Chapter 3

When I got home, I called my lawyer, Emily.

As soon as she heard my voice, she sighed.

“What did you find this time?”

Three years ago, I’d gone to her when I first realized something was off with Ethan.

Every time I found another clue, I said I wanted a divorce.

But whenever Ethan held me and explained himself, I found another excuse for him.

Emily probably thought this time would be no different.

“Don’t rush into drawing up an agreement. Give yourself a few days to calm down, then talk to Mr. Cole.”

I turned on the study light and set our marriage certificate on the desk.

“I found her.”

There was a pause on the other end.

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I opened the certificate and looked at the photo of us standing close together.

“Divide the assets however you think is fair.”

“Starlight Media in Chicago has been trying to hire me as their PR director.”

“Draw up the agreement as soon as you can. I’m leaving Denver.”

For years, I’d quit my job and stayed home to support him.

Whenever he hit a rough patch, I helped him get meetings with one client after another.

I’d been with him from a small town all the way to the top of his industry.

Now it was time to live for myself.

Emily didn’t try to talk me out of it.

At dawn, the printer spat out the last page of the agreement just as the lock clicked.

Ethan came in carrying blueberry muffins, my favorite.

He didn’t look tired at all. If anything, he could barely contain his excitement.

When he saw me in the study, he composed himself.

“Why are you up so early?”

I covered the agreement with a folder.

“Did you get the contract?”

“I did.”

“Which company?”

Ethan set the breakfast down. He paused while unwrapping it.

“You wouldn’t know them.”

I watched him.

He avoided my eyes. His voice turned impatient.

“I worked all night, and the first thing you do is grill me.”

I picked up my coat and headed for the door.

“I’m going to see Claire.”

Ethan instinctively blocked my way.

“You don’t need to. She’ll be here soon.”

My hand stopped on the doorknob. He kept explaining.

“Her pipes burst. She’s going to stay here for a while.”

“She’s not well, so it’ll be easier for her to recover…”

Ethan’s voice caught.

“Her stomach. Recover from her stomach problems.”

Right then, the doorbell rang.

Claire stood outside with a suitcase. When she saw me, she opened her arms.

“Nora, I’m here to move in with you.”

She’d stayed at our place plenty of times before.

There were pajamas for her in my closet and a toothbrush for her in the bathroom.

She never had to ask before coming in. This had always been her second home.

But this time, I found myself blocking the doorway.

“No.”

Claire’s arms froze in midair.

Ethan looked up, his brow deeply furrowed.

“She’s only staying a few days. What’s wrong with you?”

Claire immediately stepped back.

“Is it inconvenient? I can stay at a hotel. It’s fine.”

She looked exactly like the Claire I knew.

And somehow, she disgusted me.

I tightened my grip on the doorknob, ready to tell them everything.

Then Claire covered her mouth, pushed past me, and ran into the bathroom.

Ethan’s face changed. He rushed after her.

He crouched beside her, one hand supporting her shoulder, the other rubbing her back with practiced ease.

Claire looked pale as she threw up.

Without looking up, Ethan shouted at me.

“Where are the tissues?”

“She’s throwing up, and you’re just standing there?”

I picked up the tissue box from the sink and tossed it at his feet.

I watched his fingers tremble as he tried to help her.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Claire.”

I stared at the hand she’d pressed over her stomach.

“Are you pregnant?”

Claire stopped vomiting.

Ethan’s hand froze too.