Chapter 13

Mia didn't wear the ring.

She kept it inside the velvet box on the bedside table.

But she couldn't stop looking at it.

I choose you. Always.

Four simple words.

They should have made her happy two years ago.

Now they only reminded her of how badly Ethan had failed to choose her when it mattered.

She closed the box and pushed it into the drawer.

“I need to stop thinking about him.”

Her phone rang.

Ryan.

She answered.

“Hello?”

“Did you sleep?”

“A little.”

“Good.”

Mia smiled.

“You sound like my mother.”

“I'll take that as a compliment.”

She laughed.

Ryan's voice became softer.

“I wanted to check on you.”

“I'm fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Mia looked toward the drawer.

“Yes.”

Ryan paused.

“There's something I want to show you today.”

“What?”

“It's a surprise.”

Mia smiled.

“I don't like surprises.”

“You'll like this one.”

“That's what everyone says before giving someone a terrible surprise.”

Ryan laughed.

“Just trust me.”

Mia hesitated.

Then she smiled.

“Okay.”

---

An hour later, Ryan arrived at her office.

Mia was surprised to see him holding a folder.

“I thought this was supposed to be a surprise.”

“It is.”

“Then why do you have paperwork?”

“Because I'm romantic.”

Mia laughed.

“You're strange.”

Ryan handed her the folder.

She opened it.

Her eyes widened.

It contained a list of potential investors for her company.

“These are people I could introduce you to,” he explained. “But I didn't contact any of them.”

Mia looked at him.

“Why not?”

“Because it's your company.”

He pointed at the folder.

“You decide who you want to meet.”

Mia smiled.

“Thank you.”

Ryan nodded.

“I want to help you build something that doesn't depend on anyone's name.”

Her smile grew.

“I want that too.”

They spent the next hour discussing her business.

Mia felt excited.

For the first time, she wasn't Ethan Carter's wife.

She wasn't the woman people whispered about.

She was Mia.

A woman building something of her own.

Then the door opened.

A receptionist hurried inside.

“Miss Bennett, I'm sorry. There's a problem.”

Mia stood.

“What happened?”

“The landlord just called.”

Her heart sank.

“He said the lease is being reviewed.”

“What?”

Ryan frowned.

“Why?”

“I don't know. He said there were complaints about the company.”

Mia's face tightened.

“What complaints?”

“He wouldn't say.”

Ryan immediately stood.

“Who made the complaint?”

“I don't know.”

The receptionist left.

Mia looked at Ryan.

“This office was approved two days ago.”

Ryan's expression hardened.

“Someone is trying to interfere.”

Mia's mind immediately went to Vanessa.

But another possibility entered her mind.

Ethan's mother.

She shook her head.

“No.”

“What?”

“I don't want to spend my life blaming everyone around Ethan.”

Ryan stepped closer.

“Then don't.”

He looked at the folder.

“Find out who did it.”

Mia nodded.

“I will.”

---

Across the city, Ethan was reviewing documents when Daniel entered.

“We have a problem.”

Ethan looked up.

“What happened?”

“Mia's office lease is being reviewed.”

Ethan immediately stood.

“Why?”

“The landlord received a complaint claiming her company was involved in financial misconduct.”

Ethan's expression darkened.

“Who made the complaint?”

“We're trying to find out.”

Ethan picked up his phone.

“Call the landlord.”

Daniel hesitated.

“Should we tell Mia?”

“No.”

Ethan looked toward the window.

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

“Because she needs to know I can protect her without controlling her.”

Daniel nodded.

“And if someone is targeting her?”

Ethan's jaw tightened.

“Then they'll have to deal with me.”

---

By evening, Mia had discovered something.

The complaint had been submitted anonymously.

But the legal firm representing the complainant had made one mistake.

The firm was connected to a company owned by Ethan's mother.

Mia stared at the document.

Her heart sank.

She immediately called Ethan.

He answered.

“What's wrong?”

“Your mother.”

Silence.

“What about her?”

“Her company is behind the complaint against my office.”

Ethan's expression hardened.

“Are you sure?”

“I have proof.”

“I'll handle it.”

“No.”

“Mia—”

“I'll handle it.”

She could hear his frustration.

“This isn't something you should have to deal with alone.”

“I know.”

“Then let me help.”

“You've already helped enough.”

There was a pause.

Then Mia said quietly,

“I need to know that I can fight my own battles.”

Ethan's voice softened.

“I know.”

“And if your mother is involved, I don't want you hiding things from me.”

“I won't.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

The call ended.

Ethan immediately called his mother.

She answered calmly.

“Ethan.”

“Did you interfere with Mia's company?”

Silence.

Then she sighed.

“I was protecting you.”

“By destroying her business?”

“I didn't destroy anything.”

“You submitted a complaint.”

“She is unstable. She left you and now she's starting a company with another man.”

Ethan's voice became cold.

“Don't talk about her like that.”

“You're defending her again.”

“Yes.”

His mother scoffed.

“You're humiliating this family for a woman who divorced you.”

“She didn't destroy our marriage.”

“She—”

“I did.”

His mother fell silent.

Ethan continued.

“I destroyed it.”

“You're being manipulated.”

“No.”

He looked down.

“For the first time, I'm thinking clearly.”

His mother became furious.

“You will not choose her over this family.”

Ethan's answer was immediate.

“I already did.”

He ended the call.

---

That night, Mia sat alone in her office.

She had managed to stop the complaint temporarily, but the situation wasn't resolved.

She rubbed her tired eyes.

Then the door opened.

Ethan walked in.

Mia looked up.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to tell you something.”

She waited.

“My mother was responsible.”

“I know.”

Ethan nodded.

“I've removed her authority over every matter involving your company.”

Mia stared at him.

“You can do that?”

“Yes.”

“Won't it cause problems for you?”

“Yes.”

She frowned.

“Then why?”

“Because she has no right to punish you for leaving me.”

Mia's chest tightened.

“You fought with your mother because of me?”

“I fought with her because she was wrong.”

He paused.

“And because I'm tired of letting other people hurt you while I stand by.”

Mia looked away.

Ethan took a step toward her.

“I know you're with Ryan.”

Mia looked back at him.

“I'm not with him.”

Ethan's eyes flickered with hope.

“We're dating.”

His hope disappeared slightly.

“I understand.”

Mia stared at him.

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“You don't seem to.”

He gave a faint smile.

“I'm jealous.”

She sighed.

“You've said that.”

“I know.”

He took another step.

“But I'm not going to ask you to stop seeing him.”

“Why?”

“Because if I ever get another chance with you, I want it to be because you chose me.”

Mia's heart beat faster.

Not because he demanded it.

Not because he threatened her.

Because he was willing to wait.

Ethan stopped several feet away.

“I used to think being your husband gave me the right to everything.”

His eyes met hers.

“Your time. Your loyalty. Your forgiveness.”

He shook his head.

“I was wrong.”

Mia's eyes filled with tears.

“You're changing.”

“I have to.”

“Why now?”

Ethan's voice dropped.

“Because losing you was the first thing in my life money couldn't fix.”

Silence filled the room.

Mia looked at him.

For one dangerous moment, she wanted to close the distance between them.

She wanted to forget.

She wanted to fall into his arms.

Then Ryan's name flashed across her phone.

Ryan: Goodnight, Mia. I hope tomorrow is easier.

Ethan saw the message.

His jaw tightened.

But he didn't say anything.

He simply smiled sadly.

“Goodnight, Mia.”

He turned toward the door.

She watched him leave.

Then she looked at Ryan's message.

Two men.

Two completely different kinds of love.

One had been there quietly for years.

The other had finally realized what he had lost.

Mia pressed a hand against her chest.

And for the first time, she wondered if falling in love with Ryan might be the only way to stop loving Ethan.