Chapter 4

The next day, I was at the old house, packing the last of my books, when I heard a key in the lock. Chloe walked in, looking surprised to see me.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone immediately accusatory. She dropped her purse on the counter, a cloud of expensive perfume filling the air.

"I'm getting my things," I said simply, taping up a box. "I still legally own half of this house, remember?"

Her eyes narrowed, scanning the room, which was now dotted with packed boxes. "You're really going through with this?"

"I am."

She saw the Tesla key card on the kitchen island where I'd left it. She picked it up, her expression turning sour. "What's this? Did you get a new car?"

"It's a company car," I said.

Her laugh was harsh and disbelieving. "What company, Ethan? Who would hire you after you just abandoned your post at Apex? Don't tell me you're driving for Uber." The insult was petty, designed to wound.

I didn't take the bait. "I need you to sign something."

I pulled a folder from my briefcase and laid it on the counter. It was the property listing agreement and the separation of assets paperwork. "It' s the agreement to sell the house and divide the assets. My lawyer drew it up. It' s a standard 50/50 split."

She glanced at the papers with disdain. "I'm not signing anything right now. We have things to discuss."

"There's nothing to discuss, Chloe. We're done. This is just business now."

Just as she was about to argue, her phone rang. It was Liam. Her entire demeanor changed. Her face softened, her voice dropping to an intimate, concerned tone.

"Liam? What's wrong? You sound stressed." She listened for a moment, her brow furrowed. "The servers are down? Did you try rebooting the main frame? No, no, don't touch that. I'm on my way."

She hung up, already grabbing her purse. "I have to go. There's an emergency at the office."

"An emergency that your new star executive assistant can't handle?" I asked, unable to resist.

She shot me a venomous look. "This is exactly why we're in this mess, Ethan! Your systems were always too complicated. Liam is trying to fix your mess."

She was already at the door, fumbling for her keys.

"Chloe, the papers," I said, holding them out. "I need you to sign them."

"I don't have time for this!" she snapped.

"It will take thirty seconds," I pressed. "Otherwise, the lawyers will have to get involved, and it will take months and cost a fortune."

She hesitated, torn. The thought of a prolonged legal battle was unappealing. With an exasperated sigh, she snatched the pen and the folder from my hand.

"Where do I sign?" she demanded, not even looking at the page.

I pointed to the signature lines on the property agreement and the power of attorney authorization I had strategically placed on top. "Here, and here."

She scribbled her name impatiently, her mind clearly already at the office with Liam and his manufactured crisis. She shoved the folder back at me and rushed out the door without another word.

I looked down at her signature on the documents. She had just signed away the house and given me the legal authority to handle the rest of our joint assets without her further consent. All because Liam had created a fake emergency.

A grim, humorless smile touched my lips. She had trusted him blindly, and in her haste to prove my incompetence and rush to his side, she had handed me the very key to my freedom. The irony was bitter, but it was also incredibly satisfying.