Chapter 4

Ethan didn't come home that night either. Or the next. A quick text from Brenda confirmed my suspicions.

"Heads up, Ethan and Chloe just filed an expense report for a last-minute 'site visit' in Napa. Two-night hotel stay."

Good. It gave me more time.

I spent the next two days systematically dismantling my life in that house. I arranged for a moving company to pick up my packed boxes. I sold the furniture we had bought together online. I wanted nothing left.

On the third day, a delivery arrived. It was a large, elegantly wrapped box from a high-end designer. I stared at it, confused. I hadn't ordered anything.

I opened it. Inside, nestled in layers of tissue paper, was the most beautiful wedding dress I had ever seen. A note was tucked into the folds of the silk. It was from Liam Hayes's mother.

"Ava, I hope this is to your liking. We are so looking forward to welcoming you to the family. Liam insisted on this design for you."

My phone rang. It was my mom.

"Did it arrive?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement. "The Hayes family has impeccable taste, don't they?"

"Mom, it's beautiful, but..."

"No buts! You deserve the best," she said. "I've already contacted the movers. They're picking up your things tomorrow and bringing them here. I changed the delivery address for all your mail."

"Mom, you didn't have to..."

"Of course, I did! You're getting married in two weeks! We have fittings, tastings, so much to do!"

Two weeks. It was happening so fast. But maybe that was for the best. A clean, sharp break.

Just as I hung up, I heard a key in the front door. Ethan was back.

He walked in, looking tired and annoyed. Then he saw the giant designer box on the floor. His eyes narrowed. He walked over and looked inside at the wedding dress.

A dark expression crossed his face. "What is this? Are you pressuring me, Ava? I told you, I'm not ready for marriage."

The sheer arrogance of his assumption took my breath away.

"Don't worry, Ethan," I said, my voice calm and even. "It's not for you."

He looked relieved, a foolish grin spreading across his face. "Oh. Thank God. For a second there, I thought you'd lost your mind."

He truly believed, even now, that my entire world revolved around him. That after everything, I would still be trying to marry him.

He had forgotten. He had forgotten that today was our anniversary. The day we had officially started our company. The day he had promised me, years ago, that we would get married on this very date once the company was a success.

He didn't want to marry me. Not now, not ever. He just didn't want anyone else to have me.

The doorbell rang. It was Brenda, dropping off some final paperwork.

"Ava, you're leaving these here?" she asked, nodding towards my packed boxes.

Ethan's head snapped up. "Leaving? What do you mean, leaving?"

"I resigned, Ethan," I said simply. "I told you yesterday."

"You... what?" He looked utterly shocked, as if the thought had never crossed his mind. "You can't resign! Who's going to lead the Sterling Tower project?"

His concern wasn't for me. It was for the company. For the work I did that made his life easier.

"I'm sure Chloe is a fast learner," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"This isn't a joke, Ava!" he shouted, his face turning red. "You can't just walk away! We built this together!"

"And I am walking away with my share of it," I said, tapping the folder my lawyer had prepared. "Which you already signed off on."

I picked up the box with the wedding dress.

"And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a wedding to plan."

I walked out the door, leaving him standing there, his mouth hanging open in stunned disbelief.