Chapter 3

The note was on the kitchen counter, short and to the point.

"Ethan, I can't do this anymore. I'm staying with Olivia."

Ethan read it, then crumpled it in his fist.

A ploy. That' s all it was. She was trying to get his attention, make him feel guilty.

He snorted. She' d be back. They always came back.

At the office, during a coffee break, he boasted to his colleagues.

"My wife's trying to pull a fast one," he said, leaning back in his chair, a confident grin on his face. "Packed a bag, went to her friend's. Thinks it'll make me sweat."

Tom, one of the junior analysts, looked impressed. "What are you gonna do, Ethan?"

"Do?" Ethan chuckled. "Nothing. Let her stew. She'll realize she can't live without me. It's all about control, gentlemen. Who has it."

Later that evening, he met Mark for a quick beer.

"Chloe left," Ethan said, matter-of-factly.

Mark' s eyebrows shot up. "Left? Like, left for good?"

"Nah," Ethan waved a dismissive hand. "Went to Olivia's. She's just being dramatic. She'll be back in a few days, tail between her legs."

Mark stared at him, his expression grim. "Ethan, you need to take this seriously. What did you do?"

"Nothing I haven't done before," Ethan said. "She just needs to remember who's in charge."

"This isn't about being in charge, Ethan," Mark said, his voice low. "This is about her being at her limit. You need to call her. Apologize."

Ethan scoffed. "Apologize? For what? For being a man? She knew what she was getting into."

He finished his beer. "She'll be back. They always come back."