Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce

Chapter four

"Damian's face is swollen. His lip is split open. He can barely talk." Her breath came fast through the speaker. "You come to my office right now and apologize. Formally. In person. Or I will never forgive you for this."

Ethan’s jaw tightened. The good mood Aurora had left him evaporated like water on a hot skillet. Heat crawled up the back of his neck.

"Apologize," he repeated. The word tasted like ash."No." 

"What?" 

"I said no. I'm not apologizing." His voice was flat and steady. "Everything that happened was his fault. His and yours."

"We didn't do anything wrong!" Vivian's pitch climbed. "You attacked him out of nowhere, Ethan! Do you know how humiliating that was? For him? For me?"

A voice drifted in from behind Vivian.

"Viv, it's okay. Really."

That gentle, wounded tone. The one that made Ethan's skin crawl. "Don't force him. I don't want to be the reason you two have problems. If he doesn't want to apologize, I understand. I'd rather take the hit than cause trouble between you and your husband."

Ethan's grip on the phone tightened.

This piece of work. The man had turned being a victim into an art form.

And Vivian swallowed it whole.

"Did you hear that?" Her voice came back, trembling with righteous fury. "He's being generous. He's being understanding. Meanwhile you — you can't even manage basic decency. Can you stop being so jealous for one second?"

Ethan stared at the far wall of the café.

Across the table, Aurora set down her cup without a sound. Her eyes never left his face.

"Are you done?" Ethan said.

"I'm DONE when you apologize!"

"Then you'll be waiting a long time." A cold smile crossed his face. "I already told you, Vivian. Think whatever you want. Say whatever you want. I'm not apologizing to that man. Not today. Not ever."

Silence. Three seconds. Five.  

"Ethan…" 

She'd never heard him like this. In three years of marriage, he'd never once held his ground against her. Not once. 

Why was he being so forceful and difficult today? She would just have to put in extra effort to coax him.

"Look," Her tone shifted. Softer. Almost conciliatory. "I know things have been… tense between us. I'm willing to meet you halfway. You come here, you apologize to Damian, and I'll make it worth your while. I'll agree to one request. Anything you want. Just — come and smooth this over."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"Anything?" he asked.

"Anything. You have my word."

"Fine." He straightened in his chair. "Cut Damian off. Completely. No contact, no calls, no meetings. He disappears from your life — permanently."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Then Vivian exploded.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Her voice cracked so hard the speaker distorted. "Damian is my colleague! He's my business partner! You can't just — you can't ask me to throw away a professional relationship because of your insecurity!"

"You said anything."  

"I said anything reasonable! Pick something else — I'll do it, whatever it is — just not this. Not Damian." Her voice climbed higher, faster, words tumbling over each other. 

"He hasn't done anything wrong! He's been nothing but supportive and you just — come here, Ethan. Come talk to him face to face. You'll see. He's a good person. Just come and smooth things over and everything will be—"

"Vivian."  

His voice cut through hers like a blade through silk.

She stopped. 

The café seemed to drop ten degrees. Aurora watched him from across the table, perfectly still, her espresso untouched.

There it was. The answer he already knew he'd get. She'd give up anything — except the one thing that mattered.

His chest ached. He'd given this woman three years. Three years of his life, his dignity, his silence. And when he asked for one thing — just one — she chose Damian Hale without hesitation.

His thumb hovered over the end-call button. He was done talking to this woman.

Then he stopped.  

He needed to see her anyway. He needed her signature. And now she was practically begging him to come to her.

"Stay there," Ethan said. "I'm coming."

He hung up before she could respond.

The phone went dark. He set it face-down on the table.

Aurora raised one eyebrow. "You're going to Lockwood Industries."

"I need a divorce agreement." Ethan met her eyes. "Drafted, printed, and ready to sign before I walk through her door. Can you do that?"

Aurora studied him for exactly two seconds.

Then she pulled out her phone and dialed. One ring.

"Legal department. Priority one. Draft a standard divorce agreement, petitioner Ethan Carter, respondent Vivian Lockwood. No asset claims, no alimony, clean split." She paused. "I need it printed and in my hand in twenty minutes."

She hung up and stood, smoothing her blazer with one hand.

"I'll drive you."