I ced the box on a shelf in my new apartment.


    I didn’t open it again. Didn’t even brush the dust from the corners. I wasn’t going to throw it away or burn it either. That memory-what we buried-it wasn’t just about Ethan. That paper held a version of me too. A girl who used to believe in something.


    My phone vibrated. Ethan.


    I stared at the screen. He’d been calling more oftentely. Maybe he could feel it too-that we were done. That this thing between us was already dead. I didn’t answer. I didn’t hang up either. Just let it ring until it stopped.


    A few secondster, I got a new text. From Mike.


    “Mr. Green will be attending a meeting at Ashmoon Hotel on Friday afternoon. You may deliver the suit at that time.”


    Ashmoon Hotel? That’s… secluded.


    My brows furrowed. Why would Alexander want to meet me at a hotel? And why now? I didn’t want to read too much into it. I wasn’t naive, and I sure as hell wasn’t desperate. But it did feel strange.


    Still, I didn’t reply. Not right away. I needed to think.


    Two hourster, I pulled out of the Duskhollow Pines gate, sunsses on and my hair pulled into a neat low bun. But my fingers mmed the brakes the moment I saw that familiar blood-red Ferrari parked down the road.


    My heart sank.


    Ethan.


    He was leaning against the side, smoking. His expression behind the curtain of smoke wasn’t hard to read. He was pissed off and intentionally was parked in my way.


    I knew I couldn’t avoid this. I parked behind him, grabbed my bag, walked over, and slid into the passenger seat with- out being invited.


    I spoke first. “Why are you here?”


    His


    eyes


    didn’t move. “You tell me, Olivia. What the hell are you doing here?”


    I frowned: “You followed me?”


    He didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the phone from his dash and threw it into myp. “Exin.”


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    I looked down. On the screen was a list of property owners in Duskhollow Pines.


    My name was there. I closed my eyes for half a second, then met his stare.


    “I bought a condo,” I said, calmly. “With my own money. From my own savings. It didn’t cost you a single cent.”


    “That’s not what I’m asking,” Ethan said, jaw tight. “Why here? Why this building? Why hide it?”


    “I didn’t hide it. I just didn’t tell you. And I didn’t think I needed to.” I turned toward him. “Do I need your permis- sion to have something of my own?”


    His eyes sharpened. “So that’s what this is about? You buying your independence?”


    “Would that be so bad?” I shot back. “I’ve been working for years. Building your projects. Following your orders. I just wanted one space that’s mine.”


    He looked away and let out a shortugh-more like a scoff. “You think I ever held you back? Every gift I gave you -each ne, bracelet, trip-you think that was control?”


    I didn’t respond.


    Ethan continued, “For your kind information, the nes you wear are all expensive than this piece of property you brought. All I did that was for you.”


    He then pulled his wallet from his back pocket, yanked out his ck card, and shoved it toward me. “Take it. Go buy ten more houses.”


    I stared at the card for a second, then pushed it gently back into hisp. “Alpha Ethan is very generous.”


    His lips thinned. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”


    Maybe for the money, I could choose to continue to put up with his betrayal and be an emotionless gold-digger. But I didn’t want to live like that. I had a self-esteem and a conscience, unlike him.


    “Thanks, but I don’t want to be bought.” I unzipped my purse and dropped his card inside. “If I ever need your mon- ey, I’ll ask. But not today.”


    I reached to close my bag, but he grabbed my wrist.


    “Do you trust me at all, Olivia?”


    “Does it matter?” I paused. “You live your life the way want to, anyways. You can keep living like that.”


    He didn’t speak. I pulled my hand free.


    My phone buzzed.


    My spine stiffened. Could it be Mike? I didn’t reply to his text earlier, maybe he was confirming via call.


    Ethan noticed.


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    His eyes narrowed. “Who is it?”


    I flipped the screen toward me. Amelia. Thank god.


    “Luna Amelia,” I said, making sure he could hear the name. “Want to say hi?”


    He hesitated.


    “I’m serious,” I said, already answering.


    I put the call on speaker. “Hey, Amelia. I’m with Ethan” I hoped she could get me and won’t say something about our


    deal.


    Amelia’s voice came through the line, slightly surprised. “Oh, I didn’t know you were with Ethan. Never mind, dear. Just calling about the bag. Still want it?”


    “Yes,” I replied quickly. “Sent all mine for cleaning. I need at least one.’


    “Alright then. I’ll have it sent over.” She hung up.


    Ethan looked over at me, puzzled. “Since when are you two close?”


    I shrugged. “Would you rather we fight every day?”


    He had noeback for that. The best way to shut people like him would be to ask rhetorical questions.


    He started the engine. “I’ll drop you off.”


    “Okay. But I still have my car here.”


    “Don’t worry. I’ll have someone bring your car back.”


    I stayed quiet.


    The drive back was tense. I pretended to scroll through my phone just to avoid looking at him.


    Back at home, I watched from the porch as Ethan’s car finally disappeared into the main road. I let out the breath I’d been holding. That was too close.


    The next few days, I stayed indoors. Didn’t step outside. Didn’t want to risk Ethan seeing me again. I knew he’d ex- plode the moment he found out about the divorce filing. And I didn’t want to be anywhere near that mess.


    So, I nned a trip.


    Maldive. Somewhere far. Somewhere I could be unreachable for a while.


    Just enough time for Ethan to cool off.


    Ava called that afternoon. Her tone was more serious than usual.


    “You sure you’re ready to deal with Amelia?” she asked.


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    Iy back on my bed. “She won’t touch me until I sign those divorce papers.”


    “You trust her not to throw a wrench in this?”


    “She’s more afraid than I am,” I said. “She knows I’ve filed. She’s probably the one leaking the Hawthrone-Windsor engagement rumors.”


    “You really think so?”


    “I’d bet on it.”


    Ava sighed. “Just be careful.”


    I nodded.


    On Friday, I was sitting at my desk, finalizing my ne tickets when my phone rang, Amelia.


    I picked up, wary.


    “I need you toe in and sign something,” she said.


    “What kind of something?”


    “Just a revised agreement. It’s nothing big.”


    I nced at my calendar. “I’ll have mywyer look at it.”


    “Olivia,” she said, her voice crisp now. “You’re asking for $250 million. We’re not sending documents to yourwyer’s office. You’re meeting me. In person. Today.”


    I stayed quiet.


    “I’m at the Ashmoon Hotel. It’s private. Discreet. No reporters.”


    My eyes flickered.


    Ashmoon?


    Mike’s text came rushing back.


    Alexander was supposed to be there today.


    My fingers tightened around the phone.


    Was this all a coincidence?