Chapter 2

On the way to the airport, my lawyer texts me.

"I can have the papers ready tonight. Send me a list of major assets first."

I pull out the folder I grabbed from Ethan's study on my way out.

Inside are four condo purchase agreements.

Upstairs is under Audrey Marsh. Downstairs is under Sophia Deane. Across the hall is under Nicole Webb.

The only unit without someone else's name on it is the one I just moved into. That one still belongs to Ethan.

He bought all four units the day he proposed to me.

That night he said he'd never let me be without a home again.

My phone rings.

Ethan.

"Where are you? Why is the condo empty?"

"You want to tell me why your three women are living around me?"

"You know about that?"

He goes quiet for a second.

"They've been in my life for years, Ivy. I didn't marry them. The least I can do is make sure they're taken care of."

"You're my wife. What's mine is yours. Why are you acting like this?"

I grip the purchase agreements tighter.

"So they don't get a ring, but they each get a condo in their own name. And your actual wife gets nothing."

He sounds annoyed.

"It's one condo. You really want it that bad? I'll transfer it to your name later."

"Don't bother."

I watch the building disappear through the car window.

"Ethan, I want a divorce."

Silence on the other end.

"Over a few condos? Seriously?"

I don't explain. I hang up.

At the gate, I open the group chat screenshots again.

The chat history goes back a long way.

I keep scrolling.

Then a video from three years ago stops me cold.

The date on it is the day Ethan proposed.

In the video, Audrey, Sophia, and Nicole are sitting in the living room of the condo I just moved into.

Each of them is holding a new key.

One key is left on the coffee table.

Someone off camera laughs and asks, "Who gets the fourth one?"

Ethan picks it up.

"Her."

Audrey grins.

"You're really putting all four of us in one building? What happens when we run into each other?"

Ethan tosses the key back on the table.

"She won't figure it out."

The whole room laughs.

At the end of the video, Ethan stands up and straightens his collar.

Someone asks where he's going.

He pulls a ring box out of his pocket.

"To propose."

The video ends there.

I sit in the departure lounge without moving for a long time.

That night, he came to me with that exact ring.

Got down on one knee and promised me a home.

But before those words ever left his mouth, my spot had already been arranged alongside three other women.

The boarding announcement comes on. Ethan texts me.

"Go clear your head for a few days. We'll talk when you're back."

I send every purchase agreement, every screenshot, and that video to my lawyer.

"Save all of it."

Then I stop sharing my location and block Ethan's number.

They can keep their building. I'm done.