Chapter 3 I Want a Divorce

Mia didn't sleep that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ethan's face.

Not the husband she had once dreamed about.

The man who had stood in front of everyone and accused her of cheating.

The man who had believed a few photographs over two years of marriage.

She turned beneath the thin blanket and stared at the ceiling.

Her mother's apartment was quiet.

Too quiet.

But somehow, the silence felt safer than the Carter mansion ever had.

At six in the morning, Mia finally got out of bed.

She walked into the small kitchen and made herself coffee.

Her hands were trembling.

She hadn't eaten properly since yesterday.

Ryan had insisted she eat dinner the previous night, but Mia had barely touched her food.

She couldn't understand how her life had changed so quickly.

Two days ago, she had been Ethan Carter's wife.

Now she wasn't sure what she was.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked at the screen.

Ethan.

She stared at his name for several seconds before answering.

"What?"

There was silence on the other end.

Then Ethan spoke.

"We need to talk."

"We already talked."

"No. We didn't."

Mia laughed bitterly.

"You accused me of cheating on you."

"I know."

"And you humiliated me."

"I know."

"And you believed Vanessa instead of me."

His voice became quieter.

"I'm investigating the photographs."

Mia froze.

"Why?"

"Because something doesn't add up."

She closed her eyes.

"So now you doubt her?"

"I didn't say that."

"But you do."

Ethan didn't answer.

Mia's heart tightened.

Even now, he couldn't simply admit that he had been wrong.

She took a breath.

"I don't care anymore."

"Mia—"

"I want a divorce."

The silence that followed was heavy.

"What did you say?"

"I want a divorce."

"No."

Mia frowned.

"No?"

"You don't get to decide that alone."

A bitter smile appeared on her face.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"You decided our marriage was over before I did."

"Mia, that's not what I meant."

"I heard you, Ethan."

Her voice trembled.

"I heard you telling Vanessa that you would marry her."

Ethan went completely silent.

Mia swallowed the pain rising in her throat.

"I was outside your study."

"Mia..."

"I heard everything."

He didn't deny it.

That hurt more than she expected.

"So you knew," he finally said.

"I know enough."

"It wasn't supposed to happen like that."

"But it was supposed to happen."

Ethan sighed.

"Vanessa and I—"

"Don't."

Mia's voice cracked.

"Please don't explain."

She didn't want excuses.

She had heard enough.

"I'll send the divorce papers," she said.

"No."

"Ethan."

"I'm not signing them."

Mia's fingers tightened around the phone.

"You don't get to keep me just because you don't want to be alone."

"I don't want to lose you."

She went silent.

For one foolish second, her heart reacted to those words.

Then she remembered the photographs.

Vanessa.

The divorce.

The promise.

She hardened her heart.

"You already did."

She ended the call.

---

Ethan stared at his phone.

He had never heard Mia speak to him like that.

There had always been softness in her voice.

Even when she was angry.

Even when he hurt her.

But today there was nothing.

Only exhaustion.

He looked at the divorce documents sitting on his desk.

He had expected her to threaten divorce.

He hadn't expected her to mean it.

His assistant entered.

"Sir."

Ethan looked up.

"Did you find anything?"

Daniel placed a folder on the desk.

"We traced some of the transactions."

Ethan opened it.

His expression slowly changed.

Several payments had been made through companies connected to Vanessa's family.

"What the hell?"

"We're still verifying everything."

"How long?"

"Not long."

Ethan stood.

"Then find the truth."

Daniel hesitated.

"There is something else."

"What?"

"The photographs."

Ethan looked at him.

"We discovered they came from a private security company."

"And?"

"The company was hired two days before the photographs were taken."

"By whom?"

Daniel looked uncomfortable.

"We're trying to confirm it."

Ethan's eyes darkened.

"Find out."

Daniel nodded.

Then he hesitated.

"Sir..."

"What?"

"Mrs. Carter wasn't meeting another man romantically."

Ethan's jaw tightened.

"I know."

Daniel looked surprised.

"You do?"

"I know my wife."

The words left Ethan's mouth before he could stop them.

Daniel lowered his eyes.

"Then perhaps you should tell her that."

Ethan stared at him.

Because that was the problem.

He had known Mia.

But somewhere along the way, he had stopped trusting her.

---

Across town, Mia sat with Ryan at a small café.

She hadn't wanted to leave the apartment.

Ryan had insisted.

"You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"You said that yesterday."

Mia looked down.

"I'm trying."

Ryan studied her quietly.

He wanted to tell her how much he hated seeing her hurt.

He wanted to tell her that he had loved her long before Ethan ever noticed her.

But this wasn't the right moment.

Mia was broken.

He wouldn't take advantage of that.

Instead, he pushed a plate toward her.

"Just a little."

She managed a small smile.

"You're bossy."

"I've been told."

For the first time in days, Mia laughed.

It was brief.

But genuine.

Ryan smiled.

"There she is."

Mia looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He looked away.

She didn't notice the tenderness in his eyes.

But someone else did.

Across the café, Ethan stood completely still.

He had followed Mia.

He hadn't planned to.

He had only wanted to see her.

But seeing her sitting with another man made something dark twist inside him.

Ryan reached across the table and gently wiped a small drop of coffee from Mia's hand.

Ethan's fists clenched.

He knew Ryan.

He knew exactly how Ryan looked at Mia.

And suddenly, Ethan understood something he had never allowed himself to consider.

Ryan didn't see Mia as a friend.

He wanted her.

"Mia."

She looked up.

Her smile disappeared.

"Ethan."

Ryan turned.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Ethan walked toward their table.

"What are you doing here?" Mia asked.

"I came to talk to you."

"I already told you what I want."

Ryan stood.

"Ethan, she doesn't want to talk."

Ethan's eyes hardened.

"This doesn't concern you."

"It concerns me when she's uncomfortable."

Mia looked between them.

"Ryan..."

Ethan's expression became colder.

"You've always been waiting for this, haven't you?"

Ryan didn't flinch.

"Waiting for what?"

"For my marriage to fall apart."

Ryan's voice remained calm.

"No."

He looked directly at Ethan.

"I was waiting for you to realize what you had."

Ethan stepped closer.

"And now?"

Ryan glanced at Mia.

"Now I'm here because she shouldn't have to face this alone."

Mia's heart skipped.

Ethan noticed.

His jealousy intensified.

He turned to Mia.

"Come home."

She stared at him.

"No."

"I can explain everything."

"You had two years to explain."

"Mia."

"No."

She stood.

"I'm filing for divorce."

Ethan's face changed.

"I told you I'm not signing."

"Then I'll find another way."

She walked past him.

Ethan caught her wrist.

Mia immediately pulled away.

"Don't touch me."

He released her.

The pain in her eyes hit him harder than he expected.

Mia walked away with Ryan beside her.

Ethan remained standing there.

For the first time in his life, the billionaire who could buy almost anything realized there was one thing money couldn't purchase.

His wife's forgiveness.

And as he watched Ryan place a protective hand on Mia's back, Ethan made himself a promise.

He would uncover who had destroyed his marriage.

And he would get Mia back.

Even if he had to fight everyone—including the man standing beside her.