Chapter 2

I put the necklace back in its box. "Why did you buy her something that expensive?"

Ethan picked up his phone, a trace of discomfort crossing his face. "Chloe just went through a divorce. She's having a hard time. I only sent her something to cheer her up.

"Besides, since when do you care about expensive things? A gift is more about the thought behind it. The second you start comparing price tags, you've missed the point."

So, when the gift was for me, only the thought mattered.

When it was for Chloe, nothing less than the best would do.

"So, let me get this straight," I said quietly. "Chloe says she wants something, and you hand her 3,000,000 dollars and a 999,900-dollar necklace. But I spend all day alone at the hospital getting prenatal tests, tell you I'm tired, and you decide I'm fishing for money?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "It's my money. I don't need your permission to spend it however I want. You got your gift. Why are you so obsessed with what Chloe got?"

It wasn't until that moment that I finally understood.

It had never really been about the 10,000-fold difference in price.

It was the fact that after standing by Ethan for six years, I still had to prove over and over again that I wasn't with him for his money.

Chloe had walked out on him six years ago, yet all she had to do was come back, and she was instantly given the kind devotion he'd held onto all those years.

Perhaps feeling a little guilty, Ethan reached over and gave my head an affectionate pat before taking the medical reports from my hand. "Alright. I was a little harsh just now. Next time you have an appointment, tell me ahead of time. I'll try to clear my schedule and go with you."

There was a note of weary indulgence in his voice, as though he were humoring a child throwing a tantrum.

In the past, every argument between us had ended the same way. The moment Ethan softened even slightly, I would be the one to wrap my arms around him and swallow every last bit of hurt.

This time, I simply nodded. "Okay."

Ethan took my answer as a sign that everything was fine again.

The tension visibly left his face.

Just then, my phone lit up. The message read, "Your appointment has been confirmed."

I immediately turned off the screen before Ethan could see it.

He had no idea.

There wasn't going to be a next time for us.

…

The next morning, Ethan acted as though the argument had never happened.

He sent me a reservation confirmation. "Noon. The Skyline. I'll make up for your birthday."

I'd tried to take him to that restaurant three times before.

The first had been for our dating anniversary. Ethan took one look at the 5,000-dollar-per-person tasting menu and said spending that much on a single meal was ridiculous.

The second had been our wedding anniversary. A last-minute business dinner came up, and he told me to cancel the reservation.

The third had been my birthday last month. He had forgotten to come home.

I had sat alone at the restaurant until closing time, but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money on dinner for one. I left without ordering a thing.

Now, after all that, Ethan was finally the one asking me to go.

Even knowing our marriage was already over, I still felt an ache settle somewhere deep in my chest.

Funny how something I'd wanted for so long could finally happen and bring me no happiness at all.

I arrived at the restaurant right at noon.

However, instead of showing me to a private table for two, the hostess opened the doors to one of the restaurant's event rooms.

Inside, nearly every seat was filled with executives from Ethan's company and representatives from their business partners.

Across the screen at the front of the room were the words, "Welcome Home, Chloe Hart. Here's to the Launch of Our Newest Venture."

Chloe sat beside Ethan in a flowing white dress, the diamond necklace glittering at her throat.

In front of Ethan was a bouquet of double tulips.

My favorite flowers.

I'd told him that once, years ago. He'd thought they were overpriced and had never bought them for me. Not even once.

Now, Chloe was cradling that same bouquet.

The moment she saw me, she stood with a bright smile. "Grace! You're finally here. Ethan said we're celebrating both of us today. A belated birthday lunch for you, and a welcome-home party for me."

A three-tier cake sat in the center of the table.

Yet the only message written across it was, "Welcome Home, Chloe."

There was no mention of me.

There was nothing to suggest that anyone was celebrating a birthday at all.

I looked at Ethan. "This is what you meant by making up for my birthday?"

A flicker of discomfort crossed his face. "It was impossible to find another day that worked for everyone, so we had to combine the two. Besides, it's just a birthday. You have one every year. Chloe's finally back after six years. Welcoming her home is a much bigger deal."

Suddenly, I remembered what he'd said the night before.

A gift was about the thought behind it. There was no point comparing price tags.

Apparently, birthdays worked the same way.

As long as I was the one on the receiving end, the gifts, the flowers, and the celebration were all optional.