The Woman He Thought He Broke

lap in the face as the heavy doors of

s phone, presumably to his own

ring, the adrenaline leav

oned.

o apartment, the one I' d mostly paid for with a quiet withdrawal from my trust

hispered, holding me close on the balcon

he wind whistling ar

that woman had elbowed me flared

y okay? Panic, fres

sit down," I sa

his arm around me. "Ava, are you h

ot me a room, and insisted on cal

fully, just bruises. The baby was fine, its tiny heartbea

r me, so potent i

down, then reluctantly le

night. Ethan hadn't called. Not that I expected him to

, Chloe made sur

him looking at her with adoration. A close-up of "her" necklace with the caption: "Feeling so loved

g in. The anger was still there, but it was a col

than c

upset. That little stunt you pulled last night? It

d not

y' re asking questions because of the scene you made. You need to issue a

ogy. For tell

" I

s connection to the benefactor is crucial for my next pro

ging up n

blocked his

ary apartment that evenin

the door a crack. "Do you have any idea what you' re doing? You' re tr

alented, insecure man I' d married was gone

said, my voice devoid of emotion. "I' m just tr

re surprisingly calm ab

ifted. A new, calculati

r you anymore. All this stress... it' s not good for you. May

p my career. My passion. F

rang. Chloe' s name f

, I' m talking to her now... No, she' s being unreasonable, as

moment, his face harde

ht. She says if you don' t clear her name, she might... do

ion. More emot

nt of the staff. You will sign a statement saying you were mistaken, that you were emotional and confused. Or I will make sure your

ing to use my f

d my lips. He had no idea

I said. "I' ll

ck agreement, then suspicious

said. "Don'

ring reassurances to

the door

alled my

noon, I walked in

looking pale and victimized, thou

as assembled in th

"Thank you for coming. Now, if you' ll

, Ethan, there' s a docu

folder on

is?" he ask

"Related to our separation. My lawy

nt. He was too eager for my public apo

, grabbing a pen and scrawling hi

and acknowledged the full extent of the pre-nuptial agreement he' d barely glanced at when we married. An agreeme

ind Ethan. "Get on with it,

o the asse

ce clear and strong, "to state for

onference room

uilder' s uniform stormed in

d off on these specs for the Miller Tower foundation? The r

, her face t

emailing me, pushing for the cheaper materials! Said i

. I don' t know what you' re talkin

he Miller Tower? Chloe, you

On track to collapse, maybe! I' m reporting

h rage. He reached

out a hea