CHAPTER THREE:

“I’m not coming back.”

“Yes, you are.”

The certainty in his tone chills me, like he genuinely believes I belong to him no matter what he does.

“I’m filing for divorce.”

His breathing changes slightly.

Then colder this time, “Don’t do something stupid because you’re emotional Amelia.

I close my eyes slowly.

Three years.

Three years married to this man and somehow I never realized how little respect he actually had for me.

“You already destroyed this marriage,” I say quietly. “I’m just burying it.”

Then I hang up.

My hands shaking afterward, nt because I regret it.

Because part of me still aches for him despite everything.

Claire walks over slowly. “You okay?”

“No.”

My voice comes out painfully honest.

“No, I’m really not.”

———-

By afternoon, I leave Claire’s apartment and head toward St. Vincent Medical Center.

The second I walk into the private ward, the smell of antiseptic wraps around me instantly and my chest tightens.

My father sleeps quietly in the hospital bed, monitors beeping steadily beside him. His face looks thinner than it did last week, it looks older and

Weaker too.

Fear crawls through me immediately.

“Dad?”

His eyes open slowly before softening when he sees me. “There’s my little genius.”

Tears burn behind my eyes instantly. Even now, sick and exhausted, he still smiles at me like I’m something precious.

I sit carefully beside him and hold his hand gently.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like your hospital food is trying to kill me.”

A laugh escapes me despite everything.

God, I needed that.

But then reality crashes back in again.

The medical bills, the treatments, paying the specialists.

My father’s condition has already drained most of my savings. And if I leave Ethan…i lose that financial security too.

The realization sits heavily in my chest.

I hate that money even matters right now but it does.

My father notices my expression immediately. “What happened?”

I force a smile quickly. “Nothing.”

“Amelia.”

His voice sharpening slightly.

I look away because if I meet his eyes right now, I might completely fall apart.

Thankfully, his doctor walks in before he can press further. As they discuss treatment plans and medications, my attention drifts toward the framed certificate hanging on the office wall outside the room.

Scientific Research Institute of New York.

A memory surfaces instantly, late nights in university laboratories research presentations.

My mentor, Professor David, telling me I had one of the brightest minds he’d ever seen.

Before marriage, befor I gave everything up for Ethan. Soomething painful twists inside me.

I loved research once.

God, I loved it.

After leaving the hospital, I sit in my car for almost twenty minutes staring at my contacts list before finally pressing call.

Professor David answers on the third ring.

“Amelia Hart,” he says warmly. “Well, this is unexpected.”

Emotion clogs my throat suddenly.

“It’s been a while.”

“Too long. How’s married life treating you?”

I almost laugh at the irony. Instead, I grip the steering wheel tighter. “Professor… is your research position still open?”

Silence.

Then carefully, “You want to come back?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you left science permanently.”

“So did I.”

He’s quiet for a second before saying gently, “You were always too brilliant to disappear, Amelia.”

My throat tightens painfully because Ethan never spoke about my intelligence like it mattered. Only my role as his wife.

Professor Bennett continues, “Come by tomorrow. Let’s talk.”

Relief crashes through me so suddenly I nearly cry again.

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, I sit there staring ahead while emotions war inside me.

Fear, rief.

Hope.

Maybe my life isn’t over after all, maybe this is just the beginning of something else.

—

That night, I finally return to the penthouse. Mostly because I need clothes.

The apartment is dark when I walk in, fr one brief second, it almost feels normal again.

Then Ethan steps out of the kitchen and my breath catches.

He looks terrible…he’s in a wrinkled shirt, he has tired eyes like he hasn’t slept properly.

Good.

“Amelia.”

I stiffen immediately.

“What are you doing here?”

His jaw tightens slightly. “I live here.”

Right.

Of course.

The silence between us feels unbearable.

Then Ethan walks closer slowly. “Have you eaten?”

I stare at him in disbelief.

He cheats on me and now suddenly wants to play caring husband?

“You don’t get to act concerned.”

His eyes darken slightly. “I am concerned.”

“You lost the right.”

Pain flashes across his face. But before he can speak again, my phone buzzes.

Unknown Number.

Frowning, I open the message and freeze.

A photo loads slowly onto the screen. It’s of a woman lying in bed, bare shoulders exposed beneath white sheets, Smiling smugly at the camera. Wearing my necklace, the diamond necklace Ethan bought me for our second anniversary.

My stomach drops violently, below the image is one text.

He likes seeing me wear it more.

Something inside me shatters completely.

Ethan notices my expression instantly. “What happened?”

I look up at him slowly, then I throw the phone at his chest.

His eyes scan the image and for the first time since this nightmare started….he actually looks alarmed.

“Amelia, calm down,” Ethan says quickly, stepping toward me the second he sees the photo. “It’s not what you think.”

I laugh bitterly, backing away from him. “Not what I think? She’s in bed wearing my necklace, Ethan.”

His jaw tightens. “She asked to borrow it. I didn’t know she was going to send you that.”

“Borrow it?” My voice cracks. “You gave another woman my anniversary gift?”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” he says immediately, reaching for my arm. “She kept asking for it and I didn’t want to argue.”

I stare at him in disbelief.

That necklace meant everything to me. I wore it on every important occasion because he gave it to me himself. And now another woman is lying in bed with it around her neck like she won something.

“She means nothing,” Ethan says softer this time. “You’re my wife.”

if I’m his wife……Why does another woman keep getting pieces of him that belong to me?