Chapter 2

Ethan, trying to make up for his recent "absences," planned an elaborate date night a few days later.

A private chef, a string quartet in their Napa garden, under the stars he claimed she guided.

He was attentive, doting, his hand always on her arm, his eyes full of proclaimed adoration.

The few carefully invited guests, mostly his business associates and their spouses, murmured about their "perfect love."

"They' re an inspiration," one woman whispered to her husband, loud enough for Mia to hear.

Mia smiled faintly, sipping her wine. The irony was a bitter taste in her mouth.

Later that evening, Mia found Ethan in his study, supposedly catching up on urgent emails.

He was hunched over his laptop, but it wasn' t work.

It was a Twitch stream. Skyler Reed.

The young woman was animated, her voice high with excitement. She was giving a virtual tour of a stunning, newly acquired beachfront penthouse in Malibu.

"You guys, I still can' t believe this is real!" Skyler gushed to her viewers. "My secret admirer is just... the most generous person in the world. SiliconPaladin77, you made my dreams come true!"

SiliconPaladin77. Ethan' s anonymous alias. Mia had seen the name before, in the chat logs. The one who lavished Skyler with exorbitant donations, rare in-game items, exclusive virtual gifts.

The Malibu penthouse. Mia recognized the sleek, modern architectural style.

She' d seen a brochure for it on Ethan' s desk weeks ago. He' d brushed it off as a potential "corporate retreat property."

Another lie.

The pain was a physical thing, a tight band around her chest.

She felt a wave of nausea.

The world tilted.

She leaned against the doorframe, unseen.

The public displays, the private betrayals. It was all too much.

Her carefully constructed composure threatened to shatter.

She closed her eyes, took a slow, shaky breath.

Two weeks. Just a little longer.