Chapter 3

Sensing my gaze, Chloe quickly yanked her hand away.

She glared at Rachel. Though she didn't speak, jealousy and suspicion practically rolled off her in waves.

Julian, however, walked up with a smirk.

"Hey, Ethan. What brings you here? And who is this lady? You two look pretty close."

"None of your business," I replied coldly.

I wasn't worried about them misunderstanding. I just didn't want to waste my breath on Julian.

Julian pretended not to notice my hostility. His smirk widened. "But isn't it work hours? Why are you out here? I don't recall seeing a leave request from you today."

Chloe stepped forward, her face dark with anger.

"Ethan, you're getting bolder, aren't you? Hooking up with another woman during work hours? Have you no shame?"

Shame?

I almost laughed.

She was openly parading her male model around, and she had the nerve to talk to me about shame?

Ever since she brought Julian into the office, people had been gossiping behind her back. No matter how hard others worked, they couldn't beat a pretty face.

Chloe even called Julian into her office during the day, drawing the blinds for hours while people watched their shadows whisper.

The once-professional office environment had turned into a joke.

Julian stepped in, pretending to play peacemaker.

"Chloe, don't be so harsh. Maybe Ethan is here to meet an investor? He’s probably doing it for the company."

Chloe sneered. "What kind of investment meeting happens at a hotel restaurant? He's probably doing something dirty! No wonder your department's sales have been so good lately, Ethan. You disgust me."

Hearing her insults, Rachel couldn't stay quiet any longer.

"Have you two said enough? Only those with dirty minds see dirt in everything."

She turned to me. "Ethan, let's go. Talking to people like this is a waste of our time."

Rachel pulled my arm toward the elevator, but Chloe panicked.

"Ethan! If you walk away with her today, we are divorcing!"

Her threat meant nothing to me. But since she brought it up, I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and handed them over.

"What is this?"

She stared at the document, refusing to touch it.

"Divorce papers. You wanted a divorce. I’m giving you what you want."

Chloe's face went completely pale. Before she could speak, Julian's phone rang. He looked at it and gasped.

"Chloe! The hospital just called. My mom fell on the street. I have to go!"

Chloe immediately turned to him. "How is she? I'll go with you!"

Watching them rush out, I felt a wave of irony.

Three years ago, my mother was in critical condition after a car accident—an accident she got into while saving Chloe. Yet Chloe claimed her business trip was too important and didn't even show up for my mother's final moments.

My mother could have lived longer despite her heart condition, but she sacrificed her life for Chloe. Yet Chloe never even said thank you.

"Ethan?" Rachel’s voice snapped me back to reality.

I took a deep breath, composed myself, and took her up to the room.

As soon as we walked in, she asked, "I heard you got married. Was that woman your wife?"

My hand paused as I poured her a glass of water. I sighed.

"Yeah. But as you saw, I'm ending it."

I knew Chloe wouldn't sign the papers easily, so I had already handed all the evidence of her infidelity to my lawyer to start the court process.

The lawyer assured me that we would win easily.

Rachel didn't pry. She patted my shoulder. "Good. Clean up this mess before we move. You won't be coming back here anyway."

I nodded and asked about our dad.

The next day, I went with Rachel to finalize my immigration paperwork. As we walked out, her phone rang.

"I told you, I'm back for personal matters," she said into the phone, sounding annoyed. "Why did you leak my schedule?"

"Do I need to personally approve a project worth only a few million? Am I the boss, or are you?"

After she hung up, I handed her a bottle of water. "Problems with the company in New York?"

She rubbed her temples.

"No. Some local startup has been begging to partner with us. The owner somehow found out I was in town and is desperate to get a meeting."

"But you know how I work. In business, connections are fine, but character is what matters most."

I didn't ask further. I drove her to the best French restaurant in the city.

But of course, fate is a cruel joke. We ran into Chloe and Julian again.

They were wearing matching outfits, sitting by the window.

Chloe was on the phone, looking tense, while Julian fed her a cherry.

Chloe smiled and bit the cherry right out of his hand.

To anyone else, they looked like a deeply in love couple.

I pursed my lips and turned to leave, but Chloe spotted me.

She hung up immediately and ran over.

"Ethan, wait!"