His Secretary Takes Charge

Chapter 7

That night, after we got home, I waited until Ethan was in the shower before checking his WhatsApp messages.

Chloe had texted, "Mr. Carter, do you think I was too harsh today? Your wife didn't look too happy."

Ethan replied, "Don't worry about her. She always looks like that, perpetually pissed."

Then Chloe added, "I know I probably shouldn't say this, but… I think I'm starting to fall for you."

He didn't say a word back, just sent her a shy blushing emoji.

My hands clenched around the phone as I stormed into the bathroom. He froze mid-rinse, completely thrown off by my sudden appearance.

"Grace, are you out of your mind?"

Tears welled up and spilled down my cheeks. "Ethan, are you in love with Chloe?"

He turned off the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist, and gave me this cocky little grin like he was proud of himself.

"Yeah. I love her. So what? You planning to leave me?"

"You're disgusting, Ethan! I want a divorce!"

"Great. Let's do it tomorrow. Honestly, I can't wait to see who'd want an old, washed-up, secondhand hippo like you."

I crumpled right there, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ethan… how could you treat me like this?"

He shrugged like it was no big deal.

"What, you didn't know who I was all this time? Come on, Grace. If you can't handle the truth, leave."

And the sad thing was, he was right. I had known who he was. I just kept fooling myself into thinking he'd change. That his coldness was some kind of tough love. That his rare moments of warmth were proof he still cared.

But now? Now I could finally see it for what it was.

I had created the illusion. I was the one who painted him gold.

So I made up my mind, I was leaving.

The next morning, I wheeled my suitcase to the front door, but Ethan stepped in front of me before I could open it.

"Don't go. If it's that big of a deal, I'll move out instead."

My eyes drifted toward the backyard. The lavender we planted together had somehow bloomed without me even noticing. The scent reached all the way to the entryway.

I sighed. Maybe I'd stay a little longer. Just until lavender season ended.

Ethan's tone softened behind me. "I have to fly out for a business trip. If you still want the divorce when I get back… we'll go through with it."

Four days later, he called.

"Babe, I'm back. I'm at the front door, can you let me in?"

I had changed the locks. Both front and back. Never mentioned it, never planned to.

I answered coolly, "I'm at the Blue Maple Club. If you need something, come find me."

I had just ordered a pot of Biluochun tea when a woman dropped into the seat across from me without so much as a greeting.

It was Chloe Brooks.