Chapter 3

"Did you call my parents here on purpose to ruin my wedding?!" Chloe didn't even give me a chance to speak before she pronounced me guilty.

"I’m just trying to help Logan! A baby can get us hundreds of thousands of dollars more! Don't you understand that?"

"We agreed on this, and you said yes! Why do you have to be so difficult now? What is wrong with you?!"

When I remained silent, she shrieked, "Say something!"

"Ethan, I can’t believe you’re this two-faced. We’ve been married for six years, and I never knew you were this petty!"

Yes, six years. And I never knew she was this heartless.

"This has nothing to do with Ethan!" Her father walked out of the restaurant, his face grim. "If Logan hadn't bragged about your marriage certificate on Snapchat, your mother and I would have been kept in the dark forever!"

Her father thrust his phone in front of Chloe's face. She glanced at the screen, her eyes flickering with panic.

Without a word of apology, she pushed Logan into the cab, got in after him, and sped away.

Once the cab disappeared down the street, my phone buzzed. It was a call from Chloe.

She told me to step away from her parents before speaking.

"My parents are just emotional right now, so I couldn't say much. You need to talk to them and calm them down. Tell them we're still deeply in love and they don't need to worry."

"Oh, and make sure to mention our plan to remarry, so they don't think I'm lying to them."

After laying out her orders, she noticed my silence. "Ethan? Why aren't you speaking?"

"Are you mad because I had a wedding ceremony with Logan today?"

"Ugh, babe, if we’re going to scam the developer, we have to make it look real. Otherwise, the auditors will flag us for fraud, and that’s illegal!"

"Honey, don't be mad. You know you're the only one I love. Check your Snapchat, I sent you a little surprise."

After she hung up, I opened Snapchat.

It was a highly suggestive boudoir photo of Chloe, wearing nothing but a skimpy outfit with a fluffy bunny tail.

*Don't be mad anymore, okay?~ When we get remarried, I'll make sure to make it up to you in bed.*

I stared at the caption for a second, then deleted the entire chat history.

That night, I sat down with Chloe's parents for a long chat. They had always treated me like a son, and I didn't want to lie to them. I told them honestly that I had no intention of ever getting back together with Chloe.

I begged them not to pressure her, saying she had made her choice, and I sincerely wished her well.

"Ethan," her father said, his voice heavy with emotion. "You've loved Chloe for so long. Are you really okay with letting her go?"

Whether I was okay with it or not didn't matter anymore.

Relationships aren't a one-way street. Just because I wanted her didn't mean she would ever choose me over Logan.

Seeing my silence, her father sighed deeply. "Years ago, when my investments failed and we were drowning in debt, it was your support that saved us. I’ve always considered you my true son-in-law. But I won't force you. If you think a divorce is best, your mother and I will back you up 100%."

He squeezed my hand. "It's Chloe's loss. She was too foolish to cherish a good man."

His words brought a lump to my throat. I swallowed my tears, chatted with them a bit longer, reminded them to take care of their health, and left.

By the time I got back to my condo, I had completely lost my appetite.

Suddenly, my phone screen lit up. It was a direct message from Logan.

It was a photo of him and Chloe cuddled up in bed.

*Thanks for stepping in and calming her parents down, buddy. They aren't mad at us anymore.*

*Are you free tomorrow? I’d love to buy you dinner to show my appreciation.*

I tossed my phone aside and ignored it. This wasn't the first time Logan had tried to rub things in my face. When I was still Chloe’s husband, it used to make my blood boil. But now that we were divorced, I didn't even have the right to care.

Yet, I didn't expect such a petty move to trigger Chloe to call me again.

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