My eyes widened. “No–I mean–yes! I mean, I ordered it for


    you.”


    He smirked. “Uh–huh.”


    I tried not to blush. “Seriously. I thought you might be hungry


    too.”


    “Is that so?” he murmured, amused.


    I was saved from further embarrassment when the bell above


    the door jingled.


    I looked up and smiled–until the passenger side of Ava’s car


    opened and Ethan stepped out. My smile dropped like a stone in


    water.


    “What the hell…” I breathed.


    Ava pushed the door open, looking apologetic. Ethan strode in right behind her like he owned the ce.


    He came straight toward me without a word and sat down beside me. Without asking, he picked up the bowl of meat pasta


    and started eating.


    Chapter <i>6 </i>


    “Didn’t know my wife started dining alone now,” he said


    casually, his eyes cold.


    I stiffened. “I’m not your-”


    “You didn’t think to tell me?” he interrupted. “Or are you just


    that cozy with him now?” He gestured at Alexander with his


    fork.


    “Don’t do this here,” I whispered, furious.


    Alexander said nothing, watching Ethan with that same


    unreadable expression.


    Ethan turned his gaze to him. “You always just hanging around


    other people’s wives? Or is that a new hobby?”


    “Watch it,” Ava snapped before I could say a word. “Alexander


    was just being decent.”


    Ethan scoffed. “Decent? You mean like when he dragged her


    away in the middle of the night? Or when he keeps showing up


    every time I’m around? Yeah. Real decent.”‘


    I tried to change the subject, but Ethan wasn’t done.


    “Oh,” he said louder, “and maybe ask your bestie here why she


    thinks Mr. Stoic is secretly in love with you.”


    My stomach dropped.


    Ava froze. “Ethan-”


    He pulled out his phone and held it up. “Text messages. Cute


    ones too: Olivia: I’m safe. Alexander found me.Ava: OMG. I


    KNEW IT. He came himself?? See??? He totally has feelings for


    you!!!”


    My throat tightened.


    Alexander didn’t flinch. “Whether I like Olivia or not,” he said


    calmly, “is not your business.“”


    Ethan clenched his jaw.


    Alexander leaned forward. “But what is everyone’s business


    now is the way you’ve been forcing yourself on a woman who


    wants nothing to do with you. That is what’s disgusting.”


    Ethan’s eyes shed amber for a second.


    “Rx,” Alexander added, waving to the server. “Let’s get a fresh


    order. Hot pasta. One each. Extra meat for Ava.”


    The server nodded and rushed off.


    Ava nced at me, face pale. “I swear I didn’t mean it like that… I


    was just joking in texts-‘


    “I know,” I said quickly, giving her a small nod.


    Ethan crossed his arms and stared at his te like it had


    personally offended him. “I lost my appetite”


    “I didn’t,” Alexander said, picking up his fork and calmly starting


    on the new bowl of pasta.


    The table was quiet for a few awkward minutes.


    I couldn’t eat. My hands were trembling under the table, and


    my throat was <i>too </i>tight.


    Ethan sat rigid, fuming silently.


    Alexander didn’t even nce up, finishing his food withoutment. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with a napkin, ced his fork down with a soft clink, and looked


    around at us.


    “Don’t waste food,” he said quietly. “Especially not when people


    are starving in front of you.”


    Ava blinked.


    Then she immediately picked up her fork and began eating like


    her life depended on it.


    Olivia’s POV


    The night air bit as Ethan and I stepped out onto the sidewalk,


    the earlier noise of the restaurant dimming behind us.


    Chapter of


    “Listen,” I said, “the divorce is final. I want nothing more to do


    with you!”


    He exhaled sharply. “No way. I am not interested in the divorce


    at all.”


    “But I am,” I fired back. “You cheated. You lied. You humiliated me publicly. You forfeited the right to decide anything”


    He took a step closer. “It’s not over. I’m not giving up on our marriage just because you’re scared.”


    “Scared?” I spat. “No. I’m done. I refuse to stay with someone


    who doesn’t respect me.”


    Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Respect? You think you have any idea what I’ve done? You think I’m some monster?”


    “You did the monster job all by yourself!” I shot back. “Did you think or care how I’d feel, Ethan?”


    He stared at me for a long moment, jaw tight. Then he turned


    abruptly.


    Alexander, who had followed us outside, came forward. He put a hand firmly on Ethan’s arm. “That’s enough,” he said, calm yet heavy. “Time for you to leave.”


    I watched their silent exchange with a knot tightening in my chest. Ava appeared at my side, steady and resolute.


    Alexander looked back at me. “Ava will take you home. Ethan


    wille with me.”