All Chapters of You Loved the Version of Me You Never Knew: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

After breakfast, Ethan left for work.I stayed home to clean.When I passed his study, I stopped.Ethan’s study had always been completely off-limits to me.He wouldn’t even let me go inside to clean. If I so much as lingered near the door, he would get irritated.Once, I had gone in just to bring him a cup of coffee.The back of my hand accidentally brushed against one of his pens.He immediately lost his temper.“Joanna, can you stop touching my things? I can’t stand people who don’t respect boundaries.”After that, I never set foot in his study again.I stared at the closed door.Then something suddenly occurred to me.I pulled out the phone I used for my alt account and scrolled back through our messages.Two weeks ago, Ethan had sent Jess a photo of the study.In the picture, the room that was usually kept perfectly neat looked as though he had deliberately cleared out and rearranged part of it.There was a voice message underneath.'Jess, I cleared out half the st

I thought Ethan and I would never cross paths again.But less than two months later, a familiar Maybach pulled up and blocked my path.The rear door opened, and Ethan stepped out.A thick stack of papers was clenched in his hand.His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me.I instinctively took a step back.“What are you doing here?”He didn’t answer.Instead, he strode toward me and hurled the papers against my chest.White sheets scattered across the sidewalk.I glanced down.It was a detailed digital forensics report tracing the alt account’s login history, along with records connecting the phone number to its registered owner.At the bottom of the last page, one name had been highlighted in bold red letters.Joanna Simpson.My breath caught.He knew.After our divorce, Jess had vanished without a trace.Ethan couldn’t understand why the woman who had promised to meet him once he was free had suddenly disappeared.So he had used every connection he had to track her

I thought I had made myself clear enough that Ethan would never come looking for me again.Apparently, I was wrong.Two weeks later, my solo exhibition opened at one of the city’s most prestigious art museums.I had spent an entire year preparing for it.On opening day, I had barely reached the entrance to the main gallery when I stopped dead.Lilies.They were everywhere.Dozens upon dozens of fragrant lilies filled the exhibition hall.And right in the center of it all stood Ethan.He was dressed in a perfectly tailored gray suit, surrounded by the museum director, investors, and several prominent guests.The moment he saw me, something almost triumphant flashed in his eyes.He walked straight toward me and held out a bouquet of lilies.“Congratulations on the exhibition.“I bought every painting you’re showing today.”His voice lowered so only I could hear.“At ten times the listed price.”Then he leaned slightly closer.“Didn’t you once tell me your dream was to ha