Chapter 3

Ethan was right. From now on, the company had nothing to do with me.

I was never officially his business partner anyway; I had just managed everything in the capacity of his wife.

But very soon, I wouldn't even be that.

The next day, I went to my office to pack up my personal belongings. Through the cracked door, I heard the project manager trying to reason with Ethan.

"Ethan, you were too impulsive yesterday... Clara has been running the operations for years. If she really steps down, next quarter's project is going to fall apart..."

Ethan sneered. "Fall apart? Our products succeed because of my designs. She just does the busywork."

"Let Chloe take over her tasks. It’s just administrative stuff. Anyone can do it."

He paused, adding, "Chloe is different from Clara. She’s pure-hearted. Don't let her go to those sleazy client dinners."

I stood outside the door, and any lingering urge to do a proper handover vanished.

My phone buzzed. It was a message from my new company: "Your visa is approved. We are ready when you are."

I turned and walked away.

I was halfway through packing my bags at home when Ethan unexpectedly walked in, holding a pastry box.

"Chloe said the Mille-feuille from this bakery is amazing. I brought some for you."

I looked at the box, which had clearly been opened. The top pastry was missing a corner.

I took the box and threw it straight into the trash can.

Ethan’s face darkened. He saw the missing piece and forced down his anger. "...It's not leftovers."

He had completely forgotten that I have a severe nut allergy.

And the Mille-feuille from that bakery was heavily dusted with almond flakes.

Three years ago, when I went into anaphylactic shock after drinking to cover for him, he had stayed outside the ICU all night, swearing he would never let a single nut enter our house again.

I guess vows have an expiration date.

My silence made Ethan uneasy. He paced around the living room before finally speaking. "I was too impulsive yesterday and embarrassed you. But as the founder, I have to be fair."

"I'm not actually banning you from the company... Just give Chloe a private apology, and we can move past this..."

"Excuse me." I dragged my suitcase past him.

Ethan’s words caught in his throat, a strange, helpless expression crossing his face.

In the bathroom drawer, there was a tube of lipstick I had never used.

A bright red shade—Chloe's favorite color.

Right on cue, his phone rang. It was Chloe. "Ethan... I left my lipstick in your bathroom. I need it for our date tonight... Can you bring it to me?"

Ethan walked into the bathroom and saw the open drawer.

His eyes flickered with guilt, but he walked out and said into the phone, "I can't find it. I'll buy you a new one."

"Make sure it's quick... It's rude to be late for a date..."

Ethan patiently wrote down the shade number and brand.

By the time he hung up, my suitcase was locked.

He rubbed his neck awkwardly. "She came over last week to borrow the bathroom and change clothes... It was an accident."

"I understand," I said flatly.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Do you have to be so cold? If it bothers you that much, I won't go tonight."

I smiled slightly. "Do whatever you want."

He stared at me, trying to see if I was just playing hard to get. Realizing I genuinely didn't care, he hesitated before turning to leave.

At the door, he looked back. "Where are you taking that suitcase?"

"Paris."

Ethan seemed to remember something, and his tense posture relaxed. "Let's go next week. I'll clear my schedule and take you on a vacation."

At the very last second, he actually remembered our old promise to visit Paris together.

Too bad it was too late.

While waiting at the airport, I scrolled past Chloe's Instagram post—the one she had made sure I'd see.

In the photo, she was sitting at a vanity, and Ethan's hands were gently fastening a necklace around her neck. In the Live Photo, his voice was incredibly tender: "Don't move, the clasp is a bit small."

The caption read: [Hurt my arm so I can't put on my necklace, but he insisted on helping~ He said he'll take care of me from now on. 💖]

At the same time, a text from Ethan popped up: [Something came up next week. Reschedule your flight, I'll go with you next month.]

He had no idea I never booked a ticket for him in the first place.

BBefore boarding, I had my lawyer email him the digital copy of the divorce papers. Then, I turned off my phone.