CHAPTER THREE

Caleb walked into his father’s private study, his heart beating faster than usual. The room smelled like old books and expensive brandy.

His father, Jonathan Monroe, was sitting calmly behind his large desk, flipping through some papers like nothing in the world bothered him.

But Caleb was bothered.

Badly.

He stood there for a moment, trying to steady his voice.

Then he asked, “Did you have anything to do with the fire in LA... three years ago?”

Jonathan didn’t even flinch. He looked up slowly, his eyes cool. “That’s quite a question, Caleb.”

“It’s a serious one,” Caleb said firmly. “I need the truth.”

Jonathan leaned back in his chair, a slow smirk forming on his lips. “And what makes you think I had anything to do with that?”

“Because you got those defense contracts right after it happened,” Caleb said, stepping closer. “And because Whitmore Tech was destroyed the same week Monroe Systems took over everything.”

Jonathan stood up now, calm but sharper. “There were other companies involved in that space. Orion. Sentinel Core. TriStone. Why not go ask them?”

“Because you’re the only one who hated Raymond Whitmore enough to do something like that,” Caleb snapped.

He paused.

Then added, “And you knew who Ethan was, didn’t you? His real father. You knew it all.”

Jonathan’s eyes narrowed, but he still didn’t admit anything.

“I built this empire with my hands,” Jonathan said quietly. “You enjoy the spotlight, Caleb, but don’t forget who gave you the stage.”

Caleb clenched his jaw. “I’m not forgetting anything. But I’m also not going to pretend I don’t see the cracks. If you’re hiding something, I’ll find out.”

Jonathan gave a dry laugh and turned away.

“You’re chasing ghosts, son,” he said. “Don’t let one of them pull you under.”

Caleb’s chest tightened. He walked out of the room without another word, but his thoughts were racing.

His father hadn’t said yes.

But he hadn’t said no either.

And sometimes… silence said it all.

***

She dressed up quietly and got into her car. Just as she turned on the ignition, her phone rang.

It was Caleb Monroe.

She tapped to answer, putting him on speaker.

“Hi, Caleb.”

“I just saw your car leaving the estate. Where are you headed?”

“Ethan called me. He wants us to meet... to file the divorce officially.”

Caleb paused. “He can just go to court. Why does he want to see you in person?”

“Caleb, don’t you want this divorce too?”

“Stop by my place first,” he said, his voice a little more urgent. “I need to tell you something important.”

She sighed but agreed. Caleb stayed in one of his three mansions on the hill, and he was always in that particular one when he wanted peace.

When she got there, the door opened before she could knock. Caleb stood at the entrance, wearing only a robe, his chest still damp from a fresh shower.

She froze. A chill ran down her spine.

Why did he still look this good?

Why did her heart still skip?

She tried to shake it off. My husband is alive... I shouldn’t be feeling anything for Caleb. Not until the divorce was finalized.

As if he could read her mind, Caleb stepped closer and wrapped his arm gently around her waist.

“You’re pulling away from me now just because your husband came back, right?”

“That’s not true, Caleb,” she whispered. “I’m still... I’m still attracted to you. Even right now.”

“Then prove it.”

The moment felt like a spell. Her heart was confused. Her body weaker.

“Can we... Can we wait till after the divorce?” she asked, barely meeting his eyes.

He leaned in, voice low. “Do you feel drawn to him again?”

He didn’t wait for her answer. He led her into the room.

And they made love again.

***

Her phone buzzed as morning light poured through the window. She jumped out of bed, her head spinning, guilt crawling all over her skin.

She quietly slipped out of Caleb’s room.

She wasn’t going to let Ethan talk her out of anything. Today was the end. She would face him, sign the papers, and walk away from the mess.

She drove to the rooftop where they had agreed to meet—the same one where she had seen him last. He was already there, standing with his back turned.

Her chest tightened.

“I came to finalize our divorce,” she said, steadying her voice.

He turned.

Her heart stopped.

His eyes searched her face, his expression unreadable. It was as if he could feel she had been with someone else.

“You took so long,” he said quietly. “Why?”

She avoided his eyes. “Let’s not talk. I just need to sign and leave.”

“Just one question,” Ethan said.

“What is it?”

He looked at her for a long time. “Are you ashamed to face me now? Do you feel unworthy to be called my wife?”

His words landed like a punch to her chest.

Because that was exactly how she felt.

But she couldn’t admit it.

“Just sign the papers, Ethan!” she snapped. “Let me walk away from this ruined thing you still call a marriage!”

Suddenly, he grabbed her hand.

“I don’t care who you gave your body to,” he said, his voice shaking. “It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change how much I love you, Lauren. I understand you made mistakes—I made some too. I almost destroyed everything!”

Tears rushed to her eyes. “Ethan, please... I just want to disappear. I don’t want to remember anything anymore. Let me go.”

But he leaned forward... and kissed her.

It had been three long years.

This was her husband. Her first love. The first man who had ever touched her.

And right now, he was touching her again—like he still owned her body. Like he had never left.

She couldn’t fight it. She didn’t want to.

She let him hold her, let him kiss her—because she had missed him terribly.

***

Lauren buried herself in work after that night. She threw everything into her fashion brand, building her networks and overworking herself until her body finally gave out.

Maybe she thought staying busy would help her forget how confused she was. Maybe she was just trying to outrun the truth—that she was twenty-seven and completely lost.

She couldn’t face Ethan again—not after what happened between them.

And she couldn’t face Caleb either. Not when he would eventually ask why she didn’t sign those divorce papers.

How could she tell Caleb she had slept with the man she was supposed to be leaving?

Her body had grown weak. After collapsing at the studio one afternoon, she rushed to the hospital for a check-up.

Later, Doctor Williams walked into the room with a calm smile.

“You’re six weeks pregnant, Lauren Whitmore. You do know who the father is, right?”

Lauren stood up so fast her bag fell off the bed.

Six weeks...

She had slept with both men—Caleb and Ethan—on the same night.

Her stomach twisted.

What if it was Caleb’s? Ethan would never forgive her.

What if it was Ethan’s? Caleb would call her a fool.

She was scared to know the answer.

Because either way, someone’s heart was going to break.