Chapter 3

Ethan leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial, condescending tone.

"Look, Sarah, I know things must be hard. I'm doing pretty well for myself now, you know. ReedTech is taking off."

He puffed his chest out slightly.

"I might have an opening for an assistant. Low-level, of course, but it's a start. A way for you to get back on your feet."

Brittany snorted. "An assistant? Ethan, darling, are you sure she's qualified for even that?"

He waved a hand at Brittany, a dismissive gesture. "Or, you know," he continued, his eyes flicking over Sarah again, a new, predatory light in them. "If an office job isn't your speed, maybe we could come to some other... arrangement. For old times' sake."

The implication was vile, unmistakable.

Sarah felt a surge of cold fury.

The audacity, the sheer, unadulterated arrogance of him.

"I don't need your pity, Ethan," she said, her voice low and steady, "and I certainly don't need your disgusting offers."

"Ooh, feisty," Brittany mocked. "Still got that temper, I see. Didn't do you much good last time, did it?"

"Actually," Sarah said, meeting Ethan's gaze directly, "I'm married."

A flicker of surprise crossed Ethan's face, quickly replaced by disbelief.

Brittany burst out laughing. "Married? You? To who? The mailman? Did you finally trap some poor, unsuspecting fool?"

"He must be truly desperate," Ethan added, his smirk returning. "Or maybe just blind. No offense, Sarah, but you're not exactly prime wife material anymore, are you? Used goods and all that."

The casual cruelty of his words was breathtaking.

Sarah's hand instinctively went to the clasp of her purse.

Inside, nestled amongst her things, was the birthday gift she' d just purchased for Alex.

It was a vintage Patek Philippe watch, a unique, custom-commissioned piece from the 1950s she knew he'd appreciate for its history and craftsmanship. Its value was astronomical, far beyond anything Ethan could likely comprehend for a personal gift.

She didn't want to flaunt it, that wasn't her style, or Alex's.

But their smug, dismissive cruelty was pushing her.

"My husband," Sarah said, her voice dangerously quiet, "is a wonderful man. And he happens to be very successful."

Ethan scoffed. "Successful? Doing what? Managing the local hardware store?"

"Let me guess," Brittany interjected, tapping a perfectly manicured nail against her chin. "He's probably some lonely accountant who doesn't get out much. You always did have a soft spot for the quiet, nerdy types before Ethan showed you what a real man was like."

Sarah' s fingers closed around the cool metal of the watch box.

She pulled it out just enough for the distinctive logo and the gleam of old gold to be visible if one were looking closely.

It wasn't an overt display, just a subtle shift of her hold on her purse.

"You wouldn't know him," Sarah said simply. "He's not in your... circles."

Ethan's eyes narrowed for a moment, not at the barely visible box, but at her tone.

He didn't see the item, or if he did, its significance was lost on him. He was too consumed by his own perceived superiority.