Chapter 3

The next morning, I was in the kitchen, making coffee, when the doorbell rang.

It was early, too early for visitors.

I opened it to find Ethan Vance standing there, holding a bag from a fancy bakery and a tray of coffees.

He grinned, all charm and teeth. "Morning, Mike! Brought some peace offerings. Jess was such a lifesaver last night, figured I' d thank her properly."

Jess appeared behind me, wrapped in my silk robe, her hair tousled.

"Ethan! What a surprise!" she cooed, her voice honey-sweet.

He winked at her. "Couldn't have done it without you, boss." He stepped inside, his eyes flicking around our apartment, lingering a little too long on our photos.

"So, this is the happy home," he said, his tone light, but with an edge I didn't like. He handed Jess a coffee. "Latte, extra foam, just how you like it."

She beamed. "You remembered!"

My jaw tightened. He was trying to provoke me. It was so obvious.

Jess didn't seem to notice, or care. She was lapping up his attention.

"Mike, Ethan was just saying he' s having a few people over to his new place tonight," Jess said. "To celebrate. We should go."

"I'm busy," I said, my voice cold.

Ethan looked from me to Jess, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, come on, Mike. Loosen up. It' ll be fun. Jess helped me pick out this amazing sound system."

"I said I'm busy."

Jess frowned at me. "Mike, don't be rude. Ethan' s being nice."

"Nice?" I repeated, looking straight at Ethan. "Or just staking his claim?"

Ethan' s smile faltered for a second, then returned, wider than before. "Just trying to be friendly, man. We' re practically family now, right? Since Jess is like a big sister to me."

I scoffed. "Family? I don't think so."

Ethan' s eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly masked it, turning to Jess with a wounded look. "See, Jess? He' s always like this. So suspicious."

Jess rushed to his side, putting a comforting hand on his arm. "Don't listen to him, Ethan. He' s just stressed about his work."

She turned to me, her eyes cold. "You owe Ethan an apology, Mike. He came all this way to be nice, and you' re treating him like dirt."

Apologize? To him?

I looked at her hand on his arm, the way she defended him without a second thought for me, for us.

Ethan was practically glowing with triumph. He put his arm around Jess' s shoulders. "It' s okay, Jess. I get it. No hard feelings, Mike." He gave a little squeeze to her shoulder.

"Actually," Ethan said, his voice smooth again. "I should get going. Big day. But Jess, I' ll see you later?"

"Definitely," she said, smiling up at him.

She walked him to the door, a quick, whispered conversation, then he was gone.

Jess turned back to me, her arms crossed. "I can' t believe you, Mike."

She walked away, leaving me standing there.

I felt nothing. Just a vast, cold emptiness.

The decision was made. The path was clear.

I went to my study and called Dr. Hayes to confirm I'd signed the Zurich papers online.

Then I called a data recovery specialist. Just in case.