Chapter 2

"Let's get divorced first."

"The divorce papers are on the table. The pen's right there too."

Ethan's tone was flat.

Zoey slowly straightened her clothes. Her neck was covered in intense kiss marks.

She sat in my usual spot, glanced at me, and curved her lips slightly without saying anything.

As if she were the lady of this house.

I walked over and picked up the agreement. Three pages, densely written.

The house goes to Ethan. Company shares go to Ethan. Savings go to Ethan. Car goes to Ethan.

I get nothing.

"I don't get a single cent?"

Ethan finally glanced at me. "The agreement mentions compensation—thirty thousand dollars. That's not bad."

Thirty thousand. I'd been married to this man for three years. Ten thousand per year.

Zoey set down her coffee cup. "Emily, with thirty thousand you can rent a decent studio."

I stared at her. "When did you get back?"

"Yesterday." Zoey tilted her head. "Ethan picked me up at the airport. He waited four hours—my flight was delayed."

Yesterday.

Yesterday Ethan told me he had to work overtime at the company.

Zoey stood up and walked to Ethan's side, naturally hooking her arm through his. "Ethan said you're a good person and won't make things difficult for me."

Ethan didn't pull away from her hand.

My phone pressed against the pregnancy test in my pocket, digging painfully into my thigh.

I'd planned to come home and tell him—Ethan, we're having a baby.

You won't have to lose sleep over rent every month anymore. You won't have to humble yourself drinking with clients until you get a bleeding ulcer.

I thought today would be our best day.

"Where's the pen?"

Ethan pointed at the coffee table.

I crouched down to get the pen. From this angle, I could see Zoey's hand resting on Ethan's waist.

As I opened the pen cap, the pregnancy test nearly slipped out of my pocket. I quickly pressed it back.

"Sign on the last page. Write today's date." Ethan's voice came from above.

I signed my name. Emily. Put down the pen and stood up.

"Fine. The agreement needs to go through the court to take effect."

"Tomorrow morning at nine. I'll come find you. We'll break the mate bond then too."

After Ethan finished speaking, he pulled out his phone and unlocked it right in front of me, opening his contacts.

He changed my contact name from "My Dear Wife" to Emily.

Then he closed his phone and put it back in his pocket.

Zoey leaned on his shoulder. "Ethan, I want to eat your homemade pasta."

"Okay, I'll make it right now."

Ethan actually turned and went into the kitchen. In three years, he'd never once cooked for me.

I'd asked him if he knew how to cook. He said no, said he couldn't even fry an egg without burning the pan.

Now he tied his apron more smoothly than he tied his shoelaces.

Zoey shrugged at me. "Emily, don't just stand there. Hurry up and take what you need. Tomorrow I'm having people come redecorate. I looked at your clothes—they're all pretty old. Don't bother taking them. They're not even good enough to use as rags."

I went back to the bedroom and grabbed my important documents and a cloth bag containing a few things I'd brought from home when I got married. Nothing related to Ethan.

On my way out, I passed the kitchen. Ethan was cutting tomatoes, the knife thudding on the cutting board. He didn't look up.

At the door putting on my shoes, Zoey followed and leaned against the doorframe.

"Emily, I don't know if I should say this."

"Go ahead."

"Ethan never sighed when he was with me. In these three years with you, I've heard him sigh many times on the phone." She lowered her head, her voice soft. "Maybe you two really aren't compatible."

I looked at her. Ethan sighed because of broken capital chains, lost clients, the company nearly going under.

Every crisis was one I carried him through behind the scenes. After he sighed, by the next morning when he woke up, the problem would be solved. He thought it was good luck.

"You're right." I bent down to tie my shoelaces. "We're not compatible."

The moment the door closed, Zoey's voice came from inside.

"Ethan, let's change the door code. I want to set it to the anniversary of our first time having sex."