The Woman He Thought He Broke

ure Symposium in Chica

ilding, ironically one my fami

tar in Urban Design." Chloe, naturally, was

ecklace that looked suspiciously like one that h

istance, a glass of spa

de me. He' d flown in from the West Coast "f

s, Ava," he said quietly,

d. "But I need to

han. I was there for

he start of Chloe' s unraveling. Ol

ostensibly there. My own work as an architectural historian felt

loe spo

, who was schmoozing with some

d, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Shouldn't

stomach, still flat, the s

d, my voice cool. "Just e

hard to appreciate it when you' re not really par

s such exquisite taste, doesn't he?

r gave me for my 21st birthday. A

nd sharp, sh

dangerously soft. "It looks very familiar. In fact, it l

t be ridiculous. Ethan bought this for me. He said he wa

s your real name? And where are you really from? Because it certai

lightly under he

sound haughty, but a tremor of fear laced her voice. "

brication? That your real last name is Smith, and you grew up in a trailer park in Gary

around, checking if

she hissed. "You'

ed up with tears. She suddenly clutched her

nearby people to turn. She stumbled

an was there instantly, his a

hreatened me, Ethan! She said horrible things

ed marks appearing on her skin. Self-inflict

' s voice was furious. "She' s done nothing b

ough my heart was pounding. Liam moved to stan

k of innocent victimhood. "She' s always been jealous o

making a scene. Can' t you see I' m trying to build somet

r blindness, it still had the

the baby. My baby. A

re she really got it. Check the security footage from our apartment building for

Ethan! She' s trying to ruin everyt

k. But not q

hen waved a dismissive hand. "This is ridiculous. Ava, I

ground. "I have every right to be here. I' m a member

can you? You always had to be the center of attention with your quiet money and your '

so thick I c

ommotion near

ects hoping to ride Ethan' s coattails, started towards me,

lp leaving, Ms. Thompso

ntally" bumped my arm, hard, making me spill

id sharply, st

ed me, their taunts and shoves escalating. "I' m a

harp elbows, dug one into my ribs. Pain shot t

someone yelled. "Stop harassin

but he didn' t move to stop them. He just watc

raised a hand as if to stri

ed the man back. But then he turned to me, his face cold. "S

ize? T

had once loved, the man who wa

was a profound,

e barely a whisper. "You promised, on our wedding da

hiding things, sneaking around. Chlo

e finally approaching. "Please escort Ms.

hies clearly with the "wronged"

humiliated, into th

side me, his arm

Ethan' s voice, accepting congratulations, Ch