Chapter 9

Mia woke up the next morning with Ethan's message still on her mind.

I won't interrupt your life. I just hope one day you'll let me earn my way back into it.

She had read it so many times that she could practically hear his voice saying the words.

She hated that it affected her.

She hated even more that a tiny part of her wanted to believe him.

But she couldn't forget the woman he had chosen over her.

She couldn't forget standing in front of him while he accused her of cheating.

And she couldn't forget hearing him promise Vanessa a future.

Mia sat up and forced herself to put the phone down.

“I'm moving forward.”

She said it aloud.

Maybe if she repeated it enough, she would finally believe it.

---

At the office, Mia was determined to stay busy.

Boxes were scattered across the floor, and she spent the morning organizing files, speaking with contractors, and planning the launch of her new business.

Ryan arrived shortly after noon carrying two cups of coffee.

“I brought peace offerings.”

Mia looked at the cups.

“Coffee?”

“The strongest weapon against stress.”

She laughed.

“You're becoming predictable.”

“Good.”

Ryan placed the cup on her desk.

“I like predictable.”

Mia smiled.

Then Ryan looked at the pile of documents beside her.

“You've been working since you arrived.”

“I have a lot to do.”

“You also haven't eaten.”

Mia looked at him innocently.

“How do you know?”

“Because I know you.”

Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.

Ryan pulled out his phone.

“Lunch?”

“I have work.”

“Mia.”

She looked at him.

“Please.”

She sighed.

“Fine.”

Ryan smiled.

“Excellent.”

They left the office together.

Neither of them noticed the black car parked across the street.

Inside it, Ethan watched them walk away.

He had told himself he wouldn't interfere.

He had promised Mia.

But seeing Ryan open the passenger door for her made something inside him burn.

Daniel glanced at him from the driver's seat.

“You're staring.”

“I know.”

“You said you wouldn't interfere.”

“I won't.”

“Then why are we sitting here?”

Ethan's jaw tightened.

“Because I'm trying to understand how someone else can make my wife smile in three days when I couldn't do it in two years.”

Daniel went silent.

Ethan looked away.

“Drive.”

---

At lunch, Ryan made Mia laugh again.

She hadn't realized how much she needed that.

With Ethan, every meal had eventually become silent.

With Ryan, conversation came easily.

He listened.

He remembered little things.

He asked about her dreams instead of questioning her decisions.

And when Mia mentioned she wanted her new company to succeed without Ethan's name attached to it, Ryan nodded immediately.

“I'll help you.”

Mia looked at him.

“I don't want your money.”

“I know.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“Advice. Connections. Whatever you need.”

She smiled.

“Thank you.”

Ryan reached across the table and gently wiped a small spot of sauce from the corner of her lips.

Mia froze.

So did he.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither moved.

Ryan slowly pulled his hand away.

“Sorry.”

Mia shook her head.

“It's okay.”

But her heart was beating faster.

She didn't know whether it was excitement or guilt.

Maybe both.

---

Ethan saw them through the restaurant window.

He shouldn't have come.

He knew that.

But after a meeting nearby, Daniel had mentioned the restaurant.

And somehow, Ethan's feet had brought him there.

Then he saw Ryan touch Mia.

His hands curled into fists.

“Sir,” Daniel warned.

Ethan didn't move.

Ryan leaned closer to Mia.

She smiled.

That smile.

The same smile Ethan had once taken for granted.

Something inside him cracked.

“Take me back to the office.”

Daniel started the car.

Ethan looked through the window one last time.

He hated Ryan.

Not because Ryan had done anything wrong.

That was the problem.

Ryan was doing everything right.

He was giving Mia exactly what Ethan had failed to give her.

Attention.

Respect.

Patience.

Love.

Ethan closed his eyes.

For the first time, he understood how easily he could lose her.

---

That evening, Mia returned to her apartment and found a small package waiting outside her door.

There was no name.

She opened it carefully.

Inside was an old photograph.

It was a picture of Ethan and Mia from their wedding day.

She remembered that day perfectly.

She had been nervous.

Ethan had barely smiled.

But when he had looked at her walking down the aisle, she had believed there was something in his eyes.

Love.

Maybe she hadn't imagined it.

Behind the photograph was a handwritten note.

You were the happiest thing that ever happened to him. He just realized it too late.

Mia's eyes filled with tears.

She didn't know who had sent it.

But she didn't need to.

She knew.

Ethan.

Her phone rang.

Ryan.

She answered.

“Hello?”

“Did you get home safely?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

There was a brief pause.

Then Ryan said,

“I wanted to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Would you like to spend Saturday with me?”

Mia hesitated.

“Where?”

“Anywhere you want.”

She smiled.

“You're giving me the choice?”

“Always.”

Mia looked at the photograph in her hand.

“I'd like that.”

Ryan's voice warmed.

“Then it's a date.”

After they ended the call, Mia stared at the photograph again.

She placed it on the table.

Then her phone rang once more.

This time, it was Ethan.

She almost didn't answer.

But eventually, she did.

“Hello?”

There was silence.

Then Ethan spoke.

“I heard you're going out with Ryan on Saturday.”

Mia's brows furrowed.

“How did you hear that?”

“It doesn't matter.”

“It does matter.”

Ethan sighed.

“You're right.”

His voice became quieter.

“I shouldn't have asked.”

“Then why did you?”

Another silence.

“Because I'm jealous.”

Mia's heart skipped.

“You have no right to be.”

“I know.”

His answer came immediately.

“I know I have no right.”

“Then stop acting like you do.”

“I will.”

Mia was surprised by how quickly he agreed.

Then Ethan said,

“But I can't promise I won't feel it.”

She closed her eyes.

“Ethan…”

“I know.”

His voice softened.

“I know I don't deserve to be jealous.”

He took a slow breath.

“But seeing another man give you the things I should have given you…”

His voice broke slightly.

“It hurts.”

Mia didn't know what to say.

Ethan continued.

“I won't stop you from seeing him.”

She remained silent.

“I won't threaten him. I won't interfere. I won't make your life difficult.”

He paused.

“But I'm going to be honest.”

Mia's fingers tightened around the phone.

“I still love you.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I know you don't believe me.”

He swallowed.

“Maybe I don't even deserve for you to believe me.”

Another pause.

“But I'm going to spend the rest of my life proving it if that's what it takes.”

The call ended.

Mia slowly lowered her phone.

She hated him.

At least, she wanted to.

Because hating Ethan would have been easier.

But somewhere beneath all the anger and heartbreak...

There was still love.

And that was the one thing she was most afraid of.

---

Across the city, Ethan sat alone in his apartment.

Daniel had already left.

His phone lay on the table.

He had no idea whether Mia would ever return to him.

But he knew one thing.

Ryan wasn't going to make it easy.

And for the first time in his life, Ethan Carter wasn't competing for money, power, or business.

He was competing for the woman he had once believed would never leave.

And he was terrified he had realized her worth too late.