Chapter 2

It took less than thirty minutes after I sent that text for Ethan to burst into my private suite at the recovery retreat.

Beads of sweat lined his forehead. He had obviously run all the way here.

"Chloe Vance, do you have any idea how big the deal I was negotiating just now was?"

He was trying to suppress his anger, but his voice was shaking uncontrollably. "Just because of one text from you, I left the entire board of directors waiting in the conference room!"

I pulled the pre-drafted divorce papers from my nightstand and slid them across the table.

"Perfect timing. Sign this."

"I get sole custody of our daughter. You can keep all your assets. I don’t want a single dime."

Ethan’s face went pale in an instant. "What kind of game are you playing right now?"

He stared at the document in sheer disbelief.

"Just because of this gown? If you don't like it, I'll order you another one. Ten of them! A hundred! Whatever you want!"

"I get it. You're mad at me because I've been too busy to spend time with you lately. But don't use divorce to throw a tantrum."

I looked Ethan straight in the eye.

"You know me, Ethan. I don't joke about things like this."

He grabbed my hands, his eyes pleading. "Babe, please. I know your hormones are all over the place right now. You can scream at me, you can hit me, but please, don't do this."

Outside the open door of my suite, a small crowd started to gather in the hallway.

The nurses and some of the other wealthy mothers staying at the retreat began whispering among themselves.

"What is she drama-queening about now? Her husband literally sends her different flowers and gifts every day. He’s like the perfect husband."

"Right? I heard he even fired his hot, young maid and hired a two-hundred-pound, plain-looking housekeeper just so she wouldn't worry about him cheating!"

"Some women are just so ungrateful. She just had a baby and she’s already starting drama."

The whispers weren't loud, but they were loud enough to carry into the room.

Ethan heard them too. He softened his voice, putting on his best caring-husband act.

"Chloe, I know your hormones are making you sensitive right now."

"We’ve been together for so many years, and we just had our beautiful baby girl. If something is bothering you, just tell me. We can fix this together."

"But divorce? You can't just throw that word around."

He sounded so incredibly sincere. But all I felt was a cold, bitter disgust.

From college sweethearts to marriage, Ethan and I were each other’s first loves.

We started our business together back in college. During the hardest times, I drank so much at business dinners to secure clients that I ended up with stomach bleeding.

In the hospital room, he had held my hand tightly, swearing he would never let me suffer again, promising to make me the happiest woman in the world.

And for a long time, he did exactly that. Everyone envied me for having such a perfect partner.

During my pregnancy, even a slight frown on my face would make him worry for days.

He insisted on doing everything himself whenever he could find the time.

To prove he wouldn't stray while I was stuck in recovery, he even replaced our cute, efficient maid of eight years with Bertha, a frumpy, obese woman.

But I simply pulled my hand out of Ethan's grip. "I am divorcing you. It's final."

Seeing my cold determination, Bertha, who had been hovering outside the door, suddenly pushed her way into the room.

"Mrs. Sterling, how can you treat Mr. Sterling like this?!"

She yelled in her raspy voice, her chubby face twisted with righteous indignation.

"Do you have any idea how much Mr. Sterling has done for you?!"

"Just because you casually mentioned you liked this designer brand, Mr. Sterling pulled so many strings and paid a fortune to get this custom gown made for you."

"And you? You just throw a fit and demand a divorce over a dress!"

I gave her a disgusted look. "You're just a housekeeper. What right do you have to raise your voice at me in my own room?"

"Since you care about him so much, why don't you marry him instead?"