Chapter 2
At 2 A.M., I heard the door open.
I was curled up on our Italian leather sofa, engrossed in a steamy billionaire romance novel on my Kindle.
The protagonist was about to ravish the feisty heroine against his office window overlooking
Manhattan.
Just as the fictional billionaire was tearing off the heroine’s clothes, Ethan’s deep, slightly raspy voice cut through my fantasy.
“You’re still up?”
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Talk about bad timing.
“Obviously,” I replied without looking up. “Got a problem with that?”
He paused, then walked slowly toward me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know she would confront you like that.”
I flipped onto my other side, giving him my back.
“Keep your little mistress in check. Next time, I won’t let her go so easily.”
“By the way, she ruined my Valentino dress. You’re paying for it.”
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
The silence behind me stretched uncomfortably.
I sat up abruptly, meeting his gaze.
Ethan quickly looked away.
“If that’s too steep for you, I can always raise the price,” I said, my eyes narrowing.
“Fine. I’ll have my assistant transfer it to your account tomorrow.”
00:18
My Marriage Vows Became His Death Sentence
9.19
Chapter 2
He turned to leave, then suddenly pivoted and came back.
“Something else?” I asked, tilting my face up to his.
The light from the hallway silhouetted his tall frame, suddenly reminding me of how he used to wait for me after evening classes, leaning against the streetlamp outside my dorm.
He spoke softly: “Olivia, leave her alone.”
“You love her so much?” I couldn’t keep the mockery from my voice. “Is that supposed to be a
warning?”
His brow furrowed, his expression somber.
“Olivia, she’s different from you. She’s innocent and… untainted. I don’t want her to get hurt.”
I’d thought my heart had become numb to his cruelty, but hearing the word “untainted” still sent a
sharp pain through my chest.
I forced down my emotions and lowered my eyes, answering with a quiet “Fine.”
00:18
