Chapter 4

By noon the next day, Emma finally woke up on her own, completely exhausted. She sat up and realized Ethan was already gone. Figures. Today was the day he officially took over Carter Group—he must have a million things to deal with. She pushed herself up and touched the place beside her. The sheets were still slightly warm. Funny, the first time they ever shared a bed ended up being the night they signed their divorce papers. Life really knew how to mess with you. Her phone buzzed weakly on the table, taking her off guard. She grabbed it and glanced at the screen—a number she didn’t recognize. “Hello?” “Is this Emma?” A few seconds of silence, then a voice dripped in sweetness through the speaker. Emma closed her eyes, pushing away the jolt of tension. She told herself: What’s coming will come. "Yes, who’s this?" “Would you mind stepping outside for a chat? I’m in your driveway,” the woman replied, her tone soft but with an edge that made Emma’s chest tighten. It was that kind of voice—staking a claim on territory only women understood deep down. Emma stood up and pulled open the thick curtains. That blood-red sports car was parked outside like some surreal omen. And next to it, a woman in a white, body-hugging V-neck dress, oversized sunglasses, and deep red lipstick tilted her head slightly with a wave, exuding smug confidence. If Emma remembered correctly, that was the car that dropped Ethan off last night. “How about a little chat somewhere else?” the woman called out after slipping off her sunglasses, her smile bright and practiced. Emma looked into her eyes, and in that moment, something clicked—she suddenly got why Ethan might’ve ended up with this woman. Whether she meant to show off or make things difficult, Clara Mitchell led her to an upscale, members-only coffee lounge. “Menu,” Clara said casually, taking off her shades with perfect poise. “Want me to order for you, or read it out loud?” Emma didn’t even glance at her. She smiled at the good-looking waiter instead. “Iced Americano, thank you.” Clara paused. “You know, Americano late in the day’s bad for sleep. Ethan works overtime a lot, so I usually make him gentler options, like a latte or…” “You haven’t introduced yourself,” Emma cut her off, voice calm, lifting her brow a little. “Oh, right. Sorry about that. I’m Clara Mitchell, Ethan’s secretary. You’ve probably seen me around. I joined Carter Group three years ago as an assistant. Really grateful to Mr. Carter Sr. and Ethan for the opportunities.” Emma lowered her gaze, calm as ever, tapping her spoon lightly on the rim of her cup. “Thanks for everything you’ve done for my dad and my husband. I came out in a rush, forgot my wallet. Maybe when bonuses roll around, I’ll make sure you get a little… something extra?” Clara narrowed her eyes slightly, but the curve of her lips didn’t waver. “Mrs. Brooks, you’ve got a great sense of humor. But let’s be real—Ethan’s in charge now. A word from him, and I get whatever I want. I hardly need special treatment from you.” “So, Clara, what exactly do you want from me?” Emma looked her square in the eye, a composed smile on her bare face. Clara, who’d been brimming with confidence this whole time, suddenly felt like her opening combo missed the mark. “I just wanted to suggest you make the divorce official.” Clara finally dropped the act. “He doesn’t love you. You two live in completely different worlds. You think being a good match on paper means something? What he needs—is someone like me. Someone who can take care of him in life and stand beside him at work.”