Ethan's POVAs soon as I stepped into the office, the air shifted—less personal, more business. That was exactly what I needed. Work had always been my escape, my anchor, and today was no different.I strode through the sleek, glass-paneled halls, nodding at a few employees who greeted me as I passed. Their voices were distant, background noise to the thoughts I was trying to keep at bay. I didn’t need distractions. I needed focus."Good morning, Mr. Carter," Christina, my secretary, greeted me as I stepped into my office. She was standing near my desk, a tablet in her hands, already prepared with today’s schedule. Always efficient."Morning," I replied, setting my briefcase down. "What do we have today?""You have a meeting with Tech Lexis at ten. They’re finalizing the software integration deal, and they’ve made some modifications to the contract. Legal has already reviewed the changes, but they’ll need your final approval before we move forward," she informed me, scrolling through
Ethan’s POVAs soon as the Tech Lexis team left, I let out a slow breath, leaning back in my chair. The meeting had gone as well as it could have. We had secured a reasonable compromise, minimized risks, and ensured that our interests were protected. It was a win, but there was no time to sit back and relax.Business never slowed down, and neither could I.Christina was already flipping through her tablet, preparing for the next set of tasks. “Alright,” she said, tapping the screen. “Next on the agenda—reviewing the quarterly budget allocation. Finance needs your final sign-off before the numbers are locked in.”I nodded and reached for the thick report sitting on my desk. Flipping through the pages, I scanned the key figures, noting the increased expenditure on infrastructure upgrades. “IT expenses are higher than projected,” I murmured, running a finger down the spreadsheet.Christina leaned in slightly, adjusting her glasses. “Yeah, we upgraded our internal security systems and clo
Ethan's POVThe second I saw her, my body tensed. Shit.I turned away immediately, keeping my head low as I swiftly walked in the opposite direction. I couldn’t afford for Elena to see me. Not here. Not now. I wasn’t in the mood for another conversation, another round of her acting like she needed “space” while she was out here doing whatever the hell she wanted.It was a miracle she hadn’t noticed me. Maybe she was too distracted, or maybe she just wasn’t paying attention. Either way, I wasn’t about to stick around and find out.I took a deep breath as I moved toward the dairy section. Since I was already here, I might as well get milk too. I didn’t trust the maids to pick the right brand—just like my coffee, they always managed to bring back something else.Just as I reached for a carton, a voice cut through the low hum of shoppers.A voice I’d recognize anywhere.“Elena, what’s up?”I froze, my grip tightening around the milk. My entire body went rigid, and a cold wave of disbelief
Elena's Pov:The air in the courtroom felt thick with tension, suffocating in its weight. I sat at the wooden table, gripping its edge like it might anchor me to something solid. My fingers dug into the wood, my nails leaving faint marks. Beside me, Ethan sat like a statue, stone-faced and distant. Once, his presence had been my comfort, but now it felt almost foreign, a weight I couldn’t bear. Our marriage was crumbling before my eyes, splintered by his betrayal.The judge’s voice cut through the silence like a blade, her words final and unyielding. “The divorce is hereby finalized. Both parties are free to go their separate ways.”Separate ways. The words echoed in my mind as a cold fog of finality settled over me. I should have felt relieved, freed from the agony of a broken marriage, but all I could feel was the gnawing ache in my chest. Betrayed. Broken. For years, I had given Ethan everything—my heart, my trust, my soul. And he had destroyed it all with his infidelity.The room
Elena's Pov:It started as a faint whisper in the back of my mind.At first, I told myself it was just stress. The divorce, the sleepless nights, the endless arguments playing on repeat in my head—it all had to be taking a toll on my body. I wasn’t eating well. I wasn’t sleeping well. It made sense.But the symptoms grew louder. Morning dizziness, constant fatigue, the way my stomach churned at the smell of coffee—a smell I used to love. Every time I brushed it off, another wave of unease would hit me, each one harder to ignore.“Stress doesn’t make you nauseous, Elena,” Mia said, her voice laced with exasperation as she leaned against my kitchen counter. She had her arms crossed, her eyebrows raised like she was scolding a child. “And you can’t just pretend your period isn’t two weeks late.”I sighed, trying to focus on the mug in my hands. The tea had gone cold. “I’m sure it’s nothing, Mia. I’ve been under a lot of pressure.”I hope I'm right. Definitely pressure, pressure from work
Ethan's Pov :The office had never felt so suffocating. The pristine walls, the perfectly arranged furniture, even the quiet hum of the air conditioner grated on my nerves. I stared at my laptop screen, the numbers from the quarterly report blurring into a meaningless mess.Work was supposed to be my refuge, the one place where I could lose myself and forget about the disaster my personal life had become. But today, even that wasn’t working.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair, and exhaled slowly. I’d been in a funk for weeks now—ever since the divorce was finalized. It was official. Elena was no longer my wife. The realization hit me like a punch every time I thought about it.She was gone.And I had no one to blame but myself. I stare at the picture of our wedding reception. Her smile was perfect. Everything with her was perfect until I ruined it. I broke her trust. Fuck. What the hell is wrong with me?! I could still see her in that courtroom, her eyes dist
Elena's Pov:The soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of my apartment, but it did little to chase away the fog in my head. I sat at the kitchen table, cradling a mug of tea that had long since gone cold. The pregnancy test sat in the trash can, the two unmistakable lines burned into my memory.Pregnant.The word echoed in my mind, bringing with it an overwhelming mix of emotions. Excitement. Fear. Regret.I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I landed on Daniel’s name. His smile stared back at me from the photo, a snapshot of happier times. Daniel had always been my rock, the steady force in my otherwise chaotic life. He deserved to know, but telling him wouldn’t be easy.I pressed the call button, my heart pounding as the phone rang.“Come on, Daniel,” I whispered under my breath.The call went to voicemail.I tried again, but the result was the same. I set the phone down with a sigh, leaning back in my chair. Of course he’d be busy. His job ha
Elena's Pov:The sound of Daniel’s knock echoed through the quiet house, sharp and punctual. I rushed to the door, my heart pounding. Seeing him standing there, his usual composed expression softening when our eyes met, brought a flicker of relief.“Elena,” he greeted, stepping inside as I held the door open. “Sorry for the delay. My flight was delayed, and—”“It’s fine,” I interrupted, closing the door behind him. “Thank you for coming.”Daniel glanced around the living room, his gaze lingering on the stack of unopened mail and half-packed boxes. “Are you moving?”“No,” I said quickly. “Just… reorganizing.”He gave me a small nod, his attention shifting back to me. “So, what’s going on? You sounded urgent on the phone.”I hesitated, my hand instinctively brushing over my stomach. The words felt heavy in my throat, tangled with nerves and uncertainty.“I’m pregnant,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.Daniel’s brow furrowed, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then
Ethan's POVThe second I saw her, my body tensed. Shit.I turned away immediately, keeping my head low as I swiftly walked in the opposite direction. I couldn’t afford for Elena to see me. Not here. Not now. I wasn’t in the mood for another conversation, another round of her acting like she needed “space” while she was out here doing whatever the hell she wanted.It was a miracle she hadn’t noticed me. Maybe she was too distracted, or maybe she just wasn’t paying attention. Either way, I wasn’t about to stick around and find out.I took a deep breath as I moved toward the dairy section. Since I was already here, I might as well get milk too. I didn’t trust the maids to pick the right brand—just like my coffee, they always managed to bring back something else.Just as I reached for a carton, a voice cut through the low hum of shoppers.A voice I’d recognize anywhere.“Elena, what’s up?”I froze, my grip tightening around the milk. My entire body went rigid, and a cold wave of disbelief
Ethan’s POVAs soon as the Tech Lexis team left, I let out a slow breath, leaning back in my chair. The meeting had gone as well as it could have. We had secured a reasonable compromise, minimized risks, and ensured that our interests were protected. It was a win, but there was no time to sit back and relax.Business never slowed down, and neither could I.Christina was already flipping through her tablet, preparing for the next set of tasks. “Alright,” she said, tapping the screen. “Next on the agenda—reviewing the quarterly budget allocation. Finance needs your final sign-off before the numbers are locked in.”I nodded and reached for the thick report sitting on my desk. Flipping through the pages, I scanned the key figures, noting the increased expenditure on infrastructure upgrades. “IT expenses are higher than projected,” I murmured, running a finger down the spreadsheet.Christina leaned in slightly, adjusting her glasses. “Yeah, we upgraded our internal security systems and clo
Ethan's POVAs soon as I stepped into the office, the air shifted—less personal, more business. That was exactly what I needed. Work had always been my escape, my anchor, and today was no different.I strode through the sleek, glass-paneled halls, nodding at a few employees who greeted me as I passed. Their voices were distant, background noise to the thoughts I was trying to keep at bay. I didn’t need distractions. I needed focus."Good morning, Mr. Carter," Christina, my secretary, greeted me as I stepped into my office. She was standing near my desk, a tablet in her hands, already prepared with today’s schedule. Always efficient."Morning," I replied, setting my briefcase down. "What do we have today?""You have a meeting with Tech Lexis at ten. They’re finalizing the software integration deal, and they’ve made some modifications to the contract. Legal has already reviewed the changes, but they’ll need your final approval before we move forward," she informed me, scrolling through
Ethan's POVEverything felt numb.I sat there, staring at nothing, my mind an endless loop of questions that had no answers. How? When? Why? It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t make sense. One moment, I thought I had something real with Elena, and the next… this. The lies, the betrayal, the realization that I had been nothing more than a fool in some twisted game I never signed up for.I should be angry. Furious. I should be storming over to her place, demanding answers, making her look me in the eye and tell me why she did this. But what would that change? What difference would it make to hear her lie again?Because that’s all she ever did. Lie.A slow exhale left my lips, my shoulders slumping under the weight of it all.Victoria, who had been yabbing non-stop, finally sighed and softened her tone. "Okay, Ethan, that’s enough for tonight."I didn’t respond. I didn’t even move. My body felt too heavy, my thoughts too tangled.She must have noticed, because she reached out, her fingers
Ethan’s POVI never thought heartbreak would feel like this.Like a hollow ache settling deep in my chest, stretching its fingers into every part of me. Like my whole world had shifted under my feet, leaving me standing on nothing.Elena had been lying to me. Not just once. Not just a slip-up or a mistake, but for who knows how long. Every word, every touch, every promise—I had believed it all, swallowed it whole like a fool. And the worst part? I hadn’t even seen it coming.Daniel.The name alone made my hands clenched into fists. Of all people, it had to be him. Well I never trusted him with her so… but he was someone I never really saw as a threat. She loved him. Maybe she always had, and I had just been the convenient distraction, the placeholder until she could have what she truly wanted.I exhaled shakily, running a hand down my face. I should be angry. I should want to scream, break something, do anything but sit here drowning in my own thoughts. But I couldn’t. The anger was t
Ethan's POVVictoria lets out a bitter laugh, shaking her head as she glares at me. “It’s Elena, isn’t it?”I chuckle dryly, leaning back against the bed. “Yeah, right.”She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “I knew it. It shows all over your stupid face.”My jaw tightens. “Why are you insulting me? It’s not my fault.”“It is your fault,” she snaps, turning to fully face me now, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Because you’re stupid, Ethan. You’re blind. And you’re being played.”My brows furrow. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”Victoria laughs again, but there’s no humor in it. Just frustration, just anger, just something that looks a little too much like hurt.“After everything I’ve done,” she mutters under her breath, shaking her head. “This is what I get.”I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. “Victoria, what are you even talking about?”She lifts her gaze to me then, and there’s something sharp in her eyes, something unreadable. “Don’t you see?” she demands. “Can’t you
Ethan's POVVictoria’s voice is barely a murmur in the dimly lit room. "I have something to tell you," she says, her fingers tracing light patterns against my chest.I sigh, my exhaustion weighing me down like a boulder. "What is it?" I ask, my voice flat, void of interest.She doesn’t answer—not with words.Instead, she leans in, closing the small space between us.And then she kisses me.Soft. Slow. Deliberate.For a split second, my mind blanks out. My body freezes, my breath caught in my throat. I don’t react, don’t move—don’t even process what’s happening.Because I don’t know how.Every defense mechanism I should have—every instinct to pull away, to push her off—is completely off-key. Dead. Silent.I just sit there, numb, lost in the sheer sensation of it.When was the last time I was kissed?Really kissed?Not a quick brush of lips. Not something shallow or distant.Elena.The answer slams into my chest harder than I expect.Elena was the last person I kissed. But Elena wasn’t
Ethan's POVI barely get ten minutes of peace. Just as I’m on the edge of sleep, drifting into much-needed rest, I hear the door press open. A slow, quiet creak that instantly pulls me from my exhaustion.My eyes snap open, and I already know who it is before I even turn my head.Victoria.Gawddddd. Did they send this girl to me?I groan, dragging a hand down my face in sheer frustration. "What now, Victoria?" I mutter, my voice hoarse with exhaustion. "What do you want?"And then I see it.The towel.The white towel loosely wrapped around her body, her damp skin glowing slightly under the warm bedroom light. Her long, wet hair falls over one shoulder, and she’s standing there like she owns the damn place.I exhale sharply, wishing—wishing—I had locked the damn door.I sit up, rubbing my temples as I glare at her. "Victoria, what the hell are you doing?" I ask, my tone dripping with annoyance. "And why the hell are you dressed like this in my house?"She tilts her head, completely unf
Ethan's POV Victoria leans back into the couch like she owns the place, a smug smile playing on her lips as she crosses her legs. "Last time I checked, I can visit whenever I want."I shut the door behind me, letting out a low breath as I loosen my tie. "Last time I checked, we're not dating, married, or soulmates, so no, you can't just come whenever you want," I shoot back, my tone clipped. "We broke up, remember? Your access to all those sacrosancts is limited now."She laughs, soft and mocking, tilting her head as she looks at me like I’m some child throwing a tantrum. "Oh, Ethan, don’t be so tough on yourself, baby," she purrs, standing up and sauntering toward me like she hasn’t just crossed multiple boundaries. "You look tense. Looks like you had a stressful day, anyway." She tilts her head slightly. "How was work?"I hiss under my breath, already tired of this game. "Cut to the chase, Victoria. What do you want?" I throw my keys onto the console table by the door, shrugging of