Chapter 2

Ethan picked up the phone. On the other end, his brother Lucas sounded as laid-back as ever. “Ethan! This is an emergency! Vivian is so clumsy—she broke the Mom’s Madonna statue while getting ready for her birthday party! If mom finds out, she’ll skin Vivian alive. I’m out of the country right now, hanging at the beach with a new model I just met. I can’t come back in time. Could you smooth things over?” “I know this messes with your whole rule-following thing, but Vivian’s still your sister-in-law. You can’t just let her get in trouble, right?” Ethan’s brow furrowed, his voice turning colder. “If you married her, why don’t you cherish her? Take care of your own problems.” “Ethan, you know what I’m like. I married her because, sure, she’s not rich, but she was new and pure. Now I’m bored. She’s nothing like Natalie—she’s got that fierce beauty, wild spirit, and fire! Vivian’s… dull and tiresome. She gets on my nerves. Lately, all she does is call and cry. She’s ruining my whole vacation mood…” When Ethan heard “she calls and cries,” his eyes instantly darkened. He was quiet for a few seconds before replying in a flat, unreadable tone, “Got it. I’ll take care of it.” He hung up and strode toward the office door. Caught up with Vivian’s mess, he didn’t even notice Natalie standing there, her face as white as paper, just outside the half-open door. Natalie watched him hurry away, listening as he barked instructions to his assistant who hustled behind. “Find out where Natalie is right now,” he ordered. The assistant answered right away. “Mr. Fletcher, just got word—Mrs. Fletcher… she didn’t want to go through with the IVF, so she ran out of the hospital.” Ethan didn’t stop walking. His tone was cool, emotionless. “Send people to smash up the hospital. Now.” The assistant faltered for a second, unsure. “You mean… blame the whole thing on Mrs. Fletcher and tell Mrs. Margaret? So she’ll take her anger out on Mrs. Fletcher instead?” Ethan’s profile was ice cold, his words sharp as a blade. “Exactly. Make it big—so mom forgets all about Vivian breaking the statue.” Boom— It felt like lightning split Natalie’s mind. She turned to ice, frozen to the bone. He was looking for her, not to check if she was okay—but to turn her into Vivian’s scapegoat. To make sure Margaret focused all her anger on her instead. What else did she need to ask? What else did she need to confirm? The truth was right there. Plain, merciless, leaving her with nothing to hold onto—not even self-deception. It was as if a giant hand gripped Natalie’s heart, squeezing and tearing until the pain stole her breath, every inhale tinged with blood. When she finally came to, Ethan was already gone. She wiped the tears off her cheeks—she hadn’t even noticed when they started to fall. Natalie Bennett can stand tall—and walk away just as easily. She refused to cry for a man who didn’t love her and only used her. She pulled out her phone, dialed James Bennett. “Dad, I want a divorce from Ethan Fletcher. Use all your connections and make sure I get those papers as fast as possible.” On the other end, James was thrown by her sudden decision. Then his anger exploded. “What are you doing now? What’s wrong with Ethan? He’s stable and capable. The Fletchers are a top family! Women would kill to marry into the family! Stop acting so spoiled—you don’t know what’s good for you!” She took a deep breath, forcing down the lump in her throat. Word by word, she made herself clear: “Just help me get divorced. I promise—I’ll disappear from South City, forever. You’ll never have to see me again. I’ll never get in your way.” There was a long, heavy silence. Natalie gripped her phone, her fingers ice cold. “I’m not asking for your opinion!” Natalie’s voice was sharp as a knife. “Isn’t this what you always wanted? For me to get as far away as possible, so you and that mistress of yours and your darling illegitimate kids can play happy family with no one in your way?” She knew her father too well. All these years, there had a constant parade of women and illegitimate kids at his side. As for her—the proper daughter of the Bennett family—she’d become the extra, the obstacle that needed clearing out. How much of her boldness and pride was real? How much was just armor she built to keep herself from being swallowed up? Finally, James Bennett’s voice came back—almost relieved. “…Fine. If that’s really what you want, I’ll do it. But you’d better remember what you just said.” In that moment, Natalie felt like her heart had been stabbed a thousand times—pain rushing through every nerve in her body. She tried to smile, but all she managed was something uglier than tears. “Don’t worry. Looking at all of you makes me sick too.”