Chapter 2

The memory of Ethan' s life with Olivia, running parallel to his supposed life with her, was a constant, bitter taste in Sarah' s mouth.

In her first life, while she was meticulously planning their wedding, Ethan had been taking Olivia on romantic weekend getaways.

While Sarah was trying to build a home, he was helping Olivia find a new apartment after her divorce.

While Sarah sacrificed her own career networking events to attend his family functions, he was attending Olivia' s gallery openings, his arm possessively around her waist in photos Olivia would subtly ensure Sarah saw.

He had lived a double life, and Sarah had been the convenient, respectable facade.

The sheer scope of his joyful activities with Olivia, juxtaposed with her own quiet sacrifices and the slow erosion of her spirit, fueled a cold anger she hadn't allowed herself to feel in her first life.

Now, it was a shield.

One evening, her father hosted a small dinner for a few political associates. Ethan was, of course, invited.

Sarah found herself needing some documents from her father's study. As she approached, she heard voices. Ethan and Olivia.

Olivia' s voice, laced with a familiar manipulative tremor: "Ethan, you say you love me, but you're still going through with this wedding to Sarah. How can I believe you? I need to know I' m the only one for you, really the only one."

Ethan' s reply was swift, earnest. "Liv, you know you are. You've always been the one. Sarah... it' s complicated. Family expectations. But my heart is with you. Always."

Sarah froze, her hand on the doorknob.

The words were a direct echo of what she' d suspected, what she' d pieced together over years of heartache in her first life.

Hearing it now, so blatant, so early in this new timeline, was a sickening confirmation.

His deceit was absolute.

She backed away silently, the documents forgotten.

Later that evening, Sarah observed Olivia across the dinner table.

She was undeniably beautiful, with her dark, expressive eyes and carefully cultivated air of vulnerability.

Sarah remembered the grand, public proposal Ethan had made to her in their first life. At a charity gala, in front of hundreds of people, he' d gone down on one knee, declaring his undying love, promising a lifetime of devotion.

The memory was now coated in a thick layer of irony.

His vows to her had been a performance. His true vows, whispered in secret to Olivia, were the ones he apparently meant.

The hypocrisy was staggering.

Sarah felt a strange sense of calm. The decision to leave was not just a choice; it was a necessity.

After the guests had departed, Sarah found her father in his study, nursing a brandy.

"Dad," she began, sitting opposite him. "About Aurora Valley. About Jacob Stone. I' ve thought about it. I want to do it."

Robert Miller looked at his daughter, his expression unreadable for a moment.

"You're sure, Sarah? This is a significant step. Oregon is a long way from Boston. This Jacob Stone... he's not what we envisioned for you."

"Ethan is not what I envision for myself anymore," Sarah said quietly. "I need a different life, Dad. A real one."

She paused, then added, "I want to make you proud, to contribute to something meaningful. This alliance with Aurora Valley, protecting their water rights, building something sustainable... it feels right. More right than anything connected to Ethan Hayes."

Her father sighed, a hint of his own past frustrations with Ethan surfacing in his eyes. He' d seen Ethan' s casual disregard for Sarah' s time and feelings more than once, though he' d largely stayed silent, respecting what he thought was Sarah' s choice.

"If this is what you truly want, Sarah, I will support you," he said finally. "Aurora Valley could be a valuable and ethical venture for our family's legacy. And your happiness... that's paramount."

He reached across the desk and squeezed her hand. "You're a strong woman, Sarah. Stronger than you know."

Sarah felt a wave of gratitude. His support was her lifeline.

A few days later, Ethan arrived at the Miller home, a bouquet of expensive lilies in hand and a charming, apologetic smile on his face.

"Sarah, I'm so sorry about the other day. Things have been crazy with Olivia, you know, after her split. She's been leaning on me a lot."

He stepped closer, attempting to embrace her. Sarah subtly sidestepped, maintaining a polite distance.

She could smell Olivia' s distinct, cloying perfume on his jacket.

"It's fine, Ethan," she said, her voice neutral. "I understand."

He seemed oblivious to her coolness, to the lack of warmth in her eyes.

"I brought your favorites," he said, proffering the lilies. Lilies were Olivia's favorite, not hers. Sarah preferred simple daisies.

"Thank you, Ethan. That's thoughtful." She didn't take them.

He chatted for a few more minutes about wedding plans, about his latest case, about how much his parents were looking forward to officially welcoming her into the Hayes dynasty.

Sarah listened, nodding occasionally, a polite mask firmly in place.

He left, apparently satisfied that all was well, confident in his hold over her.

Sarah watched him go, a profound sense of detachment settling over her. He didn't know her at all. He never had.

The lilies Ethan had brought sat on the hall table, their scent filling the air.

Sarah picked them up, her expression unreadable.

Chloe walked in, saw the flowers, and then Sarah' s face. "Trouble in paradise, or just the usual Ethan-induced nausea?"

Sarah handed the bouquet to her friend. "Here, these are for you. Or your mom. Or whoever likes lilies."

Chloe took them, surprised. "Wow, okay. Generous. Did he finally remember you hate these things?"

"He never knew," Sarah said simply.

Chloe' s eyes narrowed. "You're serious about this, aren't you? About not marrying him?"

"Deadly serious," Sarah replied.

Just then, the doorbell rang, a sharp, insistent peal.

Chloe peeked through the curtains. "Speak of the devil's other half. It's Olivia."

Sarah felt a flicker of annoyance, quickly suppressed. She' d known this confrontation was inevitable.

"Let her in, Chloe," Sarah said calmly. "I'm expecting her."