Chapter 2

I reached into my purse and pulled out the papers.

"I'm not being ridiculous, Ethan, I'm being serious."

I placed the divorce documents on his polished mahogany desk.

"Sign them."

My voice was steady, much steadier than I felt.

Ethan stared at the papers, then at me, his face contorting.

"You think you can just walk away? After everything? After I built this company from nothing, while you played piano? You're trying to blackmail me, aren't you? Ruin me right when Sterling is watching?"

He was trying to make it my fault, his voice rising.

Blackmail, he always twisted things, he built nothing alone, I was there, my inheritance funded his start, my support kept him going, but he' d rewritten that history long ago. His anger didn't touch the core of my resolve, it was just noise now.

He scoffed, trying a different tactic.

"Look, Ava, be reasonable, go to Sterling, charm him like you charmed me once, when this is over, we can talk, maybe you can have a bigger allowance, redecorate the house."

He actually thought that would work, that I was still the naive girl he married.

"Charm him?" I laughed, a short, bitter sound.

"Ethan, you are disgusting, there's nothing left to talk about, sign the papers."

My contempt was clear in my voice, my gaze unwavering.

Maria, who had lingered by the door, stepped forward, her hands twisting in her apron.

"Mr. Hayes, please! Mrs. Miller... she gave up her music for you, for this company, she played at those awful investor dinners, smiled until her face ached, and Miss Chloe..."

Maria' s voice trembled with indignation, "She' s been nothing but trouble."

I put a hand on Maria's arm.

"It's alright, Maria."

My fight wasn't with her, my path was set, this new reality, as grim as it was, was one I had to walk, Ethan and Chloe were just part of the landscape I had to navigate.

Chloe, who had been watching with a smirk, stepped forward.

"Oh, Ava, still so dramatic."

She picked up a crystal glass of water from a nearby table.

"You look a little pale, maybe you should have some water before your big trip."

She "tripped," sending the icy water splashing down the front of my dress, soaking me.

"Oops," she said, not sounding sorry at all.

"Clumsy me, I hope your little... problem... doesn't get worse at The Sanctuary."

Her eyes flicked to my stomach.

The cold shock, the deliberate insult, it snapped something in me, my hand moved before I thought, connecting with her cheek in a sharp slap.

"Keep your hands and your pity to yourself, Chloe."

The sound echoed in the large room.

Chloe gasped, her hand flying to her cheek, then, her eyes darted to Ethan, and she crumpled to the floor, letting out a theatrical wail.

"Ethan! She hit me! My stomach... oh god, the baby!"

She clutched her belly, tears instantly welling in her eyes, a perfect performance.

Ethan rushed to Chloe's side, his face a mask of fury directed at me.

"You bitch!" he snarled, grabbing my arm, his fingers digging in painfully.

"How dare you! I wish Sterling would lock you up and throw away the key!"

He shoved me hard, and I stumbled back.