Chapter 4

Ethan POV

I've been extremely busy these past few days.

Ivy wasn't well. She'd just returned to the country and hadn't adjusted, her old illness flaring up, landing her back in the hospital. I spent my days at the office dealing with mountains of paperwork, and my nights at the hospital caring for her.

Ivy was always delicate. She'd frown if the IV drip was too slow, or pout if the medicine was bitter. Though I was exhausted, I had to patiently coax her, given her frail health.

For three consecutive days, I didn't return to the mansion.

I expected Chloe to call me frantically, text me, demanding to know where I was, just like before. But to my surprise, my phone was eerily silent.

No calls, no messages, not even a routine "Good morning."

At first, I didn't pay much attention. Work was too overwhelming, and I couldn't leave Ivy's side. I even felt a subtle sense of relief – Chloe not making a fuss saved me a lot of trouble.

She had probably finally learned to be sensible, to give me space, no longer clinging to me like a piece of gum.

But her continued silence… it made me a little uneasy.

I sat behind my desk, frowning at my still phone screen.

"Mr. Sterling, these are the transfer papers for the downtown art gallery you requested." Mark, my assistant, knocked and entered, placing a document on my desk. "Regarding Miss Hayes…"

"Send them to her." I rubbed my forehead. "Tell her I'm busy these days, but I'll take her to a fashion show in Paris in a few days."

Mark hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mr. Sterling, Miss Hayes… isn't home. The mansion staff said she left three days ago with a suitcase."

I shot up from my seat. "Left? Where did she go?"

"I don't know. She didn't take anything, just a small suitcase."

My heart sank instantly, a sudden, inexplicable panic gripping me. I grabbed my car keys and stormed out of the office.

I sped all the way back to the mansion.

Pushing open the door, the house was eerily silent. No sign of Chloe bustling in the kitchen, no sound of her voice, not even a faint trace of her usual perfume in the air.

I rushed upstairs, pushing open the master bedroom door.

The bed was neatly made. In the walk-in closet, all the clothes and bags I'd bought her were quietly arranged. On the vanity, there was a brown paper envelope.

I walked over and picked it up.

Inside, was a Divorce Agreement.

Her name was clearly written in the signature space for the wife.

I stared at her name. Then, I violently tore the agreement into shreds, throwing them forcefully onto the floor.

"Chloe, you've got guts!" I roared.

I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off…"

The cold, mechanical female voice echoed in the empty room. I slammed the phone against the wall, and the screen instantly shattered.

I thought she was just throwing a tantrum, that she just wanted more attention. I never imagined she would actually leave.

Chloe loved me so much, loved me to the point of sacrificing her dignity. How could she bear to leave me?

"Find her! Get her out here!" I yelled at Mark, who had rushed in. "Even if you have to use every resource, find her!"