Chapter 2

I stopped what I was doing and straightened up to look at him.

"When you abandoned me for Mia, did you think about my dignity?"

A flash of guilt crossed Ethan's eyes, and his tone softened.

"Vivian, I explained it to you. Mia's situation was sudden—I couldn't just let her die."

"You're usually so kind. Why are you being so petty about Mia?"

My gaze fell on the collar of his shirt.

There, clear as day, was a lipstick mark.

The exact same shade as the one Mia was wearing in her Snapchat photo.

Ethan followed my gaze and looked down. His expression changed, and he instinctively covered his collar with his hand.

"Mia was in so much pain she couldn't stand. She accidentally smudged it. Don't overthink this."

"Vivian, after all these years together, won't you even give me this much trust?"

I zipped up my suitcase and dragged it toward the door.

Ethan blocked the doorway, his eyes reddening.

"Vivian, I was wrong, okay?"

"We can have another wedding. Stop making a scene."

I ignored him.

Ethan panicked and grabbed my wrist.

"I won't let you leave! If you walk out that door today, don't expect me to ever coax you back!"

"The wedding is already canceled. Starting today, we have nothing to do with each other."

I pulled my suitcase and walked out the door without looking back.

A few days later, I bought a villa.

Just as I finished settling in, my assistant called.

"Miss Sterling, there's an urgent document for a core company project that needs your signature."

I agreed and drove to Hayes Corporation.

This branch was a company I established to help Ethan start his business.

I pushed open the general manager's office door.

Mia was sitting in my office chair.

She was holding a pink notebook, reading it with great interest.

I froze. That was my diary.

I strode over and snatched the diary back.

"Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

Mia jumped in fright, looking aggrieved.

"Vivian, don't be so mean."

"I was just looking around. How was I supposed to know you kept your diary in an unlocked drawer?"

At that moment, Ethan walked in from outside carrying two cups of coffee.

Seeing me, he froze for a moment, then frowned.

"Vivian, what are you getting upset about now? Mia's still not feeling well. Don't scare her."

I laughed coldly.

"She went through my diary without permission, and instead of stopping her, you blame me?"

Ethan was dismissive.

"You didn't lock your diary properly. Mia didn't do it on purpose."

"Besides, it's not like there's anything shameful in your diary."

Mia chimed in from the side.

"Exactly, Vivian. And those love letters you wrote in your diary are so corny."

She cleared her throat and recited in a mocking tone.

"'Today Ethan drove twenty miles to buy me cake from the north side of town.'"

"'I feel like the happiest woman in the world. I must stay with Ethan forever.'"

She covered her mouth and laughed.

"Vivian, you always seem so cold and aloof, but I never knew you were such a desperate simp in private."

"Actually, that cake was bought for me. I didn't want to eat it, so he brought it back to you."

"You actually treasured it enough to write about it in your diary. Hilarious."

Humiliation flooded through me instantly.

Those feelings I once cherished were now being trampled under their feet.