Her Escape, His Obsession

didn' t change. He

he said, his voice smooth and dismissive. "Hoping I' d 'take better care of you.' I glanc

like a carefully constructed lie, designed to exting

wait for m

charged tomorrow. I

with the sterile scent of the hospital an

He was just cruel. Or perh

owed were a blur o

tying glances following me. "Poor Mrs. Col

Ethan doting on Bella, helping her into cars, his arm pro

This marriage was a

discharged, I c

oice firm. "Irreconcilable differences. Emotional abuse

chnically shared, and began to write out the terms for the separation agreement. Each word

week, I

afe, trying to fin

d up on my phone. A

la Vance: A Love S

ing at a private dinner, Ethan tenderly adjusting Bella' s sca

sion I re

to reserve only for

ical pain, sharp and deep. He

hone away, my

efficient. He was an old fam

waiving all assets? The

. I don't want his money

e half of it, of course. He didn't know about the rebirt

man desperate to escape

e papers and have them co

uarters to sign some residual papers related to a joint

leek, minimalist lob

aning on him, looking pale and fragile, but her eyes,

bent low, a tender smile on his lips. He bru

gesture, inti

for me a thousand ti

ntly, agreed to a dance. After I' d cried over my family' s fa

force of a physical blow. I

missive. He didn't even nod. He just steered Bella towar

aced. Utterl

Mr. Henderson called to tell me Ethan had signe

e weak. It was done. Or almost done. The legal formali

oved, the Ethan who had loved me, was truly gone. This new, cruel

lla was with him, clinging to his arm, her expr

of any emotion. "I trust the legal matt

d, my voice

g much better. She' ll be staying h

lla. She gave me a sm

nce, Mia," Bella said, her voice soft and swe

said, looking directly at Ethan. "It

arity gala next week. Cole Innovations is a prima

. "Why? The pap

is dry on the final decree, you are still Mrs. Cole. You will maintai

y' s company, still fragile, s

quickly followed by weary resign

voice barely a whis

idened. It didn'