Chapter 3

Serena's POV

Ethan didn't respond. Expressionless, he took a document from his suit pocket and slapped it down on the center console with a "smack," pushing it in front of me.

"Look at this first."

It was a confidentiality agreement.

My hands trembled as I opened the first page.

There weren't many clauses inside, but each one pierced me.

Prohibited from publicly revealing wife status for eighteen months, must not approach Violet, penalty for breach: ten million dollars.

I turned to the last page. Ethan's hastily signed name was already written clearly.

I jerked my head up, eyes red-rimmed, looking at him.

"You had this prepared?"

"This film is my company's biggest project in the past two years." Ethan leaned back in his seat, as calm as if discussing a business deal.

"The investor is Federal Pictures. The theater screening schedule is already set. Twelve thousand screens nationwide. The release date is the eighth of next month. Violet's contract specifies she must be the lead. She's tied to this role. If it comes out now that I'm married..."

"You're finished." I coldly finished his sentence.

"We're finished." He frowned, correcting me. "Serena, you and I. We've gotten to where we are today together. The day this company was registered, you came with me to the business registration office. Have you forgotten?"

I stared hard at his face.

I really had forgotten. That day I wore a gray trench coat. He'd excitedly picked me up and spun me around at the entrance, his eyes red as he said, "Serena, from now on we're the boss and the boss's wife. I'll never let you down for the rest of my life."

But now, he was using this company built on our memories to force me to make way for the other woman.

Looking at his shameless face now, I suddenly wondered. When exactly did he learn to be this cold-blooded and calculating?

Ethan took out a pen and forcibly shoved it into my icy hand. "Sign it and I'll take you home. After eighteen months, when Violet has the baby and the film comes down, we'll talk about what comes next."

"What comes next?" My voice trembled.

"Serena, let me finish." He reached out to hold my hand. I jerked it back like I'd been electrocuted.

Ethan paused, then patiently withdrew his hand. "I have to keep the child in Violet's belly. But you're my wife. I've never thought about changing that. After eighteen months, I'll arrange for Violet and the child to go to Canada. She won't get the title. I already made that clear to her."

"But she accepted your ring today."

"That was just pretend, for the film promotion." Ethan said it without the slightest shame.

I laughed bitterly in anger.

I really found it funny. This man I'd been with for twelve years sat in front of me, telling me without a trace of guilt that even kneeling before another woman and presenting her with the family heirloom was all "acting."

He seemed to think this bullshit could soften my heart.

"Ethan." I grabbed that disgusting agreement and hurled it hard at his chest. "I won't sign it. I'm contacting a lawyer tomorrow."

Ethan's false mask finally couldn't hold. His face turned completely dark.

"Serena, you're angry. Sign this and we'll talk slowly."

"I won't sign."

The car fell deathly silent for two seconds. Ethan's hand suddenly lifted.

I thought he was going to hit me. I instinctively closed my eyes.

However, he didn't slap me. He clamped down hard on the back of my neck and brutally pressed my face toward the agreement on the center console.

Bang.

My forehead slammed hard into the stiff cardboard. The sharp paper edge instantly sliced through the skin above my eyebrow.

"Serena, you're a public figure's wife!" His voice pressed down viciously from above. "Do you think your divorce only affects you? Do you think the film waiting on screens nationwide is trivial? Do you think if you make a scene, you're only affecting me?"

One of my ears was pressed hard against the paper. Humiliation gnawed at my entire body like a poisonous snake.

"Sign it." He commanded.