Chapter 1

1

When Ethan handed me the divorce papers for the nineteenth time, I finally agreed.

His little darling was throwing a fit about wanting to be official, she couldn't wait any longer.

And honestly? Neither could I.

I was pregnant, and the kid wasn't his.

...

After signing the papers, the first thing I did was snap a photo and text it to Ethan:

[Signed. You want your assistant to come get them?]

Twenty minutes ticked by. Ethan's text thread was as dead as a doornail.

I was about to call a courier when I saw Ethan, a little out of breath, standing at my door.

He actually came himself.

Figures.

His little princess had been making a whole scene about getting a ring for six months.

Guess he was desperate to get this over with.

"Alright, what kind of stunt are you trying to pull?" he snapped, his voice cold and impatient. "You're getting every single cent we agreed on."

Three years ago, Ethan had given me a wedding. Since then, I'd been his wife, in name only.

I'd been by his side, from broke and struggling to where he was now, successful and loaded.

But for the last six months, he'd been obsessed with ditching me.

Just to make room for his little songbird.

He had revised our separation agreement like it was a school project, nineteen times.

I hadn't liked any of the previous versions.

This time I'd signed without a peep, and he was suddenly suspicious.

I chuckled, handing him the papers.

He suspiciously opened them up, saw my signature, and his face fell. "Summer, you actually agreed to this?"

I stared at him, puzzled.

He used to say he hated it when I was clingy, hated my jealous fits.

Now that I wasn't causing a scene, going along with his plans, taking the money and running, he looked like he was more pissed off than ever.

Was he hoping I'd break down and beg him to stay?

I smiled a little. "Isn't this good for you? You can finally marry Tiffany and I can get my life back on track."

The agreement covered everything: house, cars, company shares―the whole shebang.

He really went all out.

And I was happy to take it all.

After all, I was the one who'd been with him through the lean years. Why should I just let some other woman reap what I'd sown?

Now, it was settled.

With my own earnings over the years, plus what he was paying out…

I could travel the world starting tomorrow and still live comfortably for the rest of my life.

The love was gone, but at least I still had a ton of cash.

Ethan looked at me, his expression conflicted, almost as if he wanted to say something else.

Just then, a soft, girly voice interrupted us: "Summer, thank you for letting us be together."

Tiffany―Ethan's prized little songbird.

She was a small-town girl with big ambition.

She got a standard four-year degree, and just getting a job at Ethan's competitive company was a long shot. She'd landed the job of personal assistant in the president's office, in a matter of three months.

She was incredibly dedicated―especially when it came to seducing Ethan.

Ethan said she was innocent and sweet, always worried that I'd hurt her.

But what innocent and sweet woman sleeps with a married guy and then sends the pictures to the wife?

I used to fall apart, cry, make a scene.

I even blew it all up online, only for it to disappear without a trace the next day.

Ethan always had a way of making things go away.

Funny, how he'd ended up using his skill set against me.

I was over it.

I gave them both a tight smile, not saying another word.

"Got the papers, you leaving yet?" I asked, my voice flat.

This house was in my name.

Ethan barely came around anymore since he'd started playing the field.

I wanted to disinfect the whole place if they stayed one second longer.

Ethan's face darkened. "Summer, your games aren't gonna work with me. You signed, so don't come crawling back."

Then he grabbed Tiffany's hand and started leading her toward the door.

"Hold up."

I called out to Ethan. He turned back, giving me an "I knew it" look.

Like I couldn't let him go, after all.

But I just said, "Don't forget to transfer the money, and… get the deed to the property changed over ASAP."

His face went blank for a second, then his jaw tightened. "You're sure in a hurry."

In a hurry? Yeah, I was.

I was pregnant, and not by him.

The sooner I was out of his life, the better.