Chapter 9

Lily twirled a pencil between her fingers as they sat on the floor of Ethan’s room, their notebooks and textbooks were spread out in front of them. They were supposed to be doing their assignments, but Ethan was the only one that was actually doing any work.

“I’m bored,” Lily groaned dramatically, resting her chin on her palm. “Let’s play a game.”

Ethan didn’t look up. “You have six assignments due tomorrow and a test.”

Lily pouted. “I can’t work or study on an empty stomach. I want food. Pleeeease?”

“You just had a pack of cookies.” He turned to face Lily who was tugging at the hem of his shirt. “Finish at least one assignment”

“That was ages ago,” Lily clutched her stomach. “Pleeeeaaaseeee.”

“It was ten minutes ago,” he said, still scribbling in his notebook.

“Pretty please,” she whined, giving him the puppy dog look. “I want food.”

Ethan sighed, finally closing his book. “Fine. Let’s go and get you something.”

Lily grinned triumphantly–but instead of getting up, she shook her head and flopped on her back, stretching lazily. 

“I’m too tired to stand up.”

“You–” Ethan rolled his eyes, but stood up and walked to the door.

Lily beamed. “I want a sandwich. You’re the best. Muhwa!”

Ethan paused mid-step, his ears slightly red, but didn’t reply. A tiny smile tugged at his lips as he closed the door behind him.

In the past six months since his mom was first taken to the hospital, the times he saw her stretched far and far as time went on. His father however went everyday, staying by her side during the treatment. 

Ethan padded down the hall, his bare feet noiseless and he stepped against the carpeted floor, the house was quieter than usual, with most of the staff having gone home for the day. He had just taken the first step down the second floor stairs, when he suddenly heard laughter–a woman’s laughter– from the direction of his parent’s room.

His mom was back?

His breath hitched as he turned to the master’s bedroom. 

She wasn’t supposed to be back yet.

But maybe..

Maybe she went into remission.

His parent’s bedroom door was slightly open.

Ethan stepped closer.

His father had his back to the door and had a woman pinned against the wall, his hands resting on her waist.

Kissing her.

The woman’s head lifted, her red lips swollen from the kiss, and he saw her face.

She wasn’t his mother.

His father’s hands wandered, moving across the woman’s body as she whispered into his ear.

Ethan stepped back, his stomach twisted. 

Shock ran through his body.

What was his father doing, his mother was still in the hospital.

His father's phone rang. He pulled away and stepped aside to answer it. 

Ethan’s eyes reddened as the woman moved to his mother’s vanity table–her fingers brushed against the beautiful wooden jewelry box.

Opening it, she picked up a pearl necklace.

His mother’s favorite necklace.

The one his father bought for her when he was born.

“...Help me with this” The woman's voice purred, her voice soft and teasing as she held the necklace around her neck.

His father chuckled, ending the call.

He stepped behind her and gently helped her secure the clasp.

“How do I look?” She turned to face him, a soft playing smile on her reddened lips.

His father smiled—that same warm, affectionate smile Ethan had only ever seen reserved for his mother and him.

Then, he spoke.

“Like a queen" He replied before lifting her in a princess carry and carrying her to the bed–his parent’s bed.

The words hit Ethan like a gut punch.

A queen.

His father used to call his mother that.

And now he was saying it to another woman, while she was sick in the hospital–fighting for her life.

The woman laughed again, as they rolled around on the bed

Ethan’s vision blurred, he felt sick.

He wanted to step forward, to demand an explanation.

But he couldn’t move.

His father—his loving—was a liar.

His mother, lying alone in a hospital bed, and his father was supposed to be by her side, but he was at home cheating on her in their bed.

A sharp, cold pain spread through Ethan’s chest.

He silently turned back and walked to his room.

He needed to get away. 

He ran up the stairs to his room. Slamming the door loudly behind him.

Lily was lying on her stomach when Ethan returned, her feet kicking lazily in the air. The sound of the door startled her and she looked up at him and frowned.

“What took you so long? Where’s the food?”

Ethan stood in the doorway trembling, his face pale. 

Lily sat up immediately. “Ethan?”

He didn’t respond. He couldn’t.

His mind was racing, what he just saw, the laughter, the necklace, his father’s betrayal.

Lily got to her feet and walked up to him. “Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Still, he said nothing.

Ethan had been acting off these past few months– since his mom was admitted. He hardly smiled no matter what she did, so she did the only thing she could.

She hugged him.

Ethan’s trembling paused, The warmth from Lily calming the raging storm he felt.

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her too.

Lily didn’t ask any questions. She just held him.

In all the chaos he felt, she was there, stable as a mountain.

“I’m fine,” he finally said, his voice only a little higher than a whisper.

But they both knew he wasn’t.

In an attempt to divert his attention.

“I’ve finished my math homework.”