Untitled Part 12
I would stay behind, just like now, alone in that too-large villa, with so much silence around me I could hear my own breathing.
He thought I wanted a divorce because I couldn't accept Daisy.
The truth was, the real reason was him and Vanessa—how they had never really cut each other loose.
Maybe because they had once been married for three years, he always still had a trace of softness where Vanessa was concerned.
And because he couldn't bear to refuse her, he always chose to leave me behind.
Ethan didn't come home that night.
And for once, I didn't do what I used to—didn't test the waters, didn't ask where he'd spent the night, didn't try to find out what he and Vanessa had done together.
Even the next morning, when he and Vanessa arrived at the office at the same time, I felt nothing at all.
A few coworkers immediately started whispering.
"So they spent the night together?"
"They're definitely getting remarried, right?"
"Place your bets, people."
"Come on, let's guess how long before they announce it."
Several people from our team crowded together, laughing.
"One week."
"I say two."
"No way it'll be that fast. I'm betting three months."
One of the coworkers I was closer to shot me a look.
"What about you, Claire?"
I gave a faint smile.
"I don't know."
"Oh, come on. Just guess. It's only for fun."
A few of them nudged me into the circle before I could step away.
I thought about it for a second.
Ethan and I still had the one-month waiting period before our divorce could be finalized.
And if he and Vanessa really were getting back together, they'd probably need another month or two to rekindle things.
So I answered casually,
"Then I'll say three months too."
The moment the words left my mouth, the smiles around me vanished.
Everyone lowered their heads, suddenly awkward and silent.
Then a cool voice fell from above us.
"You all have that much free time?"
I turned around.
Ethan swept a glance over the others before his eyes landed on me.
"Is today's work finished?"
I pressed my lips together.
"Not yet..."
He gave a short nod.
Then he picked up the file on my desk and flipped through it.
"So your workload must be too light if you have time to stand around betting on your boss behind his back."
"You're staying late tonight. Don't leave before midnight."
"Take it as a lesson."
He looked at me.
"Any problem with that?"
One of my coworkers hesitated, then spoke up.
"Mr. Sterling, it was me. I dragged Claire into it—"
"I was talking to her."
I lowered my head.
"No. No problem."
From the corner of my eye, I could feel Ethan still looking at me.
After a long moment, he tossed the file back onto my desk—not hard, not gentle.
"Good."
His hand passed briefly through my line of sight.
But it was long enough for me to see the ring on his left hand.
When we got married, Ethan and I had each bought a wedding ring.