Chapter 3

"Chloe, are you alright?" Ethan rushed to her side, his voice full of concern.

Chloe sniffled, leaning into his offered support. "Oh, Ethan, it's just... this house is so big. I got a little lost trying to bring Sarah her health tonics. The staff, they misunderstood."

She cast a helpless glance at me.

Ethan frowned at me. "Sarah, you should have told the staff Chloe was expected. She's your sister."

Stepsister. A vital distinction he always ignored.

"My apologies, Chloe," I said smoothly. "It seems there was a misunderstanding."

Eleanor, however, was not appeased. "Misunderstanding? Your staff manhandled her!"

Ethan, ever the peacemaker when it suited him, especially when a pretty face was involved, said, "Now, now, Eleanor. I'm sure it can be sorted out. Chloe, you look like you need to rest."

He then turned to her, his gaze softening. "Chloe mentioned she knows a lot about wellness and supplements. Perhaps, while you're here, you could help look after Sarah during her pregnancy? She seems to trust your judgment on these things."

Chloe brightened instantly. "Oh, Ethan, I'd be delighted! Anything for Sarah and the baby."

Her eyes flickered towards me, a silent challenge.

I gave a magnanimous smile. "That's very kind of you, Chloe. In fact, the guest cottage near my husband's private study is vacant. It's quiet and secluded. You could stay there, be close by if I need anything."

The cottage. The very place their affair had blossomed in secret in our first life. The proximity to Ethan' s study was no accident on my part.

Ethan beamed. "Excellent idea, Sarah! You're so thoughtful."

Chloe thanked Ethan profusely, her gratitude flowing towards him, completely ignoring me.

Perfect. Let her think she was winning him over, just like before.

I remembered it all so clearly, their clandestine meetings, the stolen moments, all while I, naive and trusting, believed Chloe was there to care for me.

Chloe settled into the guest cottage and began her meticulous "care" for me.

This involved bringing me specially prepared teas and soups, always ensuring her visits coincided with times Ethan was likely to be home or passing by my rooms.

She made sure to have frequent "accidental" encounters with him, a touch of hands here, a shared smile there.

One afternoon, she brought in a bowl of steaming soup.

"Sarah, dear, I made your favorite mushroom broth. It's full of nutrients."

As I reached for it, she suddenly cried out, "Oh!"

The bowl tilted, hot soup splashing, not on me, but directly onto her own outstretched hand.

She screamed, a dramatic, piercing sound.

Right on cue, Ethan burst into the room, his face alarmed. "What happened?"

He saw Chloe clutching her hand, tears streaming down her face, the spilled soup on the carpet.

"My hand! It's burned!" Chloe wailed, looking at Ethan with wide, pain-filled eyes.

Ethan rushed to her, gently taking her hand. "Let me see! Good heavens!"

He turned on me, his face dark with anger. "Sarah! How could you be so clumsy? Chloe is trying to help you, and this is how you repay her? You're so ungrateful!"

His words were a direct echo of Eleanor's earlier accusations.

I simply stared, my expression carefully neutral. "It was an accident."

"An accident?" Ethan scoffed, already leading Chloe out of the room. "She needs a doctor! This looks serious."

He lavished attention on Chloe, summoning the family doctor, fussing over her "terrible injury," which I knew was, at most, a minor scald.

Chloe, of course, played the suffering martyr to perfection.

While Ethan was preoccupied with Chloe's "recovery," I was busy.

I sent expensive gifts to Brenda, along with a note praising her "discretion and understanding." Keep her just loyal enough, just greedy enough.

I also sent a lavish bouquet and a very generous "thank you" payment to Tiffany, with a subtle hint that Ethan might be feeling a bit... neglected... now that Chloe was demanding so much of his attention for her "injury."

Tiffany, ever the professional, understood immediately.

A few days later, I heard Ethan had a furious argument with Chloe – something about her constantly teasing him, playing the innocent invalid, but not delivering on the intimacy he clearly craved.

Frustrated, he sought out Tiffany.

She, as I'd hoped, successfully re-seduced him, providing the outlet he desired.

Then, Ethan had to leave for an important week-long business trip.

The house would be mine to manage. Or rather, mine to stir.