Chapter 2

By the time I woke up, the sterile smell of the hospital greeted me once again.

The young nurse standing by my bed sighed softly, pity in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. The baby is gone."

I saw the sadness in her eyes, but strangely, I felt nothing. My heart had gone completely numb.

Shortly after the nurse left, my phone rang. It was Ethan’s assistant, Luke.

When I answered, Luke's cold, professional voice came through. "Mrs. Vance, regarding your downtown apartment... Mr. Vance has instructed me to begin the property division process. According to the law—"

He went on and on with legal jargon, but the message was clear: *Ethan was going to sue me for my parents' apartment.*

I never thought the man who once swore to protect me would go to court against me for a mistress.

I didn't argue. "Come to my ward, Luke."

When Luke arrived, he looked extremely uncomfortable. I didn't waste time and handed him a document. "I know you're just doing your job, Luke. Tell Ethan I agree to everything. He just needs to sign this."

Luke looked down at the paper, his eyes widening in shock. "Mrs. Vance... this is... a divorce petition?"

"You've seen the news, Luke. Everyone online thinks I'm the villain who ruined Ethan and Chloe's true love. He wants to take my parents' apartment. If he really loved me, would he do this?"

Luke remained silent.

"Tell him if he signs this, he can have whatever he wants. Even the apartment."

Luke stared at me for a long time before taking the papers.

Before he left, I whispered, "If you're worried he won't sign it, give it to Chloe. She will find a way to make him put his pen to paper."

Luke looked at me, a complicated expression on his face. "Are you really letting him go, Stella?"

I didn't answer.

Did I still love him? I didn't even know anymore.

But too much had happened. Long before Chloe returned, Ethan had already changed. He stayed out all night. He forgot our anniversary.

He used to tell me, *“I hate perfume. I only want to smell your natural scent.”* But lately, he always came home smelling of heavy jasmine—Chloe’s favorite scent.

When I questioned him, he just said I was being paranoid.

The signs were always there. My heart had just died in slow motion.

An hour later, Luke returned with the divorce papers. Ethan’s signature was sharp and clear at the bottom.

I checked myself out of the hospital immediately.