Chapter 2

Ethan Hayes strode into the penthouse, tossing his keys onto the marble console.

"Ava," he called out, his voice impatient. "Chloe wants that Szechuan fish from the place downtown. The one you made that time she said was almost as good as the restaurant' s. Get it for lunch."

Ava watched him, her eyes lingering for a moment on the vintage watch on his wrist. Caleb' s watch.

It was one of the first things she' d "asked" for.

"Alright, Ethan," Ava said, her voice soft. "But the traffic will be terrible. It' ll take me a while."

She paused, then added, as if an afterthought, "Could I... could I have that old leather-bound sketchbook? The one in your study? You never use it."

Ethan, already scrolling through his phone, presumably texting Chloe, grunted. "Sketchbook? Fine, whatever. Just get the fish. Chloe' s craving it."

He didn' t even look up as she left the room.

This was their pattern.

He' d make a demand, usually related to Chloe' s whims.

Ava would agree, then request one of "his" possessions – an old book, a worn sweater, a fountain pen.

Things that had belonged to Caleb.

Ethan, flattered by what he perceived as her sentimental attachment to his belongings, always agreed.

He thought she cherished these items because they were his.

He' d once found her carefully mending a tear in an old cashmere scarf – Caleb' s scarf.

"Still doting on my old things, I see," he' d said, a smirk on his face. "You really are obsessed with me, aren' t you, Ava?"

Ava had simply smiled, a quiet, enigmatic smile that Ethan took for shy affirmation.

"I just like it," she' d said.

He didn' t understand. He never would.

These items were fragments of Caleb, pieces of a life stolen too soon.

Each one was a treasure, a tangible link to the love she had lost.

Holding them, she could almost feel Caleb' s presence, hear his gentle laugh.

Ethan, in his arrogance, saw only a wife' s pathetic devotion.

"I love you, Ethan," she' d sometimes whisper, usually when he was distracted or half-asleep.

The words were for Caleb, always for Caleb.

But Ethan heard them, and his ego swelled.

Sometimes, a flicker of something – confusion? unease? – would cross Ethan' s face when she made these requests for seemingly worthless objects.

He' d look at the item, then at her, a slight frown creasing his brow.

But then Chloe would call, or a business demand would arise, and the moment would pass.

He' d revert to his usual dismissive self, handing over the piece of Caleb' s past without a second thought.

He was too self-absorbed to question it deeply.

They were in the car, on their way to one of Chloe' s "emergency" fittings for a dress she needed for yet another event Ethan was bankrolling.

"That lawyer called earlier," Ethan said, not taking his eyes off the road. "Peterson. What was that about? You didn' t mention anything."

Ava kept her gaze fixed on the passing cityscape.

"It' s handled, Ethan," she said quietly. "Nothing for you to worry about."

He grunted. "Good. Chloe' s been stressed about this premiere. I don' t need any other distractions."

His priorities, as always, were crystal clear.

Ava maintained her facade of quiet compliance.

She knew Ethan sometimes watched her when he thought she wasn' t looking.

She' d see his reflection in the dark windows at night, his eyes narrowed, a thoughtful, almost puzzled expression on his face.

He was trying to understand the depth of her supposed love, her endless tolerance for his neglect and his blatant affair with Chloe.

He couldn' t comprehend it, because it wasn' t real.

His inability to see the truth was her greatest ally.

They arrived at the boutique. Chloe Vance, all feigned sweetness and light, rushed out to greet Ethan, ignoring Ava completely.

"Ethan, darling! You' re a lifesaver!" Chloe gushed, throwing her arms around him.

Then, as if noticing Ava for the first time, Chloe' s eyes, narrowed slightly. "Oh, Ava. You came too."

Ava offered a small, polite smile. "Ethan is so devoted to you, Chloe. Of course, I' d support him in supporting you."

A strange expression flickered across Ethan' s face at her words. Discomfort? Annoyance?

He couldn' t place it.

He quickly recovered, putting an arm around Chloe. "Let' s get this fitting done."

He turned to Ava. "You can wait in the car. Or go get coffee. This will take a while."

Ava nodded, her expression placid. "Alright, Ethan."

She watched him lead Chloe into the boutique, his attention entirely focused on the other woman.

He was already pulling out his wallet, no doubt to pay for whatever Chloe desired.

Ava turned and walked away, melting into the city crowds.

She had her own errands to run, her own memories to collect.