Chapter 3

The next morning, I was woken up by a loud banging on the door.

When I opened my bedroom door, the living room was already a disaster zone.

Lily was sitting on the sofa, directing a couple of movers who were hauling her suitcases into the house.

The Ragdoll cat, Prince, was scratching my favorite leather sofa, leaving deep, ugly gashes in the leather.

Eleanor was standing next to them, happily throwing my decorative glass pieces straight into a trash bag.

"What do you think you’re doing?" I walked over, my face cold, and snatched the trash bag from Eleanor’s hand.

Inside were souvenirs I had bought during my business trips over the years.

"What does it look like? We’re making room for Lily," Eleanor snapped, glaring at me.

"Lily has a lot of things. Your junk is just taking up space. Throw it out."

Lily set down her coffee cup and stood up.

She had changed into a tight black dress with a little white flower pinned to her hair, looking like a grieving widow.

"Chloe, don't be mad. Eleanor is just looking out for me."

"Ethan always loved me in black. He said it made me look classy."

She walked over to me, a faint, mocking smile on her lips.

Then, she pulled a thick, black notebook from her designer bag.

"By the way, Chloe, while I was sorting through Ethan's things, I found this."

"I figured you should probably know the truth."

She handed the notebook to me.

It was Ethan’s journal.

I didn’t take it. I just stared at her coldly.

"I don't read the diaries of dead men."

Lily wasn't bothered. She pulled her hand back and flipped it open herself.

"That's fine. I’ll read it to you."

She cleared her throat, her voice dripping with sweet poison.

"March 5th. Lily said she wanted that pastry from the bakery downtown. I stood in line for two hours to get it for her."

"Seeing her smile made it all worth it. The woman at home does nothing but complain about me being late. She’s absolutely repulsive."

"October 12th. Lily's cat was sick. I stayed with her at the vet all night. Seeing Lily cry broke my heart."

"I want a divorce so badly. I want to marry Lily."

She flipped page after page, reading snippet after snippet.

Every single line was a confession of love for Lily and a venomous insult directed at me.

Eleanor stood beside her, wiping away tears.

"My poor, sweet Ethan... he was suffering so much. He wanted to leave you so long ago."

Lily finished reading, closed the journal, and held it tight against her chest.

She looked at me, her eyes bursting with triumphant pride.

"Did you hear that, Chloe? Ethan never loved you."

"You took five years of his life. Now that he’s gone, don’t you think it’s time to give me back what belongs to me?"

I looked at her arrogant face, feeling absolutely nothing.

I knew exactly what kind of man Ethan was.

This journal was nothing but a tool for his own self-deluded drama.

"Are you done reading?" I asked blankly.

"If you're done, take your cat and get the hell off my sofa."

Lily froze, clearly not expecting this reaction.

She thought I would break down, cry, or scream like a madwoman.

But she was wrong.

"You... how can you be so heartless?" Lily pointed at me, her finger trembling.

"Ethan wrote it clearly. He loved me. Aren't you even a little embarrassed?"

"Why would I be embarrassed?" I stepped forward, forcing her to look me in the eye.

"Who he loved is his business. But legally, I am his wife."

"You're just a proud side chick. What you're holding is nothing but a cheating diary."

Lily’s face went pale. She looked at Eleanor for help.

Eleanor instantly jumped in, pointing a finger at my face and screaming.

"You shameless bitch! Ethan is dead, and you still dare to bully Lily!"

"Let me tell you something, Ethan left a will! This house, and everything he owns, belongs to Lily!"

"You won't get a single dime!"

I narrowed my eyes at Eleanor’s words.

A will.

Ethan actually went through with making a will.

Lily regained her confidence, lifting her chin with a smug smirk.

"Chloe, Eleanor is right. Ethan took care of everything."

"In three days, the lawyer will be here to read the will. I hope you'll pack your bags and leave with some dignity."

She scooped up the cat from the sofa and kissed it gently.

"Prince, we’re finally going to have our own home. We don't have to walk on eggshells anymore."

I watched them, a cold smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

"Sure. Let's wait for the will."

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