Chapter 4

"What?" Ethan' s voice was sharp, impatient. Music and laughter in the background. Jessica' s voice, cooing.

Sarah closed her eyes. "Ethan, it' s Sarah. About my father' s business deal..."

"Oh, that." He sounded bored. "Still crawling back, are we?"

Jessica giggled louder. "Is that her, darling? Tell her I said hi."

Ethan chuckled. "Jessica says hi."

Sarah' s blood ran cold. "Please, Ethan. The farm... my mother' s orchard... it' s important."

"Everything' s important to you when you want something, isn' t it?" he sneered. "Fine. I' ll consider it. But you have to do something for me."

A chill went down her spine. "What?"

"I have some... business documents. I need them delivered. To my hotel suite. Tonight."

He named a notoriously expensive, decadent hotel.

"You' ll bring them. Personally."

He paused, letting the implication hang. "Jessica will be here. It' s a test, Sarah. To see how... compliant you can be."

Her mother' s orchard. The scent of apples. Her last connection.

"I' ll do it," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

"Good girl," Ethan purred. "See you tonight." He hung up.

She remembered their wedding day. His vows. "To love, honor, and cherish." All lies.

She had believed him, once. So desperately.

Now, that belief was shattered, like glass on a stone floor.

That evening, she stood outside his hotel suite. The documents, a thick manila envelope, felt like lead in her hands.

She could hear them inside. Jessica' s voice, softer now.

"Ethan, darling... what about us? About... a baby?"

A pause. Then Ethan' s noncommittal voice. "If it happens, it happens."

Sarah' s heart twisted. He' d always told her he wasn' t ready for children. With her.

She knocked.

The door opened. Ethan, shirtless, a smirk playing on his lips. Jessica visible behind him, lounging on the bed in lingerie.

"Ah, Sarah. Punctual." He took the envelope. "You passed the test."

He looked her up and down, a possessive, contemptuous gaze.

"So, about that open marriage..."

Sarah met his eyes, her own now numb, empty.

"I agree," she said.

She turned and walked away, his surprised silence following her down the hall.