Chapter 3

The night before his business trip.

I went back to his penthouse to pack his bags. For seven years, I had always packed for his trips. I was used to it, and so was he.

I took his shirts and suits from the closet, and organized his stomach medicine into a travel pillbox. I couldn't help but nag him: "Leo is going with you this time, so I'll stay behind. By the way, I finalized the details on the Dynatech contract. Tell Leo to bring the file tomorrow morning so you can sign it directly."

Ethan chuckled, wrapping his arms around me from behind. "My little manager. I'm realizing I really can't live without you."

I patted his hand, gently slipped away, and continued packing. Once everything was done, I took a soft breath.

"All set."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want to come? The hotel has a private hot spring. We can relax together after the meetings."

A hint of desire flickered in his dark, usually cold eyes.

I kept my eyes down and smiled. "No, thanks. Let Leo go."

I stepped forward to loosen his tie. Everything felt normal, yet everything had changed.

"What's wrong with you tonight?"

I looked up into his eyes. "Ethan, we've been together for seven years."

Ethan’s lips curved into a smirk. He patted his thigh, signaling me to sit.

I didn't move. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his lap.

"Are you mad because I forgot our anniversary?"

As soon as he spoke, I felt a cold touch on my collarbone. He had clasped a stunning, diamond-encrusted star necklace around my neck.

Ethan kissed my earlobe, his hands sliding down my hips. "Do you like it? I bought it at an auction in London last week. It looks great against your fair skin."

"So, can I touch you now?"

He pushed me down onto the sofa. At that moment, he probably thought a luxurious, expensive gift could buy my eternal devotion.

Love? He didn't have any, and in his eyes, I didn't need it anyway.

But he was wrong. I was done living a life where I felt like an afterthought.

"Ethan, let's break up."

Ethan frowned, his handsome brow furrowing. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

I turned and looked him dead in the eye. "I'm twenty-eight. I'm not young anymore. I want to go back home, find a nice man, and get married."

Ethan let go of me. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Through the swirling gray smoke, his face looked incredibly cold.

When he finished, he crushed the cigarette butt and stood up.

"Chloe, do you know what happens when you cross the line? I can let this little tantrum slide once, but never twice."

"I know."

Ethan gave me a mocking look. "Fine. If you want to break up, let's break up. Coincidentally, I'm getting engaged next month anyway."

I forced a smile. "Oh. Then let me congratulate you in advance."

His eyes were freezing cold. But I had made my choice, and I wouldn't look back. As he grabbed his coat and turned to leave, I called out to him.

Ethan looked back over his shoulder. "Chloe, if you take back what you said before I walk out that door, I'll pretend this never happened."

He thought I was just throwing a tantrum.

But I wasn't.

I carefully took off the diamond necklace and placed it in his palm.

"I won't be needing this. And don't worry, Mr. Sinclair. Once you walk out that door, I will never bother you again."

Ethan clenched his fist tightly. He didn't look back. Instead, he threw the necklace into the trash can and slammed the door behind him.

The moment he left, my composure crumbled. Tears streamed down my face.

It felt like a giant hole had been carved out of my chest. The pain was excruciating.

I knew that if I hadn't made a scene tonight, I could have kept living here. We could have kept this arrangement going...

Sweet, warm, but ultimately hollow.

Because Ethan was going to get married.

And I refused to be his mistress or destroy another woman's family.

It had to end.