Chapter 2

Ethan’s self-righteous expression vanished.

He stood frozen for a long moment before responding. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She’s my sister. What the hell are you imagining? There’s a limit to jealousy. You can’t just make filthy accusations!”

“Lily barely had an education. She grew up in an isolated little town, and she’s old-fashioned. Her reputation means everything to her. She couldn’t handle hearing you talk about her like that!”

Ethan deliberately lowered his voice.

He really was afraid Lily might hear and get upset.

“I go into her room because she’s in her third trimester and gets leg cramps at night. They hurt so badly she can’t stand it. I’m just massaging her legs.”

“Stop imagining things. I know pregnancy made you sensitive, so I won’t hold it against you.”

“The baby’s gone. Neither of us can change that.”

“Now you need to stay home and recover. Help me look after Lily while you’re at it. Once her baby’s a little older, we can try for another one.”

Look after her? Why the hell should I?

I shook off Ethan’s hand. “I want a divorce. That’s not negotiable.”

His patience snapped.

He was convinced I was just being irrationally jealous.

His jaw clenched so hard that, for a moment, I thought he might hit me.

Then Lily called, and his anger vanished.

“Ethan, my legs hurt. Come rub them for me.”

Her voice was soft and breathy, almost a caress.

Ethan couldn’t resist it. He abandoned me without hesitation.

The door slammed, severing the last threads of our years together.

As I packed, I heard a teasing voice from the next room.

Lily laughed and playfully slapped Ethan’s hand. “Stop. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Mom wants me to have a natural delivery. She even brought some home remedy that’s supposed to stretch everything out so giving birth won’t hurt as much.”

“But my belly’s so big I can’t see down there. Can you help me?”

My hands went still.

As a woman, I knew exactly where that remedy was supposed to go.

Even if he’d been her biological brother, what pregnant woman would ask him to do something so intimate?

Ethan said nothing.

Instead, I heard Lily gasp several times.

I forced myself not to listen, not to imagine it.

But it was as if Lily wanted to torment me.

Every sound she made was more suggestive than the last.

Without another backward glance, I grabbed my suitcase and hurried out.

I was finally leaving those two behind.

On my way out, I passed the kitchen and saw chicken droppings everywhere.

The smell was already spreading.

I’d been gone for three days, and they’d both pretended not to notice.

They really thought I was their servant.

Well, I was leaving. Let them clean up their own mess.

Ethan had nothing when we first got together.

Over the years, we’d built the company up step by step.

But he had little experience and even less vision.

I had to make most of the major decisions. When I couldn’t solve something, I went to my father.

That was how we’d stumbled our way to success.

Now Ethan wanted me out of the company. He wanted me home raising his children and waiting on his mistress.

He wanted to push me aside and use the money I’d spent years earning to support another woman.

In his dreams.

He thought he was so capable, that he could handle anything.

But ever since we’d gotten married, he’d been a useless lump who couldn’t even cook a meal!

I couldn’t wait to see how he and Lily managed without me.