Chapter 3

In the entryway, my velvet slippers had been kicked into a corner.

Men's leather shoes and silver heels sat in the middle of the shoe cabinet. I recognized the heels. Ethan had bought them for Grace with my card.

I pushed the door open.

Grace walked out in my silk robe and slippers, holding my bone-china cup. Red wine stained the rim, and she moved like she owned the place.

When she saw me, panic flashed across her face, but it vanished almost at once. "Sofia, why are you home at this hour? I thought you were at the office."

As she spoke, she deliberately set the cup on the coffee table.

A cigarette butt floated inside it. That was the matching cup Ethan had given me.

I used to save it for weekend tea. Ethan knew I hated smoke and had once quit for half a year because of me.

Now the living room reeked of smoke.

Ethan sat on the sofa with his shirt collar open. When he saw me, he froze for half a second, then frowned. "Did you leave work early again? Sofia, even if you're my wife, you can't treat company rules like a joke. How am I supposed to manage anyone?"

At Hale Creative, the biggest rule was that Grace was always the exception.

She had no industry experience, but Ethan brought her straight into management.

She played games during office hours, and Ethan said young creatives needed to decompress.

She sent a client's pricing sheet to a competitor by mistake, and Ethan said everyone slipped up.

She stole a client I had spent three months courting, and Ethan said that proved she was good at maintaining relationships.

If I said one word about fairness, I was petty, jealous, and childish.

Grace walked to Ethan's side and pressed a hand gently to his shoulder. "Ethan, maybe Sofia knew you came back early and rushed home to see you. Don't be so harsh."

Ethan's expression eased. "How did you know I came back today?"

Grace smiled. "Admin booked the tickets. Maybe someone told her."

Ethan looked at me with condescending tolerance. "Fine. I'll let it go this time."

He paused, then his voice cooled. "But I haven't settled the frozen-card issue with you. If Grace hadn't borrowed money from a friend last night, you would have humiliated me in front of the client."

Grace hurried to speak. "It's okay. I know Sofia was just upset. After all, you gave the anniversary ticket to me. It's normal for her to feel hurt."

"Feeling hurt gives her the right to act like this?" Ethan asked. "I already gave her a way down."

I stood in the entryway and suddenly found the apartment absurdly unfamiliar. I had chosen the furniture and paid every bill, yet they sat there like owners judging me in my own home.

Seeing my silence, Ethan assumed I was reflecting on my mistake. His tone softened.

“If you want me to forgive you, it’s not impossible.”

He leaned back against the sofa, as if granting mercy.“Grace’s apartment has a leak and isn’t livable right now. Clear out the master bedroom and let her stay here for a while.”

“And where am I supposed to sleep?”

Ethan frowned, “The guest room is empty. Sofia, don’t make this ugly. Grace is a guest.”

Grace looked at me, smugness hidden behind her gentle eyes.

“Sofia, I can pay rent. Whatever the market rate is, I’ll pay it. I don’t want Ethan to think I’m taking advantage of you.”

Ethan laughed.

“Why are you talking about rent with me? Just give a few hundred as a gesture.”

This lakefront apartment rented for nearly twelve thousand a month.

Ethan once split parking fees with me, yet he could hand Grace my master bedroom for a few hundred.

I nodded once. "I'm afraid that won't work."

Ethan's brow tightened. "Are you trying to start another fight?"

"The apartment is sold."

Grace recovered first. "Is Sofia selling this place so you two can buy a bigger one and start over?"

Ethan's expression relaxed at once. "That's fine. We've lived here long enough. It's time for a bigger place. The new one can be under both our names."

Then he looked at Grace. "Don't hand this place over yet. Let Grace use it during the transition. I'll talk to the buyer."

I looked at him calmly. "When I said sold, I meant sold. The contract is signed. The handover is in one month."

The smile dropped from Ethan's face. "Sofia, what are you doing? Freezing the card, resigning, selling the apartment. Are you testing me because you think I won't really divorce you?"

Grace tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Ethan, don't say that. Sofia just loves you too much. This is probably her way of asking for attention."

As if reminded, Ethan sneered. "Yes. I know you can't bear to leave me. Here's what we'll do. Apologize to Grace, restore the card, and keep the apartment. I'll consider letting this ridiculous episode go."

I placed my handbag on the entry console, took out a document, and walked toward him. "You misunderstood."

Ethan frowned. "What?"

I handed him the papers. "I mean there's nothing left for you to consider."

"Ethan, we're already divorced."