chapter 4

Ethan's POV

I thought when I marry Sonia, I would learn to love her and forget about Celine but I was wrong. My heart still beat for her, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise.

Celine was my childhood friend and my first love. Even though she was the one who cheated on me, I was ready to forgive and take her back.

Sounds crazy right? But that was how much I loved her.

I never knew Sonia had always wanted to have me, to take Celine’s position in my life until the day our drinks was drugged, leading to sexual encounter between us. I only asked her to pretend to be my financee pending on when the scandal would dies out. But then, she told me she was pregnant. I was shocked.. confused. I asked her to give me time, to let me process everything because I wasn’t ready for this kind of commitment, especially not with my secretary, someone I didn’t love.

I didn’t know how, but somehow, my mother found out about the pregnancy before I could even figure things out for myself. I found out through Tina that it was Sonia who told my mother and that was how everything went out of control.

My mother, who was already desperate for an heir, demanded that I marry Sonia because she doesn't want her grandchild to be raise by a single mother.

When I refused, she threatened me with my inheritance, telling me that if I didn’t do what was “right,” she would cut me off completely. I was angry—furious. I didn’t want to be forced into this marriage. But for the sake of the child, I agreed. I thought, maybe I could make it work. Maybe, with time, I could grow to love Sonia, or at least tolerate the life I was being forced into.

Tina told me countless times that Sonia wasn't pregnant and everything was her plan just to get me to marry her. She saw through her façade, insisting that Sonia was only with me because of money and nothing else.

I didn’t believe her. I thought Tina was being paranoid, or maybe she just didn’t like Sonia because Celine was her best friend. But all those doubts vanished the day she claimed to lose the pregnancy.

I still remember the pain and the anger. The moment the doctor told us the baby was gone, something inside me broke. I knew that she hired the doctor to say that, to lied about losing the child.

I looked at Sonia, and all I could feel was hatred. Tina’s warnings rang in my ears, and I believed them. I blamed Sonia for everything. It was all her plan to have me. That was when my love for her, if there had ever been any, completely turned to bitterness.

Now, with the death of my mother and Céline back into my life, I had no reason to keep pretending. I had been waiting for this moment, this chance to finally let go of the past. That was why I gave Sonia the divorce papers. I thought it would be a clean break, an easy way out for both of us. I had compensated her well for all the years she spent by my side. It wasn’t as if she would be left with nothing.

After my dinner with Celine, I headed to the club to meet up with my friends. I needed to get this weight off my chest.

I stepped into the club and I saw my friend seated and chatting. They were the only friends I had right from my childhood.

I went over to them and ordered a bottle of alcohol. I don't usually take alcohol but I needed it at the moment to wash away the strange feeling I had inside of me.

“So,guys,” I said, raising my drink, “I’m getting a divorce.”

Daniel's brow furrowed, turning his gaze on me. “You’re really going through with it?”

“Yeah,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “It’s the best decision for both of us.”

Tony shook his head. “I don’t know, Ethan. But Sonia has always been good to you. I don't know why you want a divorce."

“Good?” Alex scoffed, clapping me on the shoulder. “She’s been holding him back for years. This is the right move, Ethan. You’ve got Celine now. That’s all you need.”

Daniel and Tony exchanged glances but didn’t say anything more. I thought I would feel relieved after telling them. I thought I’d feel free, finally. But there was this gnawing unease inside me that I couldn’t quite shake. I pushed it down, telling myself that once it was all done, everything would feel right again.

When I got home, I was expecting to see Sonia in the living room and welcome me with her warm smile but the house felt different.

There was a stillness that I wasn’t used to. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But as I walked through the rooms, I realized something was off. The place was... empty. Lifeless.

My heart raced as I moved from room to room, expecting to find some sign of her presence, but there was nothing. No scent, no lingering trace of her. It was as if she had never been there at all.

When I reached our bedroom, I stopped dead in my tracks. My heart pounded in my chest as my gaze fell on the ring... her wedding ring was lying in the middle of the bed, on top of the divorce papers.

My blood ran cold, I stared at them, my mind racing. She had actually left. I had given her the divorce papers, thinking she would hesitate, that she’d fight back, fight for us like she always does and try to stay. But she was gone.

Her whole thing was gone.

This was what I've always wanted. To be free from her. To stay with Celine, the love of my life. I should be happy that she was gone, right?

But why do I feel hurt?

What's with these strange feelings? Why do I feel as if I'm starting to regret my actions?

Right now, I feel nothing but emptiness.

I sat on the bed, the weight of it all finally sinking in. I had thought I wanted this freedom, an escape from a marriage I never really wanted. But now, sitting in the silence of an empty house, all I felt was regret. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I had taken her for granted. How she had tried, despite everything, to make things work. How loving and caring she had been, even when I had been cold and distant.

I never thought she would actually leave. I only wanted to scare her, to push her into making the first move. But now, with her gone, the house felt unbearable. It wasn’t just the physical emptiness, it was the absence of her. Her presence. Her scent. Everything that had once made this place feel alive was gone.

I couldn't help but pick up my phone to call her but it wasn't reachable, making my heart pounding in fear.

She doesn't have anyone I can call. She was an orphan and didn't have friends.

Where do I find her?

"I needed to look for her before it was too late." I quickly stood up from the bed and went in search of her.

I searched the airports, the whole city but there was no sign of her. It was as if... she had disappeared into thin air without traces.

For days, I wandered through the house, restless, unable to concentrate on anything. I couldn’t work, couldn’t focus. All I could think about was her.

That was when I realized something that scared me more than anything else.

I still loved her.

I had spent so long convincing myself that I hated her, that I didn’t need her. But now, with her gone, I knew the truth. I didn’t want to let her go. I couldn’t.

I grabbed my phone, my hands shaking as I dialed Mr. Jenkins, my private investigator. I can't give up. I need to find her.

“Mr. Jenkins,” I said, my voice unsteady, “I need you to find someone very important for me.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Someone very important?” He questioned, his voice laced with concern.

“Yes,” I replied, my heart racing.

"Who is that, sir?"

“Sonia, my wife. I need you to Search the entire city if you have to. Just... find and bring her back to me. I can’t let her go.”

“I’ll begin right away, sir,” Mr. Jenkins said. “I’ll update you as soon as I have any information.”

I hung up, my thoughts swirling. I had been a fool. A complete fool. I didn’t know how I was going to fix this, but if I find her.. if she would still listen to me, I would never let her out of my sight. I wouldn't let her go again. Not ever.