The Last Bowl of Soup I Made for You

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The Last Bowl of Soup I Made for You

NovelMaster new Completed
浪漫-Romance现实主义-Realistic

I sat on the couch, checking the clock over and over. The pork rib soup had been simmering in the kitchen for hours. When the clock struck midnight, I quietly messaged my friend and confirmed that I wanted the apartment. Ethan Carter and I had been together for five years, yet everything I owned fit into a single suitcase. We’d known each other since childhood and started dating in college. But somewhere along the way, our relationship had changed, and my heart had slowly grown cold. I’d realized long ago that Ethan’s so-called busy schedule was just an excuse to stay away from home. He was good at hiding things. His lousy friends weren’t. They were always posting pictures of their nights out on Instagram, where I could see them. And in every post, there was a girl named Chloe Reed. I’d fought with him about her countless times. Nothing changed. Instead, he blamed everything on me and dismissed my pain. “Can you stop being so unreasonable? She’s just a student whose tuition I’m helping cover. Stop making everything sound so dirty!” In his eyes, Chloe could do no wrong. I was always the vicious, jealous one. A week ago, Chloe had called him because she was sick. Ever the devoted caretaker, Ethan stayed out all night. The next morning, I saw her showing off on Instagram. The photo showed a man cooking in her kitchen, his back to the camera. “Nothing beats having a man who cooks for you.” When he came home, he looked exhausted and collapsed onto the bed. I stared coldly at the lipstick stain on his collar. “What’s that?” He barely glanced at it. “I had a business dinner. Someone must’ve brushed against me,” he said impatiently. Then he looked at me accusingly. “Why didn’t you make me any soup?” Whenever he came home tired, I used to serve him a hot bowl of soup to settle his stomach. It was my way of waiting up for him. But I did that because I loved him. Because I wanted to. That didn’t make it my daily obligation. I forced a pale smile and swallowed a few stomach pills right in front of him. Years of delaying dinner while I waited for him had left me with chronic stomach trouble. He immediately fell silent, looking a little stunned. “My stomach hurts. You’ll have to make your own soup.” It took him a few minutes to seem to remember. I’d told him my stomach pain was terrible and asked him to stay with me and take me to the hospital. But he’d been too busy getting ready. Spraying cologne in front of the mirror, he hadn’t even glanced at me. “It’s the same old problem. Take some medicine and sleep it off. It’s not like it’ll kill you.” Then he’d straightened his tie and hurried out, all dressed up and eager to see Chloe. That was when I knew there was no going back. I stopped making him soup. Stopped fussing over him. Stopped texting to ask when he would be home. Our arguments had always gone like this, except I was usually the one who couldn’t stand it and begged to make up. He loved seeing me meek and desperate, like an obedient dog he’d trained. This time, I didn’t give in. I took a trip by myself instead. Only when Ethan texted me first and offered to celebrate my birthday did I reluctantly come back. Of course I knew he didn’t mean it. He was simply used to having me around. When his dog stopped wagging its tail at his feet, the owner naturally gave the leash a tug. Hurt me, then toss me a little affection. I knew the routine too well. It was how I’d lived for years. Once, the mere promise that he would spend my birthday with me would have kept me happy all day. But things had changed. So had we. This time, I was going back to end it. I was truly tired. Still, when I dressed up carefully and arrived at the restaurant, only for him to abandon me for a supposed business meeting when he was really going to see Chloe, it hurt a little. Even though I’d known it would happen. Chloe could always call him away, no matter the occasion. She would always come first. Disappointment built up little by little. Now it had finally overflowed, and I’d accepted the truth. So when I saw them kissing passionately, I felt nothing. I even thought they made a perfect pair. By the time I finished packing, it was only one in the morning. I drank the soup in the kitchen and took a long, relaxing bath. When I came out, Ethan was home. He seemed to have drunk so much he barely knew where he was. Looking at the vomit on the floor, I sighed and cleaned it up anyway. After I changed his clothes and helped him into bed, he suddenly wrapped his arms around me. But the name on his lips was Chloe’s. I pushed him away coldly, only for him to speak again. “Lily, I love you. It’s just…” He stopped there. His words didn’t move me. Without a flicker of emotion, I left the room.I didn’t sleep all night. Early the next morning, I went out. Ethan’s shoes weren’t by the door. Apparently, he’d left even earlier. I drove straight to my friend Ryan Hayes’s apartment. It was in an older complex, but the location was good and getting around was easy. He’d bought it a long time ago, though no one had ever lived there. It had two bedrooms and a living room. The price was reasonable, too. He was giving me a friend’s discount. After looking around, I was happy enough to decide on the spot that I wanted it. The paperwork would take a few days, but he told me I could move in first. We’d known each other for years. A few days wouldn’t matter. I was incredibly grateful. Once I’d mostly finished tidying up, I cooked a big dinner and invited him to join me. We were chatting happily when Ethan called. “Lily, where are you?” “What do you need?” My tone wasn’t exactly friendly. Unlike before, when I’d been eager to share everything with him, I sounded distant. Maybe he wasn’t used to it. It took him a moment to answer. “I’m taking you to dinner with some people.” I casually ate a piece of fish. “Take someone else. I’ve already eaten.” Before he could reply, I heard a sugary female voice beside him. “Ethan, she’s so inconsiderate. You offered to take her to dinner, and she won’t even do that much for you. She obviously doesn’t care about you.” Then the call ended. I gave a cold laugh and set my phone aside. Sometimes Ethan truly disgusted me. He wanted what he had and everything else, too. Nothing was ever enough. Was this how he showed off his charm in front of his loser friends? Or did he just enjoy having two women fight over him? It was revolting. When I pulled myself out of those thoughts, my appetite was gone. That was when I noticed Ryan watching me. “Your boyfriend’s still pulling the same crap?” he asked. My hand paused, and I looked up. The three of us had gone to the same college. Ryan and Ethan had even been roommates, so he knew some of what had happened between us. I nodded as though it didn’t matter. He let out a quiet, humorless laugh. Ryan sighed. “Lily Bennett, I know people usually say you shouldn’t tell a couple to break up. But we’ve been friends too long for me to keep my mouth shut.” “You can’t force someone to love you. You’re a good person. You don’t have to waste your whole life on someone who isn’t worth it.” He was right. Our friends knew better than anyone what this relationship had been like. When Ethan first started flirting with other women, they’d taken my side and urged me to let go. They told me not to lower myself. It wasn’t that I wasn’t good enough. Ethan wasn’t worth it. But I couldn’t accept it. I refused to let go and stubbornly held on for seven years. I believed that one day Ethan would see everything I did for him and remember how he’d once loved me. But those seven years had worn me down. All my love had earned me was one wound after another. He was certain I would never leave. He counted on my desperation, hurt me without a second thought, then tossed me a few sweet words to make me obedient again. I’d spent seven years of my youth on him. How could I simply accept that it was over? Maybe time had finally opened my eyes. Maybe something had clicked all at once. Either way, I’d decided to break free. For this relationship, I’d shut out the people who cared about me and kept throwing myself against the same wall until I was covered in bruises. It was time to turn around. “Why do you think I’m buying an apartment?” I smiled, finally at peace. Ryan froze for a moment, then understood and smiled, too.After dinner, Ryan offered to drive me back to collect my things. We’d barely entered the complex when we ran into Ethan. Chloe was with him. The moment she saw me, she casually pressed closer to his side. And, of course, she couldn’t resist a jab. “Lily, long time no see. Is this your new boyfriend?” Ethan looked up at me, his expression unreadable. When I offered no explanation, his face darkened. He took Chloe by the arm and walked away. Watching them go, I felt nothing but boredom. Still, Ryan had been dragged into it. “Sorry you got caught in the middle,” I said. He shrugged. “No big deal.” After seeing Ryan off, I went upstairs and started sorting through my belongings. I didn’t need to worry about getting into the new place. It had a smart lock, and my fingerprint was already registered. All I had to do was finish cleaning and buy a few everyday essentials. I was so absorbed in packing that I didn’t notice Ethan had come home and was watching me. His expression was grim, and tension radiated off him. “Whose place are you running off to this time?” He spoke casually. As far as he was concerned, I was just throwing another childish fit. I’d pretend to run away, then come back begging to reconcile within two days. That was how he operated. He knew I loved him. He knew I couldn’t live without him. So he played with me however he pleased. And I was the one who’d taught him he could. When I didn’t respond, he carelessly tossed a gift box toward me. “Your birthday present. Happy now?” I glanced at it, put it aside, and quietly thanked him. I should have been happy. It was a bracelet I’d wanted for a long time. But I no longer cared. “Something came up yesterday. I dropped the ball. I’ll throw you a birthday party tomorrow to make up for it.” He’d truly perfected the art of hurting me and then offering a treat. In his eyes, I wasn’t even a person. I was a pet he kept. Neglect me, toss me a scrap of meat, offer a little affection, and I’d become his loyal dog again. “Did you close the deal?” I looked up at him. He clearly hadn’t expected the question. He froze, then looked annoyed. “Lily, I’m talking about us. Why are you dragging other things into this?” Was he using anger to hide his guilt? I gave a weary smile and let it go. At least until I had everything ready. “Well, it affects your company.” I finished organizing what I needed. After all that work, my stomach began protesting. I picked up my phone and looked at Ethan, who was blocking the doorway. “Move, please.” “And don’t bother with the birthday party. I have plans tomorrow.” I stepped around him to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist. His grip hurt. I frowned at him. “Let go.” Only then did he seem to realize what he was doing. He quickly released me, a flicker of anxiety crossing his eyes. “Lily, what are you doing tomorrow? Are you meeting Ryan?” His voice was cold and accusing, as if he’d already decided I was cheating on him. What a hypocrite. Whenever I used to ask where he was out of concern, he would snap, “Will you give it a rest? I need some privacy, okay?” Now he wanted to know my every move. I didn’t want Ryan dragged into this, so I explained, “Ryan and I hadn’t caught up in years. We had dinner, and he gave me a ride. That’s all.” “Isn’t that what you and Chloe do every day?” He faltered. Maybe it was guilt that made him put on a tough front. “She and I are just friends. Coworkers.” “Right. Ryan and I have been friends for years, too.” I opened the door and went out to eat. By the time I came home, Ethan was gone. Not long after, I saw Chloe’s latest Instagram post. “When you find a man this wonderful, you have to treasure him.” The photo showed a drunken Ethan leaning against her shoulder. I liked it and left a comment. “Perfect match. Make it official already!”

Chapters (3)

第1章

I sat on the couch, checking the clock over and over. The pork rib soup had been simmering in the kitchen for hours. When the clock struck midnight, I quietly messaged my friend and confirmed that I wanted the apartment. Ethan Carter and I had been together for five years, yet everything I owned fit into a single suitcase. We’d known each other since childhood and started dating in college. But somewhere along the way, our relationship had changed, and my heart had slowly grown cold. I’d realized long ago that Ethan’s so-called busy schedule was just an excuse to stay away from home. He was good at hiding things. His lousy friends weren’t. They were always posting pictures of their nights out on Instagram, where I could see them. And in every post, there was a girl named Chloe Reed. I’d fought with him about her countless times. Nothing changed. Instead, he blamed everything on me and dismissed my pain. “Can you stop being so unreasonable? She’s just a student whose tuition I’m helping cover. Stop making everything sound so dirty!” In his eyes, Chloe could do no wrong. I was always the vicious, jealous one. A week ago, Chloe had called him because she was sick. Ever the devoted caretaker, Ethan stayed out all night. The next morning, I saw her showing off on Instagram. The photo showed a man cooking in her kitchen, his back to the camera. “Nothing beats having a man who cooks for you.” When he came home, he looked exhausted and collapsed onto the bed. I stared coldly at the lipstick stain on his collar. “What’s that?” He barely glanced at it. “I had a business dinner. Someone must’ve brushed against me,” he said impatiently. Then he looked at me accusingly. “Why didn’t you make me any soup?” Whenever he came home tired, I used to serve him a hot bowl of soup to settle his stomach. It was my way of waiting up for him. But I did that because I loved him. Because I wanted to. That didn’t make it my daily obligation. I forced a pale smile and swallowed a few stomach pills right in front of him. Years of delaying dinner while I waited for him had left me with chronic stomach trouble. He immediately fell silent, looking a little stunned. “My stomach hurts. You’ll have to make your own soup.” It took him a few minutes to seem to remember. I’d told him my stomach pain was terrible and asked him to stay with me and take me to the hospital. But he’d been too busy getting ready. Spraying cologne in front of the mirror, he hadn’t even glanced at me. “It’s the same old problem. Take some medicine and sleep it off. It’s not like it’ll kill you.” Then he’d straightened his tie and hurried out, all dressed up and eager to see Chloe. That was when I knew there was no going back. I stopped making him soup. Stopped fussing over him. Stopped texting to ask when he would be home. Our arguments had always gone like this, except I was usually the one who couldn’t stand it and begged to make up. He loved seeing me meek and desperate, like an obedient dog he’d trained. This time, I didn’t give in. I took a trip by myself instead. Only when Ethan texted me first and offered to celebrate my birthday did I reluctantly come back. Of course I knew he didn’t mean it. He was simply used to having me around. When his dog stopped wagging its tail at his feet, the owner naturally gave the leash a tug. Hurt me, then toss me a little affection. I knew the routine too well. It was how I’d lived for years. Once, the mere promise that he would spend my birthday with me would have kept me happy all day. But things had changed. So had we. This time, I was going back to end it. I was truly tired. Still, when I dressed up carefully and arrived at the restaurant, only for him to abandon me for a supposed business meeting when he was really going to see Chloe, it hurt a little. Even though I’d known it would happen. Chloe could always call him away, no matter the occasion. She would always come first. Disappointment built up little by little. Now it had finally overflowed, and I’d accepted the truth. So when I saw them kissing passionately, I felt nothing. I even thought they made a perfect pair. By the time I finished packing, it was only one in the morning. I drank the soup in the kitchen and took a long, relaxing bath. When I came out, Ethan was home. He seemed to have drunk so much he barely knew where he was. Looking at the vomit on the floor, I sighed and cleaned it up anyway. After I changed his clothes and helped him into bed, he suddenly wrapped his arms around me. But the name on his lips was Chloe’s. I pushed him away coldly, only for him to speak again. “Lily, I love you. It’s just…” He stopped there. His words didn’t move me. Without a flicker of emotion, I left the room.

第2章

I didn’t sleep all night. Early the next morning, I went out. Ethan’s shoes weren’t by the door. Apparently, he’d left even earlier. I drove straight to my friend Ryan Hayes’s apartment. It was in an older complex, but the location was good and getting around was easy. He’d bought it a long time ago, though no one had ever lived there. It had two bedrooms and a living room. The price was reasonable, too. He was giving me a friend’s discount. After looking around, I was happy enough to decide on the spot that I wanted it. The paperwork would take a few days, but he told me I could move in first. We’d known each other for years. A few days wouldn’t matter. I was incredibly grateful. Once I’d mostly finished tidying up, I cooked a big dinner and invited him to join me. We were chatting happily when Ethan called. “Lily, where are you?” “What do you need?” My tone wasn’t exactly friendly. Unlike before, when I’d been eager to share everything with him, I sounded distant. Maybe he wasn’t used to it. It took him a moment to answer. “I’m taking you to dinner with some people.” I casually ate a piece of fish. “Take someone else. I’ve already eaten.” Before he could reply, I heard a sugary female voice beside him. “Ethan, she’s so inconsiderate. You offered to take her to dinner, and she won’t even do that much for you. She obviously doesn’t care about you.” Then the call ended. I gave a cold laugh and set my phone aside. Sometimes Ethan truly disgusted me. He wanted what he had and everything else, too. Nothing was ever enough. Was this how he showed off his charm in front of his loser friends? Or did he just enjoy having two women fight over him? It was revolting. When I pulled myself out of those thoughts, my appetite was gone. That was when I noticed Ryan watching me. “Your boyfriend’s still pulling the same crap?” he asked. My hand paused, and I looked up. The three of us had gone to the same college. Ryan and Ethan had even been roommates, so he knew some of what had happened between us. I nodded as though it didn’t matter. He let out a quiet, humorless laugh. Ryan sighed. “Lily Bennett, I know people usually say you shouldn’t tell a couple to break up. But we’ve been friends too long for me to keep my mouth shut.” “You can’t force someone to love you. You’re a good person. You don’t have to waste your whole life on someone who isn’t worth it.” He was right. Our friends knew better than anyone what this relationship had been like. When Ethan first started flirting with other women, they’d taken my side and urged me to let go. They told me not to lower myself. It wasn’t that I wasn’t good enough. Ethan wasn’t worth it. But I couldn’t accept it. I refused to let go and stubbornly held on for seven years. I believed that one day Ethan would see everything I did for him and remember how he’d once loved me. But those seven years had worn me down. All my love had earned me was one wound after another. He was certain I would never leave. He counted on my desperation, hurt me without a second thought, then tossed me a few sweet words to make me obedient again. I’d spent seven years of my youth on him. How could I simply accept that it was over? Maybe time had finally opened my eyes. Maybe something had clicked all at once. Either way, I’d decided to break free. For this relationship, I’d shut out the people who cared about me and kept throwing myself against the same wall until I was covered in bruises. It was time to turn around. “Why do you think I’m buying an apartment?” I smiled, finally at peace. Ryan froze for a moment, then understood and smiled, too.

第3章

After dinner, Ryan offered to drive me back to collect my things. We’d barely entered the complex when we ran into Ethan. Chloe was with him. The moment she saw me, she casually pressed closer to his side. And, of course, she couldn’t resist a jab. “Lily, long time no see. Is this your new boyfriend?” Ethan looked up at me, his expression unreadable. When I offered no explanation, his face darkened. He took Chloe by the arm and walked away. Watching them go, I felt nothing but boredom. Still, Ryan had been dragged into it. “Sorry you got caught in the middle,” I said. He shrugged. “No big deal.” After seeing Ryan off, I went upstairs and started sorting through my belongings. I didn’t need to worry about getting into the new place. It had a smart lock, and my fingerprint was already registered. All I had to do was finish cleaning and buy a few everyday essentials. I was so absorbed in packing that I didn’t notice Ethan had come home and was watching me. His expression was grim, and tension radiated off him. “Whose place are you running off to this time?” He spoke casually. As far as he was concerned, I was just throwing another childish fit. I’d pretend to run away, then come back begging to reconcile within two days. That was how he operated. He knew I loved him. He knew I couldn’t live without him. So he played with me however he pleased. And I was the one who’d taught him he could. When I didn’t respond, he carelessly tossed a gift box toward me. “Your birthday present. Happy now?” I glanced at it, put it aside, and quietly thanked him. I should have been happy. It was a bracelet I’d wanted for a long time. But I no longer cared. “Something came up yesterday. I dropped the ball. I’ll throw you a birthday party tomorrow to make up for it.” He’d truly perfected the art of hurting me and then offering a treat. In his eyes, I wasn’t even a person. I was a pet he kept. Neglect me, toss me a scrap of meat, offer a little affection, and I’d become his loyal dog again. “Did you close the deal?” I looked up at him. He clearly hadn’t expected the question. He froze, then looked annoyed. “Lily, I’m talking about us. Why are you dragging other things into this?” Was he using anger to hide his guilt? I gave a weary smile and let it go. At least until I had everything ready. “Well, it affects your company.” I finished organizing what I needed. After all that work, my stomach began protesting. I picked up my phone and looked at Ethan, who was blocking the doorway. “Move, please.” “And don’t bother with the birthday party. I have plans tomorrow.” I stepped around him to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist. His grip hurt. I frowned at him. “Let go.” Only then did he seem to realize what he was doing. He quickly released me, a flicker of anxiety crossing his eyes. “Lily, what are you doing tomorrow? Are you meeting Ryan?” His voice was cold and accusing, as if he’d already decided I was cheating on him. What a hypocrite. Whenever I used to ask where he was out of concern, he would snap, “Will you give it a rest? I need some privacy, okay?” Now he wanted to know my every move. I didn’t want Ryan dragged into this, so I explained, “Ryan and I hadn’t caught up in years. We had dinner, and he gave me a ride. That’s all.” “Isn’t that what you and Chloe do every day?” He faltered. Maybe it was guilt that made him put on a tough front. “She and I are just friends. Coworkers.” “Right. Ryan and I have been friends for years, too.” I opened the door and went out to eat. By the time I came home, Ethan was gone. Not long after, I saw Chloe’s latest Instagram post. “When you find a man this wonderful, you have to treasure him.” The photo showed a drunken Ethan leaning against her shoulder. I liked it and left a comment. “Perfect match. Make it official already!”