My five-dollar Uber Pool pulled up, and it was a Rolls-Royce. The girl next to me on the curb tilted her head, her smile bright and breezy. “Oh my god, so random! This is my boyfriend’s car.” Before I could respond, the man getting out of the driver's seat stole my breath. He was immaculate in a tailored suit, his aura cool and commanding. He gently helped the girl into the passenger seat with a tenderness that made my stomach clench. Then, the man’s assistant, who had been trailing him, caught my eye. He looked terrified. “Ma’am…” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. “Where… where are you headed?” I waved a dismissive hand, swallowing the words that were on the tip of my tongue: *“To the hospital, for my prenatal appointment.”* When I finally spoke, I could hear the slight tremble in my own voice. “The airport. Just take me to JFK.” * 1 My voice was so soft, I wasn’t sure anyone heard it. In the front seat, the girl was already gushing, pulling on the driver’s hand. “See? This is much better. I told you not to make a special trip just for me. Wasting gas is just silly, and besides, five bucks is enough for a coffee from a street cart. Plus—” She spun around in her seat, grinning at me. “I bet you’ve never been in a car like this before, right? It’s like a little peek into how the other half lives, lol.” I managed a weak smile, my eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, on him. On Ethan. His handsome features were as composed as ever, his expression unreadable. He gave a noncommittal “Mm,” his long, elegant fingers scrolling through something on his phone. He looked like a man closing a multi-million-dollar deal. Meanwhile, my own phone screen was lighting up with a series of texts from him. *Summer is very innocent. Don’t scare her.* *Don’t worry. This doesn’t change your position as Mrs. Vance. And because of that, I don’t want the family knowing about Summer’s existence.* *Your parents’ company is still dependent on my family’s backing. You’re not going to do anything irrational, are you, Lila?* I turned the screen off. Snapped my phone shut. When I looked up, my eyes met Ethan’s in the mirror. He was calm, tapping a rhythmic, impatient beat on the steering wheel with his perfectly manicured fingers. His voice, when he spoke, was cold as ice. “The passenger in the back, please fasten your seatbelt.” I didn’t say a word. I just stared at the pink, glittery sticker on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. ♡ Summer's Seat ♡ I let the bitter tide of acid rise in my throat, threatening to drown me. A few minutes later, my composure returned. I bought a one-way ticket to Fiji. 2 The entire way, Summer chattered on about her day at the office. When she got excited, she’d slap Ethan’s arm playfully. And Ethan, my cold, distant husband, didn’t flinch. He didn’t show a single ounce of impatience. In fact, the corner of his mouth was turned up in a faint, amused smile. I watched them like a ghost, an outsider in my own life. I couldn’t help but remember that with me, Ethan was always all business. Even planning our wedding felt like negotiating a corporate merger. We weren't a husband and wife; we were two parties in a contract. Except… in bed. There, he became a different person. A predator. He would pin me down with hungry eyes, taking everything from me with a ferocity that was both terrifying and addictive. “Hey, you want a chip?” Summer’s sweet voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at her young, flawless face. The word *mistress* was on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it. “No, thank you.” “Oh, okay,” she said, then turned to offer the bag to Ethan. Realizing he was driving, she did something else. She put a potato chip between her own lips and leaned over, offering it to him. Ethan’s eyes flickered to the rearview mirror for a fraction of a second. His knuckles went white on the steering wheel. But he couldn’t resist her. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He leaned in and gently took the other half of the chip from her mouth with his own. I whipped my head around to stare out the window. I could hear Summer giggling, a little embarrassed. “Hehe, don’t mind us. We’re still in the honeymoon phase. Honestly, I didn’t even want to date before I was twenty-five, but he’s just… so good to me. He’s always secretly looking out for me at work so I don’t get bullied, and he comes whenever I call. It’s almost embarrassing. Today, for instance, I just had some bad period cramps, and he got so worried he dropped a huge meeting just to take me to the doctor…” “That’s nice,” I interrupted, my voice flat. “Hope you two live happily ever after.” Fighting back the wave of nausea and grief, I grabbed my phone and my purse. “I’m getting out here.” Summer looked surprised. “But you’re not at the hospital yet. I thought you were going to the same place as me?” I forced a smile. “Change of plans. My boyfriend just texted. He’s picking me up here.” 3 I didn’t expect him to follow me. Ethan got out of the car, towering over me on the sidewalk. “What was that about?” he demanded, his voice a low growl. I was genuinely confused. “What?” “‘Happily ever after.’ What the hell did you mean by that?” He glanced around, then grabbed my wrist, his face a mask of fury. “You know my parents will only ever accept you as their daughter-in-law. Are you saying that to mess with me?” I struggled, but his grip was like iron. His anger escalated. “Lila, this ‘boyfriend’ of yours is a lie, isn’t it? Because if there really is some other guy—” “You know what I’m capable of.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What does it have to do with you? The first time we met, you said this was all for show, that we would lead separate lives…” “That was different.” Ethan was vibrating with a barely controlled rage. He looked like a caged animal. “Your family’s company was on the verge of collapse. You exist to serve a purpose in this transaction, and that means absolute obedience to me.” He sneered. “Or what, are you lonely? Do you need me to come home and take care of your needs?” As he spoke, his hand slid to my waist and he leaned in, his face just inches from mine— “What are you two doing?!” Summer was standing there, her eyes wide and red with tears. “You… you two…” She covered her mouth, her horrified gaze fixed on Ethan’s hand on my waist. The next second, she lunged. Her hand connected with my cheek in a stinging slap. 4 She looked so small and delicate, but the force of the blow sent me stumbling back. I instinctively clutched my stomach. “You are so shameless!” Summer shrieked, tears streaming down her face as she pointed a trembling finger at me. “No wonder you were being so weird and sarcastic in the car! You were trying to get with my boyfriend!” She was shaking with rage, planting herself in front of Ethan like a tiny bodyguard. “Just because you’re pretty, you think you can just seduce other people’s boyfriends? What are you, a public bus? You’re disgusting!” A moment ago, I had felt a sliver of pity for her. She was a victim in this too, kept in the dark. But now, seeing her witness Ethan’s aggression and still direct all her fury at me, something inside me turned to ice. My face went cold. “Did you know,” I said, my voice dangerously calm, “that your precious boyfriend is already married? “I’m his—” While she was still processing, I stepped forward and raised my hand to return the favor. But Ethan caught my wrist. He rubbed his temples, his voice laced with pure exasperation. “Enough! Look at yourself, Lila. Is this how the wife of a Vance is supposed to behave?” In that single, crystal-clear moment, the years of desperate, suffocating love I had felt for Ethan Vance vanished. It just… evaporated. 5 Summer was only stunned for a moment. She didn’t have the breakdown I expected. She just gently tugged on Ethan’s sleeve, her voice a pathetic whimper. “Is it her? Is she the one?” “You told me… you said it was just a family arrangement… that you hated your wife… you said you never even talk to her…” Her big, watery eyes looked up at Ethan, pleading for reassurance. But Ethan wasn't looking at her. His gaze was fixed on my face, which I knew was rapidly losing its color. He looked… uneasy. After a long pause, he sighed, patting Summer’s arm dismissively. “The hospital is about a mile from here. I’ll call you a car.” Without another glance at her, he turned and grabbed my arm. “We’re going home,” he said coldly. “There’s a family dinner tonight.” I didn’t move. Ethan’s eyes flickered to the red mark on my cheek. He started to raise his hand, as if to touch it, then let it drop. He turned away, throwing the words over his shoulder. “Twenty million in venture capital for your parents’ company.” “It’s your choice.” I watched his tall, imposing figure walk away, and a profound sense of exhaustion washed over me. All those years of loving him, even marrying him… what had it gotten me? I bit my lip until I tasted blood. And I followed him. But as I walked, a new thought took root in my mind: *If I ran, would my parents ever forgive me?* 6 In the car, I didn’t try to fill the silence like I used to, desperately searching for topics to engage him. I just sat quietly in the back seat. I sent a text to an old college friend: *Something came up, can’t make it today. So sorry to waste your time.* He was a doctor and must have been busy. It was half an hour before he replied. *No problem. If it’s hard for you to get out, I can always make a house call.* I suddenly remembered Ethan’s snarling face, hissing about a “mystery man.” A shiver went down my spine. I quickly typed back: *No rush! We’ll reschedule soon.* After getting his reply, I turned off my phone and followed Ethan into the family mansion. I don’t know why, but my newfound silence seemed to annoy him more than my old clinginess. I thought about it. I probably ruined his day with Summer. For the first time ever, I tried to be the understanding wife. “It’s okay,” I said, my voice neutral. “You can find an excuse to leave early tonight.” I didn’t look at his stunned expression. I was too busy looking at my plane ticket on my phone and booking a hotel. “After all,” I added, “you’re the expert at soothing upset girls. A few flowers and a designer handbag should do the trick.” Ethan looked like he wanted to say something, but he just clenched his jaw. His face was thunderous. Finally, he let out a cold, humorless laugh. “What’s this? A new strategy?” “Let me guess. You encourage me to go see Summer, then you have a PI follow me, and then you cry to the whole family about what a terrible husband I am?” “How utterly predictable.” I blinked. Then I smiled a real, genuine smile. He wasn't wrong. That was exactly the kind of desperate, crazy thing I would have done a week ago to try and keep him. But not anymore. I could only imagine how happy he’d be when he finally realized I was gone for good. 7 At dinner, my parents and Ethan's parents were chatting warmly. Wine flowed, laughter filled the room. At the head of the table, Ethan and I ate in silence. It had always been like this. My mother and my mother-in-law were best friends from college. They’d made a pact that their children would marry. Life got in the way, and they lost touch for years. When they reconnected, my family’s business was on the brink of bankruptcy. Ethan’s mother, horrified, brought me into their home overnight and insisted on honoring their old promise. His father funneled a few major investments into our company and saved us. “Did Ethan do something to you again?” my mom whispered, pulling me into a powder room. I was confused. “What?” She sighed. “Lila, he doesn’t just offer twenty million dollars for no reason. Since he took over the company, has he ever been that generous with us? Never.” She stroked my hair, her eyes full of a pain I didn’t understand. “Did he hurt you?” “Oh, honey, why did you have to fall for him? There are so many good men in the world. If you wanted to…” “If I wanted a divorce,” I interrupted her softly, “would you and Dad be mad at me?” The happy chatter from the dining room seemed a world away. My mom’s eyes filled with tears. “Money?” she whispered, her voice thick. “What does money matter if our family isn’t okay? The only reason we even kept the business going was because you loved him, and we wanted to give you some kind of leverage, something to stand on. Honey, we would have sold it and retired years ago.” My cheek, the one Summer had slapped, started to burn. I leaned against my mother’s shoulder. “What if I told you… what if I told you I was pregnant with his child, and I was planning on raising it alone, never getting married again? Would you be mad at me then?” 8 After dinner, I didn't stay the night with Ethan, despite my in-laws’ not-so-subtle encouragement. I chose to go home with my parents. Ethan was standing at the door, his expression unreadable. “Wait.” His voice stopped all of us. “I need to talk to you, so—” He never finished the sentence. His assistant came running up the long driveway, out of breath. “Mr. Vance, it’s Summer… she never went to the hospital this afternoon… she must have passed out from the pain at some point. Her neighbor just found her and she’s on her way to the ER now…” The assistant finally registered the audience standing in the grand entryway. He immediately fell silent, bowing his head in shame. Ethan’s father was the first to explode. “Who the hell is Summer? Why are you bothering us with this nonsense! Give her some money and get rid of her!” “Get the car,” Ethan said, his voice flat, as if he hadn’t heard a word. “I said, get the car. Are you deaf?” He ignored the shocked protests of his parents. He ignored the stony faces of my parents. He threw a single glance at me. “We’ll talk later,” he said, before striding off into the night. I didn’t care. I told my parents to focus on stabilizing the company. That night, I packed a single bag, and I left. I went to the airport, alone. I left in such a hurry, I forgot the one thing that mattered. I left the positive pregnancy report from my doctor sitting on the nightstand in my empty bedroom.
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