Chapter 3

Chloe froze instantly. She stared at me in sheer disbelief, tears spilling over her lashes and hitting the floor.

Seeing her face streaked with tears, my resolve cracked. I clenched my jaw, stepped forward, and gently wrapped my arms around her.

When Foster Industries first recruited me, I was a stranger in this city, completely clueless about how the wealthy operated. Back then, Chloe was the only one who smiled and handed me a bottle of water.

Watching her work with such fiery passion, I had fallen completely and utterly in love with her.

"Chloe, I still love you. But do you still love me?"

She kept her head down, refusing to speak. Her silence confirmed my worst fears, suffocating me.

*Just one last chance,* I told myself with a heavy sigh, gently wiping away her tears.

I would give her one final opportunity. When this heart completely died, I would take my daughter and walk away forever.

"Chloe, do you know what day today is?"

She blinked, shaking her head dismissively before wrapping her arms around mine, swaying playfully.

"If I don't remember it, it's not important! Ethan, stop cluttering your head with pointless dates. Promise me you'll only ever love me!"

Looking at the smile on her face, the words *Today is my birthday* died in my throat. A wave of bone-deep fatigue dragged me down.

Fresh out of jail, I immediately had to pick up my engineering duties at the plant. Knowing I had been wrongfully accused, a few close colleagues took pity on me and sent me home early to rest.

Arriving home ahead of schedule, I bought snacks that my wife and daughter loved. But the moment I pushed the door open, Chloe's voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Old bastard! Glare at me all you want! I'm going to ruin your son, you hear me? To tell you the truth, Marcus and I were the ones who reported him to the police! Too bad he didn't rot to death in prison and left behind that useless retard of a daughter. Pui—"

Through the cracked door, I heard every venomous word. I saw her face, twisted with malice.

"Marcus worships the ground I walk on! That's the kind of man I belong with! Since Ethan wants to act all high and mighty, I'm going to destroy him piece by piece, and then watch you drop dead from pure rage!"

I stood there in the hallway, clutching the bags, my teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked. My entire body shook uncontrollably.

I don't even remember how I forced myself to calm down. I don't remember how I pasted on a smile when Chloe rushed out and stammered that she had "just gotten home."

After she dressed up in designer clothes and left the house, Lily quietly tiptoed out of the bedroom. With trembling hands, she handed me a piece of paper.

Looking at the crooked words *Happy Birthday, Daddy*, hot tears blurred my eyes.

My heart died completely. And my mind cleared entirely.

Late that night, Chloe returned home. Her eyes were glazed with alcohol, her body draped limply over Marcus's shoulder.

"Ethan, it's so late and all the restaurants are closed. I just brought Marcus home for a quick bite. Why are you just standing there without saying hello? What kind of attitude is that?!"

Under the dim hallway light, the dark, fresh hickeys marking her throat were unmistakable.

A cold, humorless laugh escaped my lips. Thinking back on all the years of devotion I had poured into this woman, it felt like a sick joke.

I was done compromising. Clenching my fists, I looked her straight in the eyes.

"Chloe, we're getting a divorce."