Chapter 4

Ethan just wanted the next month to fly by.

He threw himself into preparing for Denver, for Principia.

He worked from his guest room, emailing Olivia, refining his business plan.

He avoided Bella completely.

They lived in the same house like ghosts. Separate meals, separate rooms, unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

On Monday, he walked into InnovateATX one last time.

He went straight to HR.

Sarah, the HR manager, looked surprised to see him.

"Ethan! What can I do for you?"

He handed her his resignation letter.

"My official resignation, Sarah. Effective immediately."

Sarah' s eyes widened.

"But... Ethan! Does Bella know? She needs to approve this."

Ethan almost smiled.

"Oh, I think she' ll approve it. Quickly."

He found Kevin Chen in the hallway.

"Kevin. Can you do me a favor? Take this to Bella. Tell her it' s my resignation. She just needs to sign."

Kevin looked shocked.

"Mr. Miller! You' re leaving? But... you' re so important to InnovateATX. Mrs. Rossi... Bella... she relies on you."

Kevin respected Ethan. Ethan knew that.

Kevin took the letter.

He found Bella in her office, laughing on the phone with Victor.

"...Yeah, baby, tonight sounds perfect. My place."

She hung up, smiling, then saw Kevin.

"What is it, Kevin?"

Kevin handed her the letter.

"Mr. Miller' s resignation, Ms. Rossi."

Bella glanced at it. Her smile didn' t falter.

"About time he stopped moping," she said, scribbling her signature. "He' s been a drag lately."

She handed it back to Kevin without a second thought.

Ethan was already packing his small box of personal items when Kevin returned, looking somber.

"She signed it, Mr. Miller. No questions asked."

Ethan nodded. "Thanks, Kevin. For everything."

He picked up his box and walked out of InnovateATX for the last time.

The Austin sun felt good on his face.

He felt... light. Free.

Later that day, Bella was in her office, a headache pounding.

The office felt too quiet.

Usually, Ethan would have brought her an iced tea by now, noticed her rubbing her temples.

He always knew.

She missed his quiet presence, his steady support. More than she' d admitted.

She felt a sudden craving for the ginger ale he always kept stocked for her when she was stressed.

She buzzed Kevin.

"Kevin, is Ethan around? Ask him to bring me a ginger ale."

Then, remembering their fight, she corrected herself.

"Actually, never mind. Just... tell him I want to take him to dinner tonight. To clear the air."

She was trying to be magnanimous. She assumed he was still sulking about Victor.

Kevin' s voice was hesitant.

"Ms. Rossi... Mr. Miller isn' t here."

"What do you mean, he isn' t here? Is he working from home?"

"No, Ms. Rossi. He resigned. This morning. He' s cleared out his office. He' s gone."

Bella stared at the phone.

Gone? Resigned?

A surge of anger, hot and sharp, went through her.

How dare he?

This was just another stunt. Another way to make her feel guilty, to manipulate her.

He was trying to make a point about Victor.

"That arrogant...!" she muttered.

She grabbed her purse and stormed out of the office.

She drove home, fuming.

She was going to give Ethan a piece of her mind. This "tantrum" of his was going ridiculous.

She slammed the front door open.

"Ethan! What the hell do you think you' re-"

She stopped dead.

Ethan was in the living room.

Surrounded by boxes.

Not his boxes. Donation boxes. Goodwill. Austin Pets Alive.

He was calmly sorting through their wedding albums, photo frames, the little trinkets they' d collected.

He tossed a silver frame – a picture of them in Italy – into a box labeled "Goodwill."

"What are you doing?" Bella whispered, her anger suddenly gone, replaced by a cold dread.

Ethan looked up, his expression calm.

"Just decluttering. You never liked this stuff anyway. Always said it was sentimental junk."

His voice was devoid of emotion.

"That' s not what I meant!" Bella cried. "And your resignation! You did that because of Victor, didn' t you? To make me feel bad?"

She still couldn't believe he'd actually leave.

Ethan set down a small, carved bird he' d bought her in Santa Fe.

He looked directly at her.

"Bella. This has nothing to do with Victor."

His eyes were clear, steady.

"This has to do with us. And 'us' is over."

He paused, then delivered the final blow, his voice quiet but firm.

"I don' t love you anymore."