Chapter 4

"The money’s transferred! Get out of my face, did you hear me?!"

I had planned to ignore her, but she kept pushing. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Bianca’s voice sliced through the terminal.

"Ethan! I stayed up all night waiting for you! My eyes are swollen! You finally made it!"

"Who are they? Your ex? Didn't you say you dumped her?"

I turned around to see Bianca, whom I hadn't seen in years, walking over in a stunning designer dress.

A genuine smile broke across my face, and I walked toward her.

Ashley froze in shock. Then her jaw dropped.

"You came here for this woman?!"

Julian’s eyes flashed with mockery as he sneered, "Oh wow, don't tell me this is your little side-chick, Ethan~"

Hearing that, Ashley put two and two together and glared at me in disbelief.

"No wonder you wanted to break up! You had another woman waiting in the wings!"

"Ethan, we dated for twelve years and were married for ten! How could you do this to me? Do you have any conscience at all?!"

Julian smirked triumphantly, adding fuel to the fire. "Ethan, how could you betray your pure love with Ashley over such petty things~"

"You're such a disappointment. Ashley, let's go. Breathing the same air as this scumbag makes me sick!"

I nearly laughed out loud.

What incredible gaslighting!

Never mind that Bianca and I were completely clean—even if I had cheated, what right did the two of them have to judge me?

Ashley didn't leave. Instead, she lunged forward in a blind rage and slapped Bianca hard across the face.

"You homewrecking bitch!"

"Didn't you know he's a married man?!"

Before she could strike again, I shoved Ashley away with all my might.

"Ashley, have you lost your damn mind?!"

Ashley’s eyes went red. She clenched her fists and pointed a trembling finger at me.

"Ethan, you're yelling at me and shoving me for this woman?!"

"Did you forget every single vow you ever made to me?!"

She actually had the nerve to bring up those vows.

I took a deep, steadying breath, swallowed my rage, and said coldly:

"First, I never cheated. Second, her name is Bianca. She's my college classmate. I came to New York on business with her, and she paid for my ticket. Every cent."

Ashley scoffed coldly. "College classmate? You think I'm stupid enough to buy that?"

"Believe whatever you want. Bianca, let's go."

I turned to leave with Bianca, but Ashley stepped in front of me, furious.

"Ethan, if you dare walk away right now, I'm firing you from the firm! You will never step foot back in there again!"

Before I could reply, Bianca couldn't hold back anymore.

"That's fantastic! That way Ethan can officially become a senior partner at my firm."

With that, she pulled a pristine partnership agreement out of her bag.

Ashley’s eyes flickered with panic, but in the next second, she grabbed my collar and snarled, "Is she telling the truth? You're jumping ship to her firm?"

"Ethan, you're leaving over a petty squabble? I don't give you permission to leave!"

Julian sneered, shaking his head. "Ethan, you're a lawyer. How can you knowingly break the law?"

"Jumping ship like this means you owe us massive breach-of-contract penalties."

Bianca fired back instantly, "My firm will cover every single penny!"

I offered a faint smirk. "No need. I never signed an employment contract with them."

"Ashley, since there's no contract, I don't need your damn permission."

Before I could finish, Ashley cut me off, her eyes brimming with tears of betrayal.

"Ethan, I really misjudged you."

"If you're hell-bent on leaving, then let's get a divorce."

She said the word 'divorce' with total nonchalance, completely certain I wouldn't have the guts to call her bluff.

It was her favorite weapon throughout our entire relationship.

In the past, I would have begged her to reconsider. But now? I couldn't divorce her even if I wanted to—you have to be legally married first.

I shook my head. A look of triumph flashed across Ashley's face, but then I pulled two fake marriage certificates out of my bag.

"We were never married. What divorce is there to talk about?"