Ethan devoted five years of his life to Aubrey, believing they were happily married. His world collapses when he discovers that their marriage was never legally registered—Aubrey's legal husband is actually a man named Henry. Catching them together, Ethan realizes he was merely a placeholder, a substitute for another man. Despite Aubrey's hysterical threats of suicide to keep him, Ethan sees through the manipulation. Heartbroken but resolute, he erases his identity, changes his name, and vanishes from her life completely, leaving her to face the consequences of her deception.