Chapter 6 I Won’t Beg You to Stay

Mia sat on the edge of her mother's old sofa, staring at the divorce papers.

Vanessa had manipulated the photographs.

She had altered financial records.

And somehow, Ethan had believed every lie.

But the question that wouldn't leave Mia's mind was simpler.

Why?

Why had it been so easy for Ethan to believe she could betray him?

She pressed her fingers against her temple.

Ryan sat across from her, watching silently.

"You don't have to figure everything out tonight," he said.

Mia looked at him.

"I need to."

"You've barely slept."

"I can't sleep knowing someone deliberately destroyed my marriage."

Ryan leaned forward.

"Then let the lawyers investigate it."

Mia shook her head.

"This is my life."

"And you don't have to fight every battle alone."

His words made her pause.

That was what she had always wanted from Ethan.

Someone who would stand beside her.

Not someone who would make her prove her innocence while believing the worst about her.

A knock sounded at the door.

Mia immediately stiffened.

Ryan stood.

"I'll get it."

He opened the door.

Ethan was standing outside.

Mia's heart skipped.

His suit was slightly wrinkled, his tie loose, and dark circles showed beneath his eyes.

He looked exhausted.

Ryan stepped into the doorway.

"You shouldn't be here."

"I need to speak to Mia."

"She doesn't want to see you."

Ethan looked past him.

"Mia?"

She slowly stood.

"Let him in."

Ryan looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

Mia nodded.

He stepped aside.

Ethan entered.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

His eyes moved around the apartment.

It was small compared to the Carter mansion.

Yet Mia looked more comfortable here than she ever had in their home.

That realization hurt.

"You look tired," Mia said.

Ethan gave a humorless smile.

"So do you."

"Why are you here?"

He pulled something from his pocket.

A document.

"I brought the divorce papers."

Mia stared at him.

"You said you wouldn't sign them."

"I changed my mind."

He placed them on the table.

"I'll sign."

Mia looked at him carefully.

"Why?"

"Because you asked me to."

The simplicity of his answer caught her off guard.

Ethan took a breath.

"I spent the entire night thinking about what you said."

Mia remained silent.

"You told me I already lost you."

His voice cracked slightly.

"I think I finally understand what you meant."

Mia's eyes lowered.

"I don't want you to stay with me because you feel guilty."

"I'm not staying."

She looked up.

Ethan shook his head.

"I'm not going to force you to remain my wife."

He looked at the ring on her finger—or rather, the empty place where it used to be.

"I want you to be free."

Mia swallowed.

"And Vanessa?"

Ethan's expression hardened.

"There is nothing between us."

"You promised to marry her."

"I was wrong."

"You hurt me."

"I know."

"You embarrassed me."

"I know."

"You made me feel like I wasn't enough."

Ethan's eyes filled with regret.

"I know."

Mia's voice trembled.

"You don't get to say you know every time."

"I don't know how to fix it."

He looked directly at her.

"But I want to."

Mia turned away.

Her heart was betraying her.

She hated it.

She hated that hearing Ethan admit his mistakes still mattered.

She hated that some part of her still wanted him to fight for their marriage.

But she couldn't go back.

Not yet.

"I'll sign tomorrow," Ethan said.

Mia turned around.

"Tomorrow?"

"I want you to have tonight."

He walked toward the door.

"Ethan."

He stopped.

She didn't know why she had called his name.

He waited.

Mia looked at him.

"Did you ever love me?"

His face changed.

For the first time, there was no anger or pride in his expression.

Only pain.

"More than I knew how to admit."

A tear slipped down Mia's cheek.

"Then why did you treat me like that?"

Ethan lowered his eyes.

"Because I thought you would always be there."

Silence filled the room.

"And I was wrong."

He opened the door.

"I won't beg you to stay tonight."

Then he walked away.

Mia stood frozen.

Ryan watched Ethan disappear down the hallway.

Then he closed the door.

"You still love him."

Mia wiped her tears.

"I don't know."

Ryan nodded.

He didn't push her.

But inside, his heart ached.

Because he knew something Mia hadn't admitted yet.

Ethan's regret was becoming real.

---

Ethan returned to the Carter mansion alone.

The house was silent.

He walked into their bedroom.

Mia's side was empty.

He opened the wardrobe.

Her clothes were gone.

He opened the drawer.

The small things she used to leave everywhere were gone too.

Then he saw something beneath the bed.

A small box.

He pulled it out.

Inside was the watch Mia had bought him for their anniversary.

The gift he had never received.

Ethan stared at it.

His throat tightened.

She had bought this for him.

She had planned their anniversary.

While he had been promising another woman that he would marry her.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

For the first time, Ethan allowed himself to remember everything.

Mia waiting for him.

Mia cooking dinner.

Mia falling asleep while waiting for him to come home.

Mia smiling whenever he finally gave her attention.

How many times had she tried?

How many times had he pushed her away?

He covered his face.

"I destroyed her."

His phone rang.

He almost ignored it.

It was Daniel.

"What?"

"Sir, we've confirmed the financial records were altered."

Ethan sat upright.

"By Vanessa?"

"Yes."

"Bring me everything."

"There is more."

"What?"

Daniel hesitated.

"The money wasn't stolen from the company."

Ethan frowned.

"Then where did it go?"

"It was transferred into an account connected to someone in your family."

Ethan's expression turned cold.

"Who?"

"Your mother."

Silence.

Again.

His mother.

Ethan stood.

"Send me the account details."

"Already done."

A message arrived.

Ethan opened it.

His mother's name appeared beside several suspicious transactions.

But one thing made his blood run cold.

The transfers had begun three months before Ethan and Mia got married.

This wasn't about the divorce.

It had started much earlier.

Someone had been planning against Mia before she even became his wife.

---

At Mia's apartment, Ryan stood on the balcony with her.

The night air was cool.

Mia stared at the city lights.

"Ryan?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you helping me?"

He smiled faintly.

"Because you need help."

"That's not the whole reason."

He was silent.

Mia turned toward him.

"Tell me the truth."

Ryan looked into her eyes.

"Because I love you."

Mia froze.

"I have for years."

Her lips parted.

"Ryan..."

"You don't have to answer."

He smiled sadly.

"I know your heart is still with Ethan."

Mia looked down.

"But I want you to know something."

He stepped back, giving her space.

"I won't compete with your pain."

Mia looked at him again.

"I'll wait until you know what you want."

Her eyes filled with tears.

For the first time, Mia realized she was standing between two very different men.

One had broken her heart.

The other was offering to protect it.

And she had no idea which one would ultimately own it.

Meanwhile, Ethan stared at the financial report.

At the bottom of the document was a name he didn't recognize.

A private company.

Blackridge Holdings.

The same company had been secretly receiving money from his mother's account.

Ethan's phone suddenly rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

"Hello?"

A man's voice whispered,

"If you keep investigating, Ethan, you'll discover why Mia was never supposed to become your wife."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you?"

The caller laughed softly.

"Ask your mother what happened to Mia's father."

The call ended.

Ethan stood completely still.

He had thought this was about a divorce.

It wasn't.

Someone had been trying to keep Mia away from the Carter family long before he ever accused her of cheating.