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“Talk.” His impatience cut through the phone line.
I swallowed hard. “I've moved out.”
“Who gave you the permission to leave?”
I flinched at his tone.
“With Evelyn back... it felt every thing was inappropriate in the house, including me.”
He let out a long sigh. His voice softened.
“Liv. Come home now.”
His voice.
Low and persuasive.
I know.
It was the one, when he was determined to get his way.
My resolve wavered.
Ethan… we're getting divorced.”
He snapped.
“We're not divorced yet! You are not leaving the house!”
I was scared by his voice, my voice cracked. “Don't yell at me! I'm the one being replaced here! Why are you mad?”
Tears spilled over. Sobs wracked my body.
I heard rustling sounds on his end.
“Where are you? I'm coming over.”
Twenty minutes later.
He stood at my hotel door. Saw my puffy eyes. Pulled me into his arms.
I didn't go back to our house.
He stayed with me at the hotel.
He didn't mention Evelyn. He just seemed to want this one last night. Just him and me.
I watched him falls sleep, my fingers gently tracing his hair. I whispered, “Baby, this might be the closest you get to Daddy. Remember him.”
The next day, at the Grant family estate.
His parents agreed to the divorce.
But his grandfather refused.
“Over my dead body!” He whacked Ethan's leg sharply with his cane.
I winced seeing that.
Ethan didn't even flinch by the hit.
Later that day, he's gonna drive me back to the hotel.
Outside, Ethan didn't start the car immediately.
He rolled down the window.
Pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
The red ember glowed in the dim light.
Smoke curled around him, blurring his sharp features.
Ethan rarely smoked. Only when he was under extreme pressure.
I clutched my purse tightly. “Ethan, we don't have to tell your grandfather right away.”
He paused and looked directly at me.
“If we don't tell him, he'll never have to know.”
He stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette. “Liv, you're that eager to divorce?”
I froze, guilt washing over me. “Not that eager.”
I was just terrified he'd discover the truth about the baby.
He sighed heavily. "We'll discuss that later."
We entered the house, again, I need to grab some of my cloth left in the apartment.
As we stepped out of the elevator, Evelyn was already there.
She immediately slid her arm through his, completely ignoring me.
“Ethan! I've been waiting for you!”
I took a step back.
Ethan pulled his arm away slightly. “Sorry, Ev, I come back late.”
They walked into our house, the space used to belong to me and ethan.
Leaving me standing outside, feeling like a stranger.
