Chapter 2: A Test I Was Meant to Fail

Ethan and I had fallen in love the old-fashioned way.

We met at a part-time job—he’d broken a vase at a coffee shop and looked so lost. I helped him clean up and talked the manager down on compensation.

He’d been so awkward, apologizing with a lopsided grin, cheeks flushed. I remember thinking he looked like a kid caught sneaking cookies. Luckily, it wasn’t worth much. He paid, and we walked back to campus together, both a little embarrassed.

I learned he went to my school and, like me, worked odd jobs to pay tuition after a tough childhood.

I’d lost my parents young and was raised by my grandparents, working my way through college. I felt a kinship with someone who understood, and since he was easy to talk to, we swapped numbers and started sharing shifts.

Slowly, we became a couple.

Our love was simple and steady.

No drama. No fireworks. Just the quiet happiness I’d always wanted. Movie nights with popcorn, walks by Lake Michigan, afternoons at the art museum because it was free for students.

In our third year, he proposed.

He said his family was average, no money—just a regular guy who wanted a future together.

I didn’t care about his background. I loved him for who he was.

I said yes. But two months after the wedding, he had a car accident.

The doctors said it was bad luck—he was in a coma, maybe for life. But since he was young, if I stuck with treatment and rehab, he might wake up.

So, for three years, I worked myself ragged, gave up a corporate job, and sold everything my grandparents left me for his care.

But now, the barrage told me:

All my effort and sacrifice was just his test for me.

A test? Was that all I was to him?

And I was just the tragic side character in his story—the one who loved and lost, grew bitter, and finally disappeared as a background villain.

It was already dark when I got back to the hospital.

Streetlights glared through the rain. My shoes squelched on the tile. Just as the barrage said, Ethan wasn’t in his room. The nurse on duty saw my bruises and rushed over.

My heart went cold. Leaning against the wall, I asked,

"Where’s my husband?"

The nurse glanced at the empty bed, confused:

"Yeah, where is he? He was here when Lisa did rounds, and the aide you hired went home hours ago. Where could he have gone?"

I stayed against the wall. Maybe seeing how rough I looked, the nurse tried to reassure me:

"It’s okay. Everyone knows your husband here, and in his condition, nobody could take him out. He’s not going anywhere. We’ll find him. How about we check those wounds first?"

I shook my head, voice tight:

"I need to know where he is. Now."

She hurried off to make calls.

I leaned back, exhausted. My legs were trembling, and the wall felt cold against my spine.

At that moment, the barrage appeared again.

"Wow, so exciting! The side character is in the hall, and the leads are making out in the next room, totally going at it."

"Ethan’s lips are bleeding. Can’t you see our sweet heroine is a little lioness!"

"You must be new. She didn’t just bite his lips—there are marks everywhere."

"My favorite ship! The sweet heroine pinned Ethan to the table and kissed him. The contrast is so satisfying."

A loud crash came from the next room—something hit the floor.

I froze. My mind raced, connecting dots I didn’t want to see.

The barrage continued.

"The heroine is so bold, making such a scene even after the side character came back! But she’s brave!"

"I think she’s brave too, but aren’t they afraid of getting caught? I’m worried!"

"Don’t worry, they locked the door. The side character can’t get in!"

"But if she finds Ethan missing, will she discover he’s faking? I don’t want the male lead to be called a jerk!"

"No way! The hospital staff are in on it. After they’re done, a doctor will wheel Ethan back, saying he was at rehab. With the doctors helping, the side character is clueless."

"Ethan really planned it all out?"

"Of course! If he wasn’t so careful, how could he fool her this long?"

"He’s amazing!"