Chapter 3

Claire’s POV

For the next few days, I stayed at my parents’ house and refused to go out.

Dad had already requested expedited processing for my New Zealand paperwork. Since our family owned businesses there, everything was moving smoothly. It could all be ready in as little as a week.

Ethan never contacted me. He was probably too busy with the love he had finally gotten back to remember that a “personal assistant” named Claire had missed his matchmaking dinner.

Not until the evening of the third day did Dad hang up a call, his face dark with anger. He looked at me on the couch, reading materials about art curation, and hesitated.

“What is it, Dad?” I looked up.

He snorted. “Ethan. His family is having dinner tonight, and he specifically demanded you come. I refused for you. That bastard threatened me with our joint project! He says he’ll shut it down if you don’t show up.”

My fingers stopped on the page. The edge of the paper sliced my fingertip, leaving a thin red line.

That was Ethan. He was used to controlling everything about me. He didn’t care why I had disappeared for three days. He just didn’t like that the dog who had always come when called was suddenly disobeying him. He knew my family mattered most to me, so he had found exactly where to press.

“I’ll go.” I closed the book and stood, my expression perfectly still. “Don’t worry about the project, Dad. I’ll be back soon.”

Dad looked at me with aching helplessness.

An hour later, I stood outside the Sterling estate. I had walked through this door countless times. It was as familiar as my own home. But when I stepped inside and went to change my shoes, I froze.

The pink bunny slippers I had worn for three years were gone.

Instinctively, I looked around. My eyes landed on the translucent trash can beside the entrance.

My bunny slippers. My coffee mug. The spare towel I sometimes kept here. They had all been tossed in with scraps of paper and fruit peels, discarded like garbage.

It felt as though an invisible hand had closed around my heart, squeezing so hard I could barely breathe.

Three years of traces I had left in this house had been ruthlessly erased the moment Olivia came back.

“Why are you standing there? Come in.” Ethan’s voice came from the living room.

I took a deep breath, swallowed the tightness in my throat, and walked barefoot across the cold marble floor.

Ethan sat on the couch in a perfectly tailored designer suit, his hair impeccably styled.

His head was lowered as he carefully held a bowl of soup, blowing on it before handing it to the woman beside him.

She wore a white silk dress, her long hair loose over her shoulders. Soft and delicate. Olivia Hayes.

“Careful, Ethan. It’s hot.” She smiled gently. As she took the bowl, her fingers brushed the back of his hand as if by accident. He didn’t pull away. Instead, he caught her hand, his eyes holding a tenderness I had never seen.

Hearing my footsteps, Ethan looked up. His brow immediately furrowed. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? Have you forgotten your manners?”

“I couldn’t find my slippers,” I said evenly.

“Oh!” Olivia covered her mouth as though startled and stood, her face full of apology. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Bennett. I didn’t know those things were yours. It’s my first time here, and Ethan said they were old things nobody used. He told me to throw them all away… I’m terribly sorry. I’ll replace them when I get a chance.”

Old things nobody used.

I looked at her innocent face, then at Ethan.

He didn’t deny it. He just tugged impatiently at his tie. “It was a few pieces of junk. What’s the big deal? Have someone bring you disposable slippers.”

I stood there as the chill beneath my feet spread straight to my heart.

I didn’t take the slippers a housekeeper offered. I walked to the armchair farthest from them and sat down.

Just then, Victoria Sterling came downstairs. She had always liked me, thought I was sweet and considerate. Seeing me, she immediately approached with a smile. “Claire, you’re here! It’s been days. Have you lost weight?”

She glanced at Olivia on the couch, then at Ethan, and ventured, “Ethan, you and Claire aren’t children anymore. She’s a wonderful girl. When are you two going to…”

“Mom.” His face hardened as he cut her off without hesitation. There was a warning in his voice. “Don’t start. Claire and I are strictly friends. We grew up together, that’s all. Don’t give Olivia the wrong idea.”

Strictly friends. Good friends.

Watching him scramble to distance himself from me in a room overflowing with affection for his first love made me sick.

Olivia covered her lips with a soft laugh, triumph flashing in her eyes.

“Mrs. Sterling.” My voice was quiet but clear, and the room fell silent.

I met Victoria’s startled eyes. A mocking smile touched my lips as I spoke each word distinctly.

“Don’t worry. Your son and I really are just friends. I could end up with anyone. But never Ethan Sterling.”

Ethan’s hand froze around his teacup. He snapped his head up and stared at me, something dark and furious churning in his eyes.

I met his gaze without flinching. Then I pulled my hand out of Victoria’s grasp and moved farther away.