Chapter 2

Ethan spent the next week at InnovateATX, tying up loose ends.

He was officially an advisor, unofficially the tech backbone.

He' d built half their core systems.

He packed his personal items from the small office Bella had given him.

It felt strange, dismantling a part of his life.

On Wednesday, he was in the break room, getting water, when Victor Cole walked in.

Victor, all charm and expensive, casual Austin tech-bro attire.

"Ethan, right?" Victor said, extending a hand. "Bella's told me so much about you."

His smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Heard you're a whiz with code. Shame you couldn't make your own startup fly."

A subtle dig. Ethan had put his startup, Principia, on hold for Bella.

Ethan knew Victor was back.

He' d seen them at a company mixer last week, Bella laughing, Victor' s arm around her.

Public. Definite.

A stake through the heart he hadn' t realized was still beating for her.

It was almost over.

The divorce papers were filed. Thirty days.

He just had to get through it.

"Victor," Ethan said, his voice even. He didn't take the offered hand.

"Good to see you're settling in."

Victor' s smile tightened.

"Oh, I'm more than settled. Bella' s been... very welcoming."

He leaned against the counter.

"She' s busy right now, by the way. Tied up. But if you need to tell her something, I can pass it on."

The insinuation was clear.

Ethan just nodded.

"I'm just finishing up here. Handing off my projects."

He wasn't going to play Victor' s games.

Then Victor did something odd.

He reached for the coffee pot, a full cup already in his other hand.

He "stumbled," sloshing hot coffee down his own expensive shirt.

"Damn it!" Victor yelped, jumping back.

He looked at Ethan, his face a mask of pain and surprise.

"What the hell, Miller? Did you trip me?"

Bella rushed in, drawn by the commotion.

Kevin Chen was right behind her.

"Victor! Are you okay?" Bella cried, rushing to Victor's side.

She glared at Ethan.

"Ethan! What did you do?"

No questions. Just accusation.

Ethan felt a flicker of the old pain.

Bella, always quick to defend, to assume the worst of him lately.

He pushed it down.

"He spilled coffee on himself, Bella."

Victor clutched his chest, wincing.

"I don't know what happened. One minute I was getting coffee, the next... Ethan was right there."

He looked at Bella, all wounded innocence.

"Maybe it was an accident. I'm sure he didn't mean it."

The perfect victim. It only made Bella angrier at Ethan.

"An accident?" Bella snapped, her eyes blazing at Ethan.

"You've been moping around here for days! Are you trying to cause trouble because I'm happy?"

Her voice was sharp, cutting.

"Just get your things and go, Ethan! Don't come back until you've figured out how to act like an adult!"

Ethan looked at her.

At Victor, smirking behind Bella' s shoulder.

It was almost funny.

The last thread connecting him to Bella, to this life, just snapped.

He felt... nothing.

Just a cold, clear understanding.

It was truly over.