chose Me

The surgery was over, and the baby did not survive.

The nurse told me to find someone to stay with me, so I clutched my cracked phone and dialed my husbands number again.

The one who answered was his friend, and his voice carried a smile. Ethan is inside with the kid, so he left his phone with me.

From the other end of the line came the gentle voice of a preschool teacher. The child is very attached to Mr. Lancaster, and he kept calling him Daddy while filling out the forms.

My throat went dry. Where is he?

At the .

The phone was passed over, and the mans low voice finally sounded, rushed and impatient. Chloe Parker, Im busy right now, so go home and wait for me.

The nurse leaned toward the phone and said coldly, Sir, your wife just fell down the stairs and had a miscarriage, so please come over as soon as possible!

The other end of the line went dead silent for a moment.

Right after that, a womans voice came through. Ethan, should I put your phone number on the parent commitment form?

The way she called him Ethan was far too familiar.

He did not answer the nurse, and only lowered his voice. Chloe Parker, dont make a scene today.

The call ended.

I did not want him anymore.

Chloe Parker POV

The surgery is over, and the baby did not survive. You cant move around right now, so it would be best to find someone to stay with you. The nurse kept her voice very soft and looked at me, who had just finished surgery, with sympathy all over her face.

I stared at the snow-white ceiling, and it took me a long while before I understood what she had said.

Before I fell down the steps outside the interior design firm, I had no idea I was pregnant.

Today was the third anniversary of Ethan Lancasters and my engagement.

We had originally agreed to finalize the last version of the interior design plan for our new home, and I had pushed back a meeting to arrive half an hour early, but the receptionist told me, Mr. Lancaster just canceled the appointment, and the lighting plan for the primary bedroom and all furniture measurements have been postponed.

I called Ethan Lancaster, but no one answered.

Just as I was about to go downstairs to look for him, I tried to avoid a worker pushing a sample rack, slipped, and fell heavily down the steps. Before I lost consciousness, I was still gripping that new-home design plan tightly in my hand.

Seeing how pale I looked, the nurse could not help asking again, Do you want to try contacting him one more time?

With trembling hands, I picked up my phone with its shattered screen and dialed that number again.

It rang for a long time before someone finally picked up, but the voice that came through was not Ethan Lancasters.

Chloe? Ethan Lancasters friend Ryan Carter sounded amused. Ethan is inside with the kid, so he left his phone with me.

Where is he? My throat was dry and hoarse.

At the preschool center. The background noise on Ryan Carters end was a little chaotic, and he explained vaguely, Hes just helping a friend deal with a preschool assessment...

Before he could finish, the gentle voice of a preschool teacher came clearly from the other end of the line. The child is very attached to Mr. Lancaster, and he kept calling him Daddy while filling out the forms. For future enrollment, it would be better if a stable parent or guardian could be there with him.

Ryan Carter immediately covered the receiver, but those words had already entered my ears clearly.

Ryan Carter hurried to explain, Chloe, dont misunderstand, Ethan is just helping out...

Where is Ethan Lancaster? I interrupted him, and my hand instinctively moved to my flat lower abdomen. A child I had not even known existed had just been lost there.

The phone was handed over, and Ethan Lancasters low voice finally sounded, carrying urgency and impatience. Chloe Parker, Im busy right now, so go home and wait for me.

The nurse beside me could not stand it anymore and leaned toward the phone, speaking coldly. Sir, your wife just fell down the stairs and had a miscarriage, so please come over as soon as possible!

The other end of the line went dead silent for a moment.

Ethan Lancaster froze. What?

I closed my eyes, and right after that, I heard a womans voice come through the receiver. Ethan, should I put your phone number on the parent commitment form? The teacher said Lily only listens to you right now.

The way she called him Ethan was far too familiar.

Ethan Lancaster did not respond to the nurse, and only lowered his voice into the phone. Chloe Parker, dont make a scene today. The child has only just calmed down, and Ill come over later.

The call was ended from his side.

The nurses face turned livid with anger. What kind of family member is that?

I did not cry.

I turned my head, and while the nurse was organizing my paperwork, a payment receipt that did not belong to me slipped out.

Patient: Margaret Bennett. Accompanying person: Ethan Lancaster. Note: Olivia Bennetts mother.

Olivia Bennett.

The first love Ethan Lancaster had always held closest to his heart.

I looked at my empty palm, and my fingertips ached faintly.

Chloe Parker POV

By the time Ethan Lancaster appeared in the hospital room, it was already the evening of the next day.

He was holding the test results he had just picked up from the nurses station, and he turned to instruct the caregiver behind him in a low voice. Dont miss Margaret Bennetts evening follow-up. Olivia Bennett cant handle everything alone, so call me directly if anything happens.

Dont worry, Mr. Lancaster. Ms. Bennett even said just now that it was all thanks to you for arranging the specialist appointment.

Its what I should do. Ethan Lancasters voice was very steady.

I lay in the hospital bed with an IV catheter in the back of my hand, and when I heard those words, my stomach churned.

Ethan Lancaster and I had been engaged for three years, and when I got sick or had a fever, he only asked his assistant to send medicine. When I asked when we would get married, he said the company was too busy. But the moment Olivia Bennett came back, he could rush to pick her up at the airport, accompany her to a preschool assessment, and even remember exactly what time the caregivers shift changed.

Ethan Lancaster pulled open the curtain, and when he saw that I was awake, his brow furrowed slightly. Youre awake? What did the doctor say?

The baby is gone.

Ethan Lancasters movements paused, and his Adams apple bobbed before he finally asked after a long moment, Why didnt you tell me before?

I suddenly found it absurd beyond words. If I had known earlier, would I still have gone to that interior design site you canceled on your own to look for you? Would I still have waited for you to tell me not to make a scene?

Ethan Lancasters face darkened, and he reached out as if to touch my shoulder. Ill handle this, so focus on recovering first.

I turned my head and avoided him.

His hand hovered in midair, and his brows tightened. Are you blaming me?

Shouldnt I blame you?

Ethan Lancaster choked on the question, and just as he was about to speak, his phone suddenly lit up.

There was only one word on the screen: Ethan.

I clearly saw Ethan Lancasters eyes change in an instant. It was an instinctive kind of tension.

He walked to the window and answered the call, his voice pressed extremely low. The interview didnt pass? Dont cry, its not your fault. Lily just came back from overseas and isnt used to it yet, so Ill talk to the teacher again.

After hanging up, he turned around. Ill come see you again tonight.

Youre going to Olivia Bennett? I asked calmly.

A trace of unnaturalness flashed through Ethan Lancasters eyes, and his tone turned stiff. She just came back, the kids preschool enrollment isnt going smoothly, and she has no one around.

Do I have anyone around me?

The words were very light, but they made Ethan Lancaster freeze where he stood.

He lowered his voice, and a warning entered his tone. Chloe Parker, dont compare yourself to her. Olivia Bennett is divorced, and it isnt easy for her to raise a child alone.

I just had a miscarriage, and it isnt easy for me either. I looked into his eyes, my voice cold.

A crack finally appeared in Ethan Lancasters expression. But very soon, his phone lit up again.

This time, he did not even bother to explain, and he grabbed the coat draped over the back of the chair. Ill ask the caregiver to come stay with you.

The hospital room door closed.

I slowly turned my head and looked out the window.

I used to think that if I behaved a little better and was a little more forgiving, I could warm this mans heart.

It was not until today that I finally understood completely: Ethan Lancaster had not been pushed away, and he had simply never planned to stand beside me from the very beginning.

On the day I was discharged, Ethan Lancaster did not come, and only sent his driver with a few changes of clothes and a bank card.

Mr. Lancaster had something come up suddenly, so he asked me to take you back to the villa first. The driver stood to the side awkwardly.

The villa was the engagement house Ethan Lancaster had bought, and my name was written on the property title. He once promised that with that house, I would always have a home.

I sat silently in the back seat.

Chloe Parker POV

The car started, and a glaring Family Schedule Reminder suddenly popped up on the navigation screen.

[3:00 p.m., Lilys preschool follow-up meeting.]

[7:00 p.m., Olivia Bennetts mothers follow-up appointment.]

Those two sentences were like two loud slaps.

Our new-home appointment had been canceled, yet he had packed Olivia Bennetts schedule full.

The driver noticed the strange atmosphere from the rearview mirror and quickly explained, Ms. Parker, Mr. Lancaster actually cares about you a lot, and last night he even called me specifically to ask whether the caregiver had arrived...

Where was he last night? I interrupted coldly.

The driver instantly shut up.

The car stopped at the villa. I entered my fingerprint, and when my gaze swept over the information on the access control screen, my movements abruptly froze.

Under the family members section, two names had appeared out of nowhere: Olivia Bennett and Lily.

My access was listed as fiance, while Olivia Bennetts access was marked as temporary guardian contact.

I pushed the door open, and the maid came out of the kitchen holding a glass of water. When she saw me, she panicked. Ms. Parker! Why are you back today? Mr. Lancaster said you would stay in the hospital for a few more days, and I havent had time to clean up yet...

I did not miss her guilty look, and I lifted my eyes toward the second floor.

The wall where our wedding photo had originally been planned was empty, and in its place was a new design draft titled Child-Friendly Space Adjustments.

Several storage boxes were piled by the study door, and inside them were a childrens dining chair and preschool enrollment materials.

A handwritten note from Ethan Lancaster lay pressed on the desk: [Pad the sharp corners, remove the glass table, and Olivia Bennett is bringing the child to see the place this weekend.]

Not a single thing belonged to me.

The maid followed behind me in a panic, sweat breaking out all over her forehead. Ms. Parker, please dont misunderstand! Mr. Lancaster said Ms. Bennett just returned from overseas and has nowhere to put her documents, so he recorded her access first for a couple of days and will delete it in a few days...

Has Olivia Bennett been here? I turned to look at her.

The maid instantly fell silent.

I understood completely. I did not lose my temper, and only turned and walked into the primary bedroom.

Our engagement photo was still on the nightstand. In the photo, I smiled brightly, while Ethan Lancaster looked indifferent, and his hand was not even around me, only resting lightly behind my shoulder.

I used to think that was restraint, but now I knew it was distance.

I dragged my suitcase out of the closet.

Ms. Parker! Where are you going? The maid was frightened. Mr. Lancaster said you havent recovered yet and cant run around!

Back to my own place.

As soon as I finished speaking, my phone screen lit up.

Ethan Lancaster sent a message: [Dont run around. Ill come back tonight and talk to you.]

I looked at that commanding line from above and coldly typed my reply: [Fine.]

I really did need to talk to him.

But it would definitely not be in this new home that had already been prepared for another woman.

Ethan Lancaster did not come back that night.

I waited until the lights outside the window went dark one by one, and the oatmeal porridge on the dining table cooled, was reheated, cooled again, and reheated again. I sat on the sofa with a coat around me, and waves of dull pain came up inside my body after the anesthesia had worn off.

Close to eleven, Ryan Carter called.

Chloe, Ethan has something to do tonight. Ryan Carters voice was much more cautious than during the day. Olivia Bennetts kid has a high fever and is making a fuss. Dont wait for him, and rest early.

I asked, Did he ask you to call?

Ryan Carter was silent for a moment. His phone died.

Leaning against the back of the sofa, I suddenly asked, Ryan Carter, did you know I had a miscarriage?

Chloe Parker POV

There was no sound on the other end of the line.

After a long while, Ryan Carter said in a low voice, I know.

He knows too.

Chloe...

Dont call me Chloe. I interrupted him. He and I are already over.

Ryan Carter was rendered speechless, and after a long pause, he finally said, Ethan has you in his heart. He owes Olivia Bennett too much, and when she left so suddenly back then, he never really let go. Now that shes divorced and has come back with a child, he cant just watch and do nothing.

I listened very calmly. So he should take care of her.

Ryan Carter let out a breath of relief. Its good that you can understand.

I can understand, I said. And I should leave too.

Ryan Carter froze. What do you mean?

I did not explain and hung up directly.

I got up and went to the study, opened the computer, and finished writing the handover sheet for the work I was responsible for. Ethan Lancaster had never liked me tiring myself out too much, saying that the Parker family and the Lancaster family did not need my little salary, and that after marriage, I could work if I wanted to, or stay home and grow flowers if I did not.

Back then, I thought it was nice to be taken care of.

Looking at it now, the care he spoke of was sometimes a gilded cage. Bit by bit, I gave up my own path, and what I got in return was not peace of mind, but his ability to bring someone else into my home whenever he wanted.

At dawn, my phone popped up with Olivia Bennetts new post.

This time, it was a photo from the preschool center. A little girl was sitting on a soft mat building blocks, and Ethan Lancaster was half-kneeling beside her with a temporary parent badge on his chest. Olivia Bennett captioned it: Some doors are opened for you without you even having to ask.

Someone commented below: Is that her dad? His side profile is so handsome.

Olivia Bennett did not deny it and only replied with a smiling face.

I turned off my phone, and a faint taste of rust rose in my throat.

I remembered a long time ago, when Ethan Lancaster first brought me to meet his friends. Someone had drunk too much and said half-jokingly, Chloe Parker, dont take this too seriously. If the woman in Ethans heart comes back, things will get awkward for you.

Ethan Lancaster frowned and scolded that person at the time. Dont talk nonsense.

I thought he was defending me.

Thinking about it now, what he had defended was only the Lancaster familys reputation.

Early the next morning, Ethan Lancaster finally came back.

When he saw the suitcase in the living room, his face instantly darkened. Where are you going?

I had already changed my clothes. My body was still weak, and I could not stand very steadily, but my voice was very clear. Back to my own apartment.

Ethan Lancaster pressed his brow, and a crease formed between his eyebrows. Chloe Parker, dont use this method to make a scene with me. The villa was originally given to you.

Then why was my photo wall taken down?

He avoided my gaze. Olivia Bennetts documents are a mess, so shes temporarily borrowing this place to store some things.

When she needs it, you give it to her. I raised my eyes to look at him. I also need a place without her name in it.

Some of the patience in Ethan Lancasters eyes faded. Shes not doing well right now. Youve always been understanding, so why wont you take a step back this time?

When I heard his words, I suddenly found them laughable.

I was understanding, so I did not push for marriage after three years of engagement. I was understanding, so I pretended not to see it when he stayed with Olivia Bennett. I was understanding, so even after I had just lost my child, I had to make way for his guilt toward her.

I pulled up the suitcase handle. Ethan Lancaster, Im not here to discuss this with you.

Ethan Lancaster reached out and gripped the handle. I dont agree.

I looked at his hand, my tone cold. There are already too many things you dont agree with now.

Chloe Parker POV

Ethan Lancaster did not let me leave.

He pushed the suitcase back into the living room, told the maid to guard the door, and had the driver take the car away. In that instant, I finally truly saw how forceful he knew he could be. In the past, I went along with him, and he treated that as a matter of course.

When your body is a little better, Ill send you back to stay for a few days. Ethan Lancaster stood at the doorway and used a tone meant to soothe me. Dont wear yourself out right now.

I sat back on the sofa, my face so pale it was almost transparent. I cant even leave if I want to?

Ethan Lancaster did not answer.

He received a call from Olivia Bennett and hurried out again. Before leaving, he instructed the maid, Watch her, and dont let her run around.

Those words fell lightly, and I suddenly felt that this villa had turned into another hospital room. The doors and windows were all lit up, but not a single place belonged to me.

I did not argue anymore.

In the afternoon, Ethan Lancasters mother called. Her voice was cold, and she started by blaming me. I heard youre throwing a tantrum with Ethan. Chloe Parker, youre not a little girl anymore, and when a man socializes outside and takes care of friends, you should be considerate of him.

I held the phone. Mrs. Lancaster, I just had a miscarriage.

The other end went quiet for a moment, but she quickly continued, I heard about that. But the baby is already gone, and you cant use that to tie Ethan down for the rest of his life.

My fingers slowly tightened.

She continued, Ive met Olivia Bennetts child, and her life hasnt been easy. It isnt easy for her to raise a daughter alone. Ethan values loyalty, and that is a good quality. If you truly want to marry into the Lancaster family, dont embarrass the Lancaster family over something like this.

I asked in a low voice, If I want to marry your son, do I have to give up my own home?

Her tone darkened. The villa is under your name, so what else are you unhappy about? When a woman is too petty, sooner or later she pushes a man away.

I did not keep listening and hung up.

I knew she did not like me.

The Parker family was not bad, but compared with the Lancaster family, there was still a gap. Ethan Lancasters mother always said I was gentle and knew the bigger picture, making me suitable to be a good wife. Back then, I could not hear what was hidden inside that compliment, but now I understood. That word suitable was only because I was easy to control.

At dusk, Olivia Bennett came with the child.

The maid was obviously panicked when she opened the door. Ms. Bennett, Mr. Lancaster isnt here.

Olivia Bennett stood at the doorway holding the child, wearing a beige dress and looking fragile and clean. When she saw me, she froze for a moment, then gave me an apologetic smile. Ms. Parker, sorry to bother you. The teacher said Lily needs to get familiar with the home environment, so I had no choice but to bring her over to wait for Ethan.

She called Ethan Lancaster Uncle Ethan, and her tone was far too intimate.

I sat on the sofa and did not get up. This is not a waiting room.

Olivia Bennetts eyes immediately turned red. Im sorry, I didnt know you minded this much. I just... I dont really have any friends here, and Ethan said this place was convenient.

The child began crying in her arms, and Olivia Bennett comforted her in a panic while her tears also fell. Lily, dont cry anymore. Ill take you away, and we wont upset Ms. Parker. This was never our home anyway.

The maid was so frightened that she did not know what to do.

Watching Olivia Bennetts practiced display of retreat, I suddenly understood why Ethan Lancaster always felt Olivia Bennett needed protection.

Olivia Bennett was very good at making people feel that anyone who did not yield to her was heartless.

When Ethan Lancaster came back, what he saw was Olivia Bennett standing at the door holding the child and crying, while I sat on the sofa and watched coldly.

His face darkened almost instantly. Chloe Parker, what did you do this time?

I looked up at him.

Those words were too familiar.

Every time something happened with Olivia Bennett, he always first asked what I had done.

Olivia Bennett hurriedly held him back. Ethan, dont blame Ms. Parker. I shouldnt have come.

Ethan Lancaster lowered his head to look at her, and his voice softened. Go inside first.

At that moment, I completely lost the desire to argue.

I stood up, supporting myself on the armrest of the sofa, and my body swayed.

Ethan Lancaster instinctively tried to steady me, but I took a step back. Take your time talking.

Ethan Lancaster frowned. Where are you going?

I looked at the extra names on the access control screen, and my voice was very soft. Give me my home back.