Chapter 4

Ethan rushed into the hospital room, his face a mask of worry and guilt.

"Liv, I am so sorry. Chloe... she' s not herself. I don' t know what got into her."

Olivia looked at him, her anger a cold, hard knot in her chest.

"She tried to poison me, Ethan. She needs to be held accountable. I' m calling the police."

Ethan' s face went pale. "No. Liv, please. Don' t do that. She' s just a kid, she' s fragile. I' ll... I' ll make it up to you. Anything you want. Money, property, whatever."

Olivia stared at him. He would protect Chloe, always. Even after this.

She saw it then, the depth of his indulgence, his blindness to Chloe' s toxicity.

"She' s your Michael, isn' t she?" Olivia said, her voice flat. "The one you can' t let go of, no matter what they do."

Ethan looked taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"You protect Chloe, your family, the way I protect Michael' s memory. I understand that kind of devotion, Ethan. Even when it' s destructive."

His expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Then, anger.

"Don' t talk about Michael," he said, his voice tight. "Not now."

His phone rang. Chloe.

He answered it, his voice instantly softening. "Chlo? Are you okay? I' ll be right there."

He hung up, looked at Olivia. "I have to go."

As he reached the door, Olivia spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

"I had a tubal ligation, Ethan. Years ago. Right after Michael died."

He froze, his back to her.

"There was never going to be a baby. Not with you, not with anyone. My life, my body, it was always for Michael."

Ethan turned slowly, his face ashen. "What did you say?"

"I made a choice. For him."

"You... you have to reverse it," he stammered, his eyes wide with a sudden, fierce possessiveness. "You' re my wife! You have obligations!"

Olivia met his gaze. "Our contract is ending, Ethan. The divorce papers you signed. I have no more obligations to you."