Reclaiming Her Empire

rprisingly calm. Ethan eye

a? Excited for New York?" He so

aid, smiling faintly. A fi

tically dismantling my

y packed, but the

e few pieces of jewelry that weren' t from

ervice to pick them up and ship them

gner bags he' d occasionally thrown my way like gu

m. I wanted nothing t

ly "helping" by moving my packed boxes into the gar

ngs, her luggage now joined by sho

esting. I

bedroom, holding one of

eally go with the new minimalist vibe Ethan

"Put it down, Chloe. T

fully on the dresser, a small

oom in the brownstone then. It' s

ssigning me rooms

the master closet was n

ering. Good. Less to move."

ased his forehead when he saw th

klace I got you for our a

looking up from the book

you insane? What, are you planning to sue me for

to money, to his own

before D-day, he came

me. A sensible, sli

u. For New Yo

lized at his elbow, and presented her wi

herry-red Pors

ear. Something a l

g adoration from Chloe and,

luctance, though

exus is perfectly fine for me. Ava sho

knowing glance. Tes

suits you. Besides," I held up the Lexus keys, "I' ve alr

aler. The check would be

ed. Chloe looked mo

was unsettli

ty," meant I was finally accepting the new rea

d no

-made watch I' d ordered for Ethan' s upcomin

e back: "To E,

donate it to a charity aucti

r tie

ding, yet needing, came

r follow-up appointment f

ck-up after t

nctuation mark to th

there," I said,

more than my doctor

rocedure, her eyes full of a

, Ava? About... everythi

caping. "I can' t, Sarah.

out Chloe, about the yea

e who knew about th

came home early, bur

tchen, packing the la

what? Chloe'

hining with a joy I hadn'

' re going to have a bab

t me like a

ant.

ak, the needles, the procedure

oe, had achieved it effor

ting protectively on her still-flat s

t this afternoon!

mine, and the smi

built for motherhood, huh,

t, the sheer cruel

ncaring, continued hi

ors? Maybe it just wasn't meant to be for us. But this.

mes, about how this baby would soli

was being rewritten, era

oice, a thin

now, and Chloe was pregnant... who would y

chistic question. I al

er of something – pity?

. But... Chloe needs me. This baby needs me. Yo

ndness: "Honestly, Ava? It would be C

I was the pa

final, defi

of doubt about my decision to

y a cold, cle

as

Ethan' s birthd

tu celebration at a trendy Au

a united front. For the company, for appearances. Especially now, with

r, his new family, to smooth the w

, a ghost of a

iss it for the

o Chloe. It' s a big

"I' ll be the perfe

fied. He had no

dge Chloe and the baby. That would be the final nail in th

s element, holding court, Chloe glowing by

the future! And to a very special anno

ugh the crowd. Some polite ap

a fixed smile on my

lifetime of love, laughter, and a house full o

broken

r congratulations, their eyes flicki

st be thrill

urprisi

ong struggles, looked uncomfortable. One whispered t

s were dis

c announcement and Ethan' s fa

her voice a sac

me a glass of water? With lemon, no ic

g me like a ser

smile unwavering. "Ge

if I tripped and fell? What if something happe

provoke me, to mak

voice equally soft

ur precious 'miracle,' I will personally ensure that whatever 'accident' befalls

The saccharine

just a joke, A

acked

gation. I had witnessed

g, I' m feeling a bit tire

conversation with a venture capitalist, Chlo

e discreetly tap out a message on her ph

unease went

s I reached my car, two large m

" one of th

one clamping a hand over my mouth, th

the back of the parkin

ning certainty, this

his breath hot and foul on my nec

of cheap bee

sped when the hand slipped slightl

s plenty to mess you up, lady. Make

he sleeve o

t a brick wall. One f

and sharp,

sses I' d taken years ago, after

line s

stomped hard on his inste

in the groin. He d

abbed my hair, ya

al keychain in my purse – the one w

my might, catching

ggered

, a raw, p

I fought

s, came running. The two thugs scramb

ing, a large bruise was already for

restaurant, disheveled,

t to Ethan and

n' s arm. "Ava! What happened to you?" He

I said, my voice shaking with rage. "Your

, and with every ounce of strength I ha

voice a venomous whi

Next time, I ai

eyes before the mask o

ed with fury. He grabbed my arm,

st the salad, now thi

ng me, his e

sed his hand as

acked in the parking lot!" I cried, d

t. He w

nd, but his voice

to see me happy, can you? You couldn' t even give me a child, a

tility, my deepest pa

Chloe had used.

absorbed her poison. He w

n't even give me a child," during one of ou

el. I' d thought it w

public, he thre

tered. He was truly, i

away, hard. I

get out. I don' t wa

cern. "Are you okay, honey? Did th

ective. Leaving me standing there

elt the throbbing in my chee

f I was okay. He hadn'

was Chloe. And he

izziness wa

gs bu

trickle betw

oo

tilted and

inted was Ethan' s retreating ba

on my calend

rise was still to come, but it