Chapter 5

Chloe POV

I didn't leave the country; I moved into a small apartment on the outskirts of New York.

It was a place I'd bought in college, small, only fifty square meters, but quiet enough.

I changed my phone number, severing all ties with my past. Every day, besides painting, I'd go downstairs to buy groceries. Life was simple, yet it had a peace I'd never experienced before.

A week later, I received a call from Leo.

"Chloe, Ethan has gone insane," Leo's voice held a hint of amusement. "He's been looking for you non-stop. Sterling Corp's stock has been crashing disastrously these past few days. He's not even attending board meetings, just wandering around like a madman."

My hand, holding the paintbrush, paused slightly, then resumed its normal movement. "Everything about him is irrelevant to me. I've already signed; his search is useless."

"You've truly let go?" Leo asked.

"I've let go." I looked at the gray, desolate ocean on the canvas, my voice as light as a breeze. "I don't love him anymore."

After hanging up, I walked to the window, looking down at the bustling street.

I expected to be in pain, to suffer from insomnia. But strangely, I slept wonderfully. Without the agony of waiting, without the torment of fearing loss, my heart was completely empty.

In the afternoon, I went grocery shopping.

As I stepped out of the apartment building, a sleek black Maybach suddenly pulled up in front of me.

The car door opened, and Ethan emerged.

He had lost a lot of weight, his eyes were bloodshot, and a shadow of stubble darkened his jaw. He looked utterly wasted and agitated.

The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up fiercely, like a dying man spotting an oasis in the desert. He strode over, pulling me tightly into his embrace.

"Chloe, I finally found you…" His voice was terribly hoarse, with a hint of an almost imperceptible tremble.

I was squeezed so tightly I couldn't breathe. I didn't struggle, just spoke coldly. "Let go of me."

Ethan's body stiffened. He slowly released me, looking down at me.

My gaze was calm, as if I were looking at a stranger. No love, no hate, nothing at all.

"Come home with me." He reached out to take my hand, his voice holding a hint of almost pleading desperation. "Stop this, okay? I'll give you whatever you want. Let's go home."

I avoided his hand, stepping back.

"Ethan, you must have seen the agreement." I looked at him, my voice flat. "Sign it. It's better for everyone."

"I won't sign!" Ethan's voice suddenly rose, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. "Chloe, you'll always belong to me! There's no way you're getting a divorce!"

I looked at Ethan, so hysterical, and suddenly felt a bit pathetic.

"Ethan, what exactly are you so angry about?" I forced a cynical smile. "Your pretty little ornament isn't playing nice anymore, and you don't like it? Or perhaps I didn't obediently vacate my position for your Ivy?"

Ethan's face instantly went pale.

"You… you knew?"

"Yes, I knew." I looked at Ethan's suddenly bloodless face. I felt no sense of satisfaction or revenge, only a profound weariness.

"That backup phone, those texts, I saw everything." My voice was soft. "Ethan, you disgust me."

Ethan's breathing grew ragged. He stepped forward, trying to grab my shoulders. "Chloe, listen to me, things aren't what you think…"

"Aren't what?" I cut him off, my eyes cold. "Were you not marrying me to protect Ivy, using me as a mere decoration? Were you not leveraging my family's influence to consolidate your power? Or did you not throw me aside like garbage the very day Ivy returned?"

Ethan opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Because everything I said was true.

He married me back then because his grandfather was pressuring him, and my family background was good. Plus, I loved him so much, making me the perfect candidate.

What, is he coming to me now because he regrets it?

"Chloe, I admit I did use you at first." Ethan's voice trembled slightly. "But later… later I really was…"

"Really what?" I sneered. "Really got used to having someone circle around you like a loyal dog? Ethan, save your 'deep affection' act for your Ivy. I find it filthy."

With that, I turned and walked away.

"Chloe!" Ethan abruptly embraced me from behind, his arms clamping tightly around my waist, as if trying to merge me into his own body. "I won't divorce! I'd rather die than divorce! You won't leave me!"

I forcefully pried open his fingers, one by one, resolute and unfeeling.

"Ethan, don't make me hate you."

I broke free from his embrace and walked into the apartment complex without looking back.

In the following days, Ethan acted like a madman, waiting downstairs by my apartment building every day.

He didn't dare to disturb me, only sitting in his car, chain-smoking.

He sent me messages on his phone, telling me he had broken off things with Ivy.

He said he couldn't lose me.

I looked at the messages on my phone coldly, my heart completely unmoved.

Whatever he wanted to do was irrelevant to me.