Chapter 2

Two weeks later, I finally returned to New York from my family's estate in Boston.

"Ethan, you left Aria alone in Boston for half a month. Aren't you worried she'll be furious when she gets back?"

"Aria has always been understanding, Mom. Once she’s home, I’ll buy her some of those sweets she likes, say a few nice words, and she'll forget all about it. Besides, Clara’s health has been so fragile lately. She needed me more."

Ethan and his mother were chatting warmly in the living room.

They had no idea I was already standing just outside the double doors.

Looking back, I really used to be that easy to please.

Every time Ethan abandoned me for Clara, he would bring back a box of my favorite lemon madeleines, whisper some sweet apologies, and my heart would melt. I always forgave him.

I used to tell myself he was just loyal, just a good man looking out for an orphan.

I gave a quiet nod to my assistant, Chloe.

Chloe understood instantly. She raised her voice, "Ma'am, welcome back. Let me take your coat. Shall we go inside to greet Mrs. Vance?"

The conversation in the living room cut off instantly.

I walked in, my trench coat draped casually over my shoulders.

Seeing me, Ethan’s face instantly lit up with a warm, practiced smile. He stepped forward to take my hands.

"Aria! You should have called. I would have picked you up from JFK. Was the drive exhausting? I'll have the chef make your favorite dinner tonight."

His voice was so gentle, as if our screaming match from two weeks ago had never happened.

His mother waved me over warmly.

"Aria, come here, let me look at you. Two weeks in Boston and you look so thin! Ethan, I have some premium wellness supplements in the pantry. Have someone bring them to Aria's room later."

I quietly stepped aside, avoiding Ethan’s touch, and gave his mother a polite, distant nod.

"Thank you, Mrs. Vance. The drive was quite long and I think I'm coming down with a cold. I wouldn't want to pass it to you. I'll come visit properly once I'm feeling better."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked straight toward the west wing.

Behind me, I could hear their whispered voices.

"Is Aria still throwing a fit?"

"She’s just tired from the trip, Mom. You know Aria. She has the sweetest temper; she won't stay mad at me. Once she feels better, I'll have her come down and apologize to you, okay?"

Sitting at my vanity, I called Chloe in. My voice was calm and steady.

"Chloe, within the next three days, liquidate half of my real estate and investment portfolios. Transfer the other half directly to my sister Victoria's name. Also, have the maids prepare the guest suite down the hall. I’ll be sleeping there from now on."

"Yes, Mrs. Vance," Chloe replied quietly.

I opened my laptop and typed out an email to my older sister, Victoria.

Victoria had married into a powerful political dynasty in Washington D.C., and she held massive sway over our family’s assets.

In the email, I told her about my decision to divorce Ethan and move back to Boston permanently. I didn't want her to worry when she suddenly couldn't reach me in New York.

"Who are you emailing?"

Ethan pushed the door open, his brow furrowing slightly as he caught a glimpse of the screen before I shut the laptop.

"Just sorting out some family finances. Nothing you need to worry about," I said flatly.

Hearing me use such a formal, distant tone, Ethan finally seemed to realize something was off. "Aria, are you still angry about that day?"

"I know I shouldn't have left, but Clara’s heart flare-up was serious. If I hadn't called the private doctors immediately, she could have died."

In our three years of marriage, I had always called him by his pet names when we were alone. Now, he was just "you."

"You don't need to explain. I'm not angry."

"If you're not angry, why are the maids moving your things to the guest suite? Are you trying to sleep in separate rooms now?"

Ethan was still thoroughly convinced I was just playing hard to get.

In his mind, as long as he bowed his head first, I would eventually cave.

I didn't want to waste my breath.

Right then, Clara’s private nurse knocked on the door, looking for him.

I offered him a serene, empty smile. "I have a cough, Ethan. I don't want to keep you awake tonight. Since Clara needs you, you should go."

Ethan looked slightly guilty.

"I don't agree to the separate bedrooms. We’ll talk about this when I get back. Oh, and I know how much you missed the pastries from the bakery downtown while you were in Boston. I’ll bring some back for you!"

He rushed out.

I walked over to the window and watched his sports car roar out of the estate gates.

An hour later, the housekeeper came up to my room.

"Ma'am, Mr. Vance went to the bakery... but he bought a box of almond macarons. Miss Clara's favorite."

Once, Ethan remembered that I was violently allergic to almonds.

Every time he bought pastries, he would check the ingredients three times.

Now, his mind was so consumed by Clara that he only remembered what she liked.

I opened my drawer and pulled out the divorce papers I had drafted weeks ago.

Slowly, and with a steady hand, I signed my name at the bottom.

I still remembered when Ethan chased me all the way to Boston to propose. I had told him:

"If there ever comes a day when your heart changes, I will leave. And you won't try to stop me."

Ethan had sworn in front of my entire family that he would love me for the rest of his life.

I believed him then.

But hearts change.

It took me three years to finally accept that truth.

***

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