Chapter 3

News of Sarah's meeting with David Chen trickled back to Ethan, but he dismissed it.

"A childish tantrum," he told one of his aides. "She'll come around. She always does."

He called Sarah, his tone condescending.

"Sarah, darling, I'm willing to forgive your little outburst in San Francisco. It's understandable, you're grieving. Do you want to see the baby pictures? He looks a bit like me, you know."

Sarah didn't respond. She simply unfollowed him on all her social media accounts. It was a small act, but it felt significant.

A few hours later, Tiffany Hayes went live on Instagram.

She was in a sun-drenched, luxurious room at the wellness retreat, looking radiant. Ethan was beside her, cooing at a tiny baby in a bassinet. He leaned in and kissed Tiffany's forehead.

The caption read: "My perfect family ❤️ #Blessed."

Comments flooded in.

"Congratulations, Tiffany! He's beautiful!"

"Wait, isn't Ethan Vance engaged to Sarah Miller?"

"OMG, the drama!"

"What a gorgeous baby! Ethan looks so happy."

Sarah saw the screenshots a friend sent her. Each image, each comment, was a fresh stab of pain and humiliation. Ethan, doting on Tiffany and their child, publicly. He'd never been that openly affectionate with her. He'd always said public displays were "tacky."

Her phone rang. It was Ethan again, his voice tight with annoyance.

"What's this about you unfollowing me? And people are asking questions online. You're making this difficult, Sarah."

"Difficult?" she managed, her voice cold.

"Yes, difficult! You need to stop this nonsense. People are talking."

"Let them talk, Ethan. We're finished."

"Finished?" He laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Don't be ridiculous. You need me. Your family's company needs the Vance connection, especially now. You'll come crawling back. You always do."

He hung up.

Sarah stared at her phone, anger warring with a deep, hollow ache. He really believed she was that weak, that dependent.