Chapter 2

Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Are you insane, Ethan? Do you even hear yourself? I told you, I'll make sure nothing goes wrong at the actual wedding. Is this really worth throwing a tantrum over?"

I just stared at her quietly.

Ever since she met Julian at that lounge, she had spent countless nights with him under the guise of "business."

She even had his name tattooed near her inner thigh.

She thought I didn't know. I just chose not to rip her lies apart.

Chloe reached out to grab my hand.

"I know today was frustrating, but I'm exhausted. Stop playing games, okay?"

Without hesitation, I pulled my hand away, grabbed my car keys, and walked out.

My decisive departure said everything.

As the door slammed shut, I heard her irritated voice drift through the crack.

"So dramatic! Just watch, he'll come crawling back to me within three days!"

I shook my head.

Maybe because I had loved her so humbly for five years, she thought she owned me.

But she forgot that even the strongest love can be eroded by time and betrayal.

This time, I was truly letting go.

I checked into a hotel. The next morning, I met with a lawyer to draft the divorce papers.

When asked about asset division, I hesitated for a moment before asking, "If I can provide proof of her infidelity during our marriage, can I get her cleaned out of the company assets?"

Though we co-founded the startup, I was the one who secured all the investments and clients. Even the seed money came from my own savings.

I had every right to take what was mine.

Once the lawyer confirmed it was possible, I left the office and sent my resignation email to the company.

Though it required Chloe's final approval, I didn't care. Since we were divorcing, I had nothing to hide.

With that out of the way, I called my older sister, Rachel, who was living abroad.

Hearing that I was finally willing to move to New York, she was thrilled and promised to handle all my immigration paperwork.

Actually, Chloe never knew that my parents split up when we were kids.

My dad took Rachel to the US, where he caught the Wall Street wave and became a financial tycoon.

I had stayed with my mom.

Three years ago, my mom fell ill. I begged every relative for money to pay her medical bills, but she didn't make it.

Before she passed, she held my hand, expressing her regret that she wouldn't see my wedding with Chloe.

She told me to take good care of Chloe and not to lose such a good girl.

But now, I couldn't keep that promise.

The next day, Rachel flew back to the country.

We hadn't seen each other in person since our parents' divorce, only keeping in touch via FaceTime over the last few years.

I took her to visit our mother’s grave first, and then we went to a restaurant downtown for lunch.

Because she had cried so hard at the cemetery, Rachel looked pale and weak.

I held her arm to support her as we walked into the hotel restaurant. Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Ethan? What are you doing here?"

I turned around. Chloe and Julian were standing on the steps, holding hands.