Chapter 2

"You haven't been to any of Leo's school events lately," Ethan said, changing the subject. "Eleanor mentioned it. Chloe's been a godsend, stepping in."

Leo. Our seven-year-old son, already molded by Ethan' s family, attending a private boarding school hours away.

A world orchestrated by his mother, Eleanor, and, increasingly, Chloe.

"Last Friday," I said, my voice tight, "I drove three hours to pick Leo up. We were supposed to have the weekend. I waited at the school gates for two hours."

He shifted, uncomfortable.

"Then Chloe called me. Said Eleanor decided it was better if Chloe brought Leo to the Connecticut estate. Said you agreed."

I' d heard his voice in the background of that call, calm, assenting.

"Mom was worried about the drive for you, after your long hours," he mumbled.

"She' s always worried about me, isn't she?" I said. "Especially my background. My suitability."

He didn't answer.

"The night you were at that critical dinner with Chloe," I said, the words feeling like shards of glass in my mouth. "The night I lost the baby. Our second child."

He flinched, just a little.

"I was alone, Ethan. In the hospital. Terrified."

His face hardened. "These things happen, Sarah. It's unfortunate. Perhaps it's a sign we should focus on Leo. You're already stretched so thin with your career."

Stretched thin.

That was his response to losing our child.

That was his response to my terror.

Something inside me didn't just break; it turned to ice.

"I'm not stretched thin anymore," I said. I picked up my bag. "I'm done."

I walked out of the penthouse, out of that life, leaving him standing there amidst the expensive, empty gestures.