Chapter 3

Ethan didn't come home again until a week later.

The moment he walked through the door, he handed me a garment bag with a designer evening gown.

"It's my dad's birthday tonight. Come home with me."

I took it and turned to walk into my room.

In his eyes, this was probably the only value I had left, acting as his perfect trophy wife for family events.

It didn't matter. It would all be over soon anyway.

I followed Ethan back to the Vance family mansion.

His father, Jason, was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

His mother, Mandy, was busy in the kitchen.

When she saw me walk in, she barely spared me a glance.

She didn't say a word.

But the moment Sienna stepped out of the kitchen, everything changed.

Mandy warmly took the platter from Sienna's hands, her voice dripping with affection.

"Oh, Sienna, sweetheart, don't do all this heavy lifting."

"We don't want you getting tired."

Jason stood up as well.

"That's right. Ethan is here now."

"Go sit down and talk to him."

I stood in the middle of the living room, feeling like an absolute stranger.

Dinner was served at a small table near the kitchen corridor.

The four of them sat face to face.

I had to pull up a stray chair and squeeze in at the very edge, my plate barely fitting on the table.

Mandy glanced at me, then deliberately asked, "Sienna, how are your parents doing?"

Sienna smiled brightly. "They're doing great, thank you for asking."

"They miss you guys so much."

Mandy nodded and scooped some steak onto Sienna's and Ethan's plates.

"I wanted Ethan to marry you years ago."

"But this boy just wouldn't listen."

"They say marriage should be between equals."

"Look at us now. Some families go bankrupt, lose all their status, and have nothing left."

"What a disaster."

I kept my head down, poking at the food on my plate.

Since the Carter family went bankrupt, I had heard enough of these insults. I was used to it.

Ethan paused, then cut a piece of steak and placed it on my plate.

"Just eat," he said.

I was surprised and looked up at him.

Mandy raised her voice. "What? Am I not allowed to tell the truth?"

"If you hadn't lost your mind back then, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Ethan remained silent. Mandy's gaze then drifted to my left wrist.

I was wearing a vintage diamond bracelet that she had gifted me when we got married.

"Chloe, that bracelet is a Vance family heirloom."

"I don't mean anything by this, but..."

"I'm just worried that your parents might have left behind some unpaid debts."

"If you end up selling that bracelet to pay off creditors, I wouldn't be able to face Ethan's grandmother in the afterlife."

I looked up. Everyone's eyes were locked on me.

The bracelet on my wrist suddenly felt like a ton of bricks.

When Ethan and I married, my family hadn't gone bankrupt.

I was still the coveted heiress of New York.

His parents hadn't liked me, but they hadn't openly opposed the marriage either.

Now that the Carters were ruined, they immediately showed their true colors.

I grabbed the clasp and yanked the bracelet off.

The rough edges scratched my skin, leaving a stinging red mark.

I placed it gently on the table.

Mandy snatched it up immediately and handed it straight to Sienna.

"Sienna, this suits you perfectly."

"Take it as a little gift from me."

I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor.

"Enjoy your dinner. I'm leaving."

As I reached the grand front door, I heard Ethan's footsteps chasing after me.

I hadn't expected him to defend me in front of his parents earlier.

And I certainly hadn't expected him to run after me.

I stood in the driveway, wiping my tears in a rush.

When I turned around, he stopped in front of me.

But instead of comfort, his first words were an accusation.

"Chloe, do you have to make a scene and embarrass everyone?"

I froze, my hand hovering in mid-air.

It felt as if a lump was lodged in my throat, choking out any words I wanted to say.