Chapter 2

The next morning, Ethan woke up in his empty penthouse. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, mocking him. Izzy hadn't stayed over. He hadn't wanted her to. It made things cleaner. He was already detaching.

He called his head of household staff, Mr. Davies. "Davies, I'm letting everyone go." A pause on the other end. "Sir? Is everything alright?" "Perfectly fine. I'm restructuring. Generous severance packages for all. Effective immediately." He didn't want witnesses to his unraveling. Or his disappearance. Davies was loyal, but the script was powerful.

He sat at his antique mahogany desk. He pulled out a sheet of Prescott Holdings letterhead. He began to write a letter to his parents. Charles and Eleanor Prescott. He couldn't tell them about the vision, the script. They'd think he was insane. He had to give them a more conventional reason for his actions. Business pressures. A need to escape. He hinted at despair, but not too much. He didn't want them to grieve too deeply for a lie. He sealed the envelope. Life Erase Inc. would mail it after his "death."

Later that day, he drove to Queens. To Maria Rossi's small, neat house. Izzy's mother. He genuinely liked Maria. She was warm, kind. She always had a smile for him, a cup of strong Italian coffee. She was the reason Izzy had signed the contract. Her late husband's medical bills. Maria knew Izzy had "found a way to help the family." She didn't know the details. She adored Ethan. He was always respectful, charming with her.

"Ethan, caro! Come in, come in!" Maria hugged him warmly. Her kitchen smelled of garlic and basil. "Izzy's not here. Working late again. That girl, always so busy." "I know, Maria. I just wanted to see you." They sat at her kitchen table. She poured him coffee. "You look tired, Ethan. Are you working too hard?" He managed a smile. "Something like that." She patted his hand. "You're a good boy, Ethan. So good to Izzy, to our family. I pray every day she sees what a wonderful man you are. That she opens her heart to you." His chest tightened. Dramatic irony. The script wanted her heart for Liam. "Maria," he began, then hesitated. He pulled an envelope from his jacket. "I wanted to give you this. For Izzy. For you. No strings attached." Inside was a cashier's check for a substantial amount. Enough for Maria to live comfortably for years. Enough for Izzy to feel truly free when she eventually left him. Maria's eyes widened. "Ethan, I can't... this is too much." "Please, Maria. It would make me happy." She teared up. "Bless you, child."

He wanted to tell her he was leaving. That this was goodbye. But the words caught in his throat. Just as he was about to try, the front door opened. Izzy walked in. And right behind her, Liam Vance. Liam's arm was casually around Izzy's shoulders. They were laughing. They stopped when they saw Ethan. The script. Always on time.