Todos os capítulos de When I Took Back My Name, His Empire Fell: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

I thought I could wait until Ethan came home before asking about the email Nina had found.I was wrong.By six in the evening, I had read the same line so many times that I could almost hear Ethan saying it.“Don’t worry about the application. I’ll take care of everything before you get back. Just come home.”I kept telling myself that home meant Bellmont. Ethan and Camille had grown up here. Maybe it was nothing more than that.Then Margaret walked into the kitchen.“Make enough dinner for one more person,” she said.I turned away from the stove. “Who?”“Camille.”For a second, I thought I had heard her wrong.“Camille is coming here?”Margaret opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. “Ethan said they have work to finish for tomorrow’s presentation.”“They have an office.”“And Ethan has a house,” Margaret replied. “Must everything involving that woman become an issue?”“I didn’t say it was an issue.”“You didn’t have to.”Chelsea walked in while typing on her phone. “

For a long time, I said nothing.Nina was still on the phone, waiting.“Read the note again,” I said.“Sera…”“Please.”She sighed softly. “It says, ‘For the girl I should have never let go.’”I sat on the edge of the bed.The old photograph of Ethan and me was still in my hand. In it, we were young, broke, and happy enough to share one piece of cake.“That doesn’t make sense,” I said.“I know.”“Maybe the restaurant mixed up the orders.”“Maybe.”Nina didn’t sound convinced.I turned the photograph over again and read Ethan’s handwriting from years ago.“Next year, I’ll buy you the whole cake.”The Ethan in that photograph would never have ordered red roses for another woman on our anniversary.At least, I wanted to believe he wouldn’t.“Nina, can you send me whatever you saw?”“I can send you the expense request, but I do

“What wasn’t I supposed to know?” I asked.Ethan looked at the message on his phone, then at me. For once, he didn’t answer immediately.“Sera, it’s not what you think.”I let out a short laugh. “You don’t even know what I’m thinking.”“I know how this looks.”“Then explain it.”Ethan picked up his phone and locked the screen. “Camille knew I didn’t want you finding out about the birthday dinner before our anniversary.”I stared at him. “Why?”“Because I knew you’d misunderstand.”“Misunderstand what? That my husband planned another woman’s birthday dinner on our wedding anniversary?”“I already told you I wasn’t going to miss our anniversary.”“You were going to have dinner with her at seven and then come home to me at eight.”“I was going to stop by for a little while.”“That isn’t better, Ethan.”He ran a hand through his hair. “I know.”I looked at him, waiting for more.He didn’t say anything.“That’s it?” I asked.“What else do you want me to say?”“I want to know why Camille th

For a moment, I could only stare at the receptionist.“My husband is upstairs?” I asked.The man looked uncomfortable. “Yes, Mrs. Rowe. He arrived about twenty minutes ago.”I looked toward the elevators.Twenty minutes ago, Ethan was supposed to be working on the Vale presentation.“Which floor?” I asked.The receptionist hesitated. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m not allowed to give out a resident’s unit number.”“I understand.”I took out my phone and called Ethan.It rang.Once.Twice.Three times.No answer.I called again.This time, he declined it.I stared at the screen.The receptionist looked away, probably pretending he hadn’t noticed.I sent Ethan a message.Me: “Where are you?”No reply.A minute later, the elevator doors opened.An older couple stepped out. Before the doors could clo

For a moment, I couldn’t speak.Last Friday, Ethan had told me he was working late.I remembered it clearly because I had waited for him with dinner until almost eleven before finally putting everything away.Now Nina was telling me his car had been parked at Camille’s building.At eleven eighteen at night.“Sera?” Nina said.“I’m here.”“You okay?”“No.”It was the first honest answer I had given anyone all week.Nina became quiet.“Send me the receipt,” I said.“Sera, are you sure?”“Yes.”A few seconds later, my phone vibrated.I opened the image.The receipt showed the date, Ethan’s car plate number, Bellmont Crest Residences, and the parking validation.Resident: Camille Laurent.I stared at her name.There was no mistake.“Maybe he was helping her with something,” Nina said carefully.I almo