The Road of A Unwanted Wife To Her True Home

. Ethan walked in, looking tired. There were faint dark

ork, not for pleasure. Even on the rare nights we were intimate, when his e

with them, with Isabella a

ushed it down, swinging my legs off the bed. I wal

my fingers moved with practiced ease, meticulously knotting the

ghtly stunned by my question. "Moderate

moothed it down, my eyes

have a

is dark eyes. But he didn' t hesitate. He knew the val

he sai

d bind Hayes Tech and Carter Industries

lready at the table, holding Leo in her arms. The mom

g out of his mother' s lap and

Ethan bent down to comfort him, Leo picked up a hard-boiled egg from hi

blouse, leaving a s

ady! Why are you living in my

y shirt and then up at Isabella, who was

I said, my voice sharp.

mel

shard of ice. It was cold, sharp, and utter

ld. Besides, Isabella raised him a

y washing over me. In three years of marriage, three years of caref

nger. My emotions were slipping past my control. "Just because he' s a child, he needs

lia H

rt. My anger receded, replaced by a chilling realization. I shoul

saw an anger and coldness in his eyes that

wedded fiancée," he said, his words clipped a

n me, and walked towards the door. Isabella scrambled to h

' t pul

ella turned her head and looked back at me. A vi

he words her mouth

. He still

Carter family for decades, moved with quiet efficiency. She went to the guest room and began gathering Isabella and

dy trembling, my breath com

is the second time.

ink. A mix-up with hotel key cards, a dim room, a night of lost control. We woke up in the same bed, horri

sure from our powerful families, a marri

ld me about Isabella and their son. At the time, I did

. Respect, dignity, a lavish lifestyle. He was a perfect partn

ous as he placed the matriarch' s ring on my fi

I was the only one who had been foolish enough to let my heart

.

a, a glittering affair for the city' s elite. As

h headquarters. The silence in the car was t

silence. "You don' t need to worry about anything. Since

wrong one. He still thought this was about a title. I stared

we walked into the grand ballroom of the h

ing gown. The deep V-neckline plunged daringly, perfectly

nod. She then turned her gaze to me

. Car

to keep my composure. I turned to t

I asked, my voice a l

job. I gave her a minor position at the company," Ethan s

led slightly. I stared at him, shocked into dis

work with you? To this gala? Am I

ing slightly, as if the thought

an. He was a master strategist in business and in life. He couldn' t poss

le explanation: he was in

took a single glass of champagne from a passing waiter and downed it in one go,

siness smile. For the next hour, I navigated the glittering crowd, exchanging pl

The air in the ballroom was thick and stuffy. I excuse

nd of the manicured lawn and sat down,

' ll catch a cold. Wh

y of pine and expensive cologn

notoriously ruthless head of the Thorne Group from New

ket tighter around me. The warmth felt foreign

on the swi

looked at me, his gaze sharp and utterly serious. "What are you going to do ab

appear as if he were discussin

s. I just tilted my head slightly.

ersonal space. His face was inches fr

nse whisper. "How about you consider me? Yo

skin, making me feel flustered,

ice a little shaky. "Not

ack towards the gala, leaving him sitting on the swing wit

ed. From the moment we got into the c

Thorne close?" he as

g he must have see

We grew up

restraint unbuckled his seatbelt. In one swift movement, he leaned

d something else I couldn' t identify. Anger, maybe. He kissed me with

vering over mine. His usually calm, dark ey

led, his voice thic