Chapter 4
Instinctively, I looked up–toward the man standing at the top of the stairs.
Ethan Carter looked thinner.
The fullness of youth had faded. His skin clung tighter to bone, etching out sharp, aristocratic lines beneath the lean.
He stared at me for a long time before lowering his gaze.
Then came a faint smile as he stepped closer.
He crouched halfway and gently pried Chloe’s arms off my leg.
He didn’t dare use force.
The second he loosened her grip, she latched right back on–like a tiny octopus,
“Chloe,” Ethan said, his voice firm
“Be good. Don’t bother the lady.”
Chloe blinked.
Then looked at me again and said, loud and clear, “Mommy.”
Micah practically choked on air.
Eyes wide, he clutched his chest like he’d just seen a ghost. “Jesus. Ethan, your kid’s terrifying. I seriously thought I’d made your wife work under me for three years ”
A few awkward laughs rippled around the room.
Ethan glanced at the gift box in my hand.
“Miss Hart,” he said, stopping me
“She clearly likes you. Could you take the gift and keep her company for a while?”
I looked at Micah
He shrugged. “Go ahead
I sighed inwardly and picked the gift back up, falling in step beside Ethan.
The hallway was quiet,
Sunlight filtered through segmented windows, dust in the air catching light like tiny flecks of crystal.
Chloe rested on Ethan’s shoulder, staring at sne without blinking.
“You’re resigning?” Ethan asked.
“1 am,” I replied.
“Voluntary resignation comes with no severance.”
“I know.”
“After all these years clawing your way up, you’re really throwing it all away over a bruised ego?” “It’s not that.”
He stopped. Turned to look at me.
His forearm flexed slightly as he adjusted Chloe’s weight, muscles taut beneath the dress shirt.
chapter 4
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why quit–if it’s not to avoid my family?” “Then why quit
“The job isn’t too busy, but I’m on call all the time. I want more time for… my own life.”
He clenched his hand.
Knuckles shifted. A subtle twitch.
“I see. Personal things.”
He echoed my words, unreadable, then kept walking.
“You seeing someone?”
“Tam.
“Bring him around. Let me vet him.”
“No need,” I said with a smile. “He’s too normal for your taste.”
He arched a brow. “But he was good enough for you?”
“Well, you never told mey
e you were heir to the Carter family either, back when we were together.”
That shut him up.
The corridor turned a few comers.
He knelt to set Chloe down, pointing toward a playroom.
“Daddy’s got things to do. Go play on your own for a bit.”
Chloe picked up her toy box and shuffled off, glancing back with every step.
Silence returned.
The air had cooled with autumn, but the sunlight was soft and pleasant
Ethan leaned against the window, fishing a cigarette from his pocket.
He patted himself down for a lighter, frustration creeping onto his brow.
I stepped forward, flicked mine open, and shielded the flame with my hand,
He froze for a second under the rising smoke.
When did you start smoking?”
“I don’t,” I said. “Micah’s always losing his lighters. I carry one for backup.”
I stepped back, putting three feet of distance between us.
“Olivia,” he said suddenly.
“I always wondered why you left so decisively. Was it really just because I lied about
my background?”
There were plenty of reasons.
Seeing him in that store with another woman? That was just the spark.
What really crushed me.. was realizing he might never have cared at all
On our second anniversary, I scraped together $500 to buy him a silk tie. It took me ages to choose.
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A custom suit was out of budget, watches too cheap, belts too generic. I thought hard–what could he actually use?
He wore suits often. A good tie would go a long way.
So I bit the bullet and bought it.
I wrapped it with care and gave it to him.
He said he loved it.
That same night, he used it to tie my wrists to the bed–firm, but gentle.
After that, I never saw it again.
The box and ribbon sat collecting dust on the bar cart.
He went back to wearing his own ties.
1 convinced myself–maybe he hadn’t had any formal events. Maybe it wasn’t personal
But honestly?
It would’ve been better if he’d just been broke
When I found out how rich he really was, I almost felt relieved.
So that was it he thought my gift was beneath him.
And here I’d been, worrying that my taste didn’t match his.
With that kind of wealth, wearing a cheap tie to a formal event would probably get people wondering if he’d gone bankrupt.
Still, he could’ve at least pretended. Even a lie would’ve been kinder.
But no–not a word. And that hurt.
And that night I was nearly robbed?
If it had been him in my shoes, I’d have offered money, told him to move somewhere safer.
Even if I didn’t have much, I’d have helped.
But he didn’t
Not a single word about it. Just told me, “It won’t happen again..
But how could he be sure?
I could’ve forgiven it–if he’d been poor. If he’d genuinely had nothing to give.
But he wasn’t. He had everything.
He could drop six fig
figures on a purse for some girl in a boutique-
but he couldn’t spare a dime for me.
What was I supposed to think?
I’d spent two years with him and never once felt like I’d earned even a sliver of his heart.
Ethan ground the cigarette into the windowsill.
The more I spoke, the colder his expression became,
So, what you’re saying is because I didn’t wear your expensive tie, or offer to move you into a better place, you think I was too cheap with you. That I didn’t care enough.”
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Tasked, “You really hate it when I bring up money, don’t you?”
He scoffed. “Who wouldn’t?”
“I’m not rich, Ethan. For people like me, money is how we say ‘I care.”
“And I have more than enough. So whoever I spend it on, that’s who I love?”
just wasn’t worth it to
I said quietly, “With your wealth, giving money might not mean love. But if you don’t give then maybe she just w begin with.”
The sneer froze on his lips.
He stared at me for a few seconds, throat bobbing
“I never thought of it that way.‘
“It doesn’t matter.” I shook my head. “It’s not important anymore.”
I nodded and turned to walk away
He caught my wrist–hard
His grip hurt a little. His breath came heavier.
He opened his mouth once. Twice. Nothing came o
out.
Finally, he said, hoarse, “Stay. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.
“I just want someone who fits,” I said softly.
Chloe stood silently in the doorway, hugging her doll, watching.
I gently pried Ethan’s hand off.
“Don’t let her watch us like this.”
He froze mid–air
Knuckles tight, veins drawn
He let me go.
Chloe tugged at his pants leg.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Was that Mommy?”
“Yes,”
“All the other kids‘ moms bug them. Why doesn’t mine…?”
She trailed off, struggling to find the words.
Ethan crouched beside her and smoothed down her braids.
“Because your mom has her own reasons. When there are other people around, just call her Miss Olivia, alright?”
Okay.”
