The Husband She Took for Granted

I was the Hayes family's kept husband. The Hayes family paid for my education and expected me to support Ava Hayes when she eventually took control of the company. Everyone praised me for being gentle, proper, and considerate. A rare good husband. At Ava's birthday party, a young man accidentally spilled wine all over her. The boy's face turned bright red as he apologized over and over. Ava grabbed his hand. “How are you planning to make it up to me?” The boy leaned close and whispered something in her ear. Ava smiled. “My husband might get jealous.” Everyone waited for my reaction. But suddenly, I was tired. Watching the two of them flirting while pressed so close together, I decided I was ready to give up on this failed marriage. “C-could I have your number?” The young man lowered his head. His red ears gave away how nervous he was. Ava let out a low laugh and handed him a hotel key card. “Wait for me tonight.” Then she gently brushed her fingers over his cheek. “Mr. Carter is really generous. I wonder how many times he’s been cheated on…” “Ava’s still young. It’s normal for her to want to have fun. One day, she’ll settle down and come back to her family.” I listened to the guests whispering behind their hands, their voices filled with mockery. Then I strode forward and shoved over the towering birthday cake. Like a row of dominoes, the cake, wine, and decorations crashed to the floor. The scene instantly turned into a mess. The young man who had spilled wine on Ava looked at me smugly. I sneered, picked up a piece of cake, and slapped it directly onto his face. Everyone gasped. “Mr. Carter has lost his mind!” This was Ava’s twenty-fourth birthday party. Every wealthy heir from the Upper East Side had attended. Everyone was watching. “Ethan.” Ava clearly hadn’t expected me to do that. But she didn’t lose her temper. She merely gave a few calm orders for the staff to clean up. After the party ended, Ava watched the guests leave. Then she spoke pointedly. “You made a scene tonight. Be more careful next time.” After all, I was part of the Hayes family. Everything I said and did represented the entire family. The boy from earlier was still standing beside her. Quiet, obedient, and well-behaved. It truly made me look like the unreasonable one. When I remained silent, Ava walked over and took my hand. “Are you really angry? Why are you being so petty?” “You know I was only playing around with him. He’ll never threaten your position.” The boy immediately joined the conversation. “Ethan, if you don’t like me… I’ll leave.” “It’s just that… I really love Ava. I’m not as lucky as you. You’ve been by her side since you were kids…” He sounded so sincere that even Ava couldn’t stand listening to him. She waved her hand. “Ethan, I promise he won’t appear in front of you again.” What she really meant was that I should stop making a fuss. I found it ridiculous. I raised my hand and pointed at the silver ring on my finger. “Ava, do you remember what you promised me when we got married?” After three years of marriage, it seemed I was the only one truly trapped in it. Ava had always been carefree. One day, she would meet a guy named Jake. The next, she’d be holding hands with someone named Luke. The day after that, she’d be drinking with someone named Ryan. I never questioned her. I simply played my part. Sometimes, I even helped her deal with the young men who refused to leave her alone. But after living like this for so long, I was exhausted. Ava yanked her hand away and sneered. “Ethan, you’re nothing but a dog the Hayes family raised to stay by my side! What right do you have to question my choices?” My words had clearly struck a nerve. Her voice turned sharp. But every word pierced my heart like a knife. So this was how she saw me… I forced down the dull ache in my chest, pulled off my wedding ring, and held it out to her. “Here. Take your ring back.”The ring had never fit me properly. It was too tight. After wearing it for so long, it had left a bright red mark around my finger. Ava took it and held it tightly, looking momentarily stunned. Then she gave a cold laugh and tossed it to the boy beside her. “Fine. You’re really something now.” “A three-million-dollar one-of-a-kind ring, and you can just throw it away?” The boy bit his lip hesitantly. “…Ethan, the ring you’re so quick to discard is something I’ve never even dared to dream of.” He carefully cradled it in his palm. His sparkling eyes met Ava’s. “I’ll treasure it.” Ava gazed at his face with tender affection. She took his hand and naturally slid the ring onto his finger. The boy looked overwhelmed by the honor. “Get out, Ethan. What are you still standing here for?” She shot me a mocking glance. “Where can you go without me? What are you without me?” The boy immediately chimed in. He obediently moved closer to Ava. “Ava, everything Ethan has comes from you… How dare he speak to you like that? That’s completely out of line.” Ava became even angrier. I gave her one last disappointed look. I looked at the woman who had captivated me for more than a decade. Then I turned and walked away. There weren’t many things of mine in the mansion. A few changes of clothes. Some toiletries. Nothing else. That was how it had always been. As if I had been a stranger who didn’t matter from the very beginning. I had once considered turning the mansion into a cozy home for the two of us. I bought a cute cat and a dog, but Ava complained that they were too much trouble and had them sent away right in front of me. I followed an online tutorial and knitted her a scarf by hand. She looked at it with disgust. “How am I supposed to wear this cheap thing in public? Ethan, can you stop wasting your time on stuff like this?” We had been married for three years. In reality, Ava and I had never even obtained a marriage certificate. On the day we were supposed to register our marriage, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I got up early, showered, and prepared everything. But something suddenly happened on Ava’s end. A boy she had recently met had cut his wrists and threatened to kill himself. After answering the call, Ava’s expression turned cold. She immediately headed for the door. “I have something to deal with. Go wait for me at City Hall.” I grabbed her arm and asked when she would be back. We were going to get our marriage certificate eventually. I thought she would only be gone for a little while. But that day, I waited outside City Hall for a very, very long time. I waited until the employees went home. I watched thirty-seven newlywed couples leave with wide smiles after registering their marriages. Ava never appeared. I had imagined us just like them, eagerly planning our future together. Reality gave me a brutal slap instead. Ava took that boy to watch fireworks across the city, creating a romantic display meant only for him. Everyone knew about it except me. I only found out when someone accidentally mentioned it during a conversation. When Ava finally came home, I complained about how unhappy I was. I asked why she had disappeared for so long without saying a word. Ava smiled and spread her hands. Then she apologized. “Ethan, I’ve already cut things off with him. I won’t contact him again. Can you forgive me this once?” I pulled her into my arms, feeling our hearts beating close together. I nodded. “Okay.” After that, however, Ava never mentioned getting our marriage certificate again. We had held a wedding ceremony. In everyone’s eyes, we were already husband and wife. Looking back now, that marriage had been full of carelessness and indifference. I had offered it my whole heart, only to become a joke. “Mr. Carter, after all…” The butler hesitated, as if he wanted to stop me. Ava stopped him. With one arm around the young man, she ordered, “No one is allowed to bring Ethan back without my permission.” Then Ava declared, “I want Ethan to beg me to take him back!”I’m not going back. I answered her silently in my heart. When I stepped outside, a light rain began to fall. I bought a last-minute plane ticket to a random destination. At least it would take me away from this place. Three hours later, I arrived in an unfamiliar inland city. That night, I checked into a small local hotel to rest. I didn’t know anyone there. But the people were simple and kind. Their warmth made me feel strangely at home. Ava had said that without her, I was nothing. There was some truth to that. Several confused days passed, but I wasn’t completely alone. I happened to meet the young woman staying in the room next to mine. Her name was Lily. It happened because the delivery driver brought my food to the wrong room. I didn’t realize what had happened until Lily knocked on my door and brought it over. After a brief conversation, I learned she was traveling. She wanted to see more of the country while she was still young. “Staying inside your house all day doesn’t count as living,” Lily said, tilting her head. Her dimples deepened when she smiled. Her words struck me like thunder and jolted me awake from the darkness I had been trapped in for so long. That was right. Why had I imprisoned myself in the Hayes family? Maybe it was because I had spent every day worrying about Ava, dealing with her problems, and protecting the Hayes family’s image. My heart had been exhausted for a long time. I was only twenty-six. In my eyes, life was full of roads, and I still had endless possibilities. Whenever Lily had free time, she came to visit me. We got along surprisingly well. As we spent more time together, we grew familiar with each other. One day, while out for a walk, we passed a hospital. A large sign hung outside: True medicine requires compassion. Protect life, heal the wounded, and care for every patient. Patients hurried in and out of the building. The sight suddenly brought back a memory I hadn’t thought about in years. After my parents died in front of me because their treatment failed, I decided to study medicine. But back then, what right did I have to talk about dreams or the future? Being alive was already enough. One day, Mr. Hayes brought Ava to the orphanage where I lived. He said he was looking for a companion for Ava. In reality, he was looking for someone to raise as her future husband. The children crowded around them, each one eager to show off. I was pushed all the way to the edge. Ava wore a princess dress. She looked arrogantly over the other children, then pointed at me. Her voice was sweet. “I choose him.” From that day on, the Hayes family sponsored my education. They gave me the best resources and sent me to school with Ava. Whenever other people bullied me, Ava always stood up for me. Her small body would shield mine as she smiled and promised, “I’ll protect you from now on.” She said we would always stay this close. We would always be each other’s most reliable support. But in the end, I was the one who kept holding together our fragile relationship. I had relied on her promise all these years. She had forgotten it long ago. One morning, I had just finished my run when Lily knocked on my door. She wore a loose cropped T-shirt and casual track pants, looking like a bright, energetic college student. When she saw me, she immediately smiled. “Good morning!” Her smile was as dazzling as sunlight, and it healed something inside me. I smiled back and returned her greeting. “Ethan, I’m going bungee jumping today. Do you want to come with me? You don’t have anything else to do, right?” She showed me the bungee-jumping guide on her phone. It was one of the area’s most popular attractions. People went for the thrill and adrenaline. They said the best part of bungee jumping was that sensation of dying and coming back to life. It was a release from stress and worry. I wanted to try it. I had been disciplined for so long that I had never done anything this reckless. This would be my first time. Lily didn’t wait for my answer. Assuming I was worried, she reassured me. “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen. This place is very professional and safe. Besides, I have plenty of experience.” She sounded slightly proud. Then Lily continued, “I’ll go with you. Come on, try it.” “If you get scared, just hold my hand.”