Chapter 4

"As for Vivian."

Ethan looked at me.

"Your position is officially being transferred to Mia, effective immediately."

I stared at him in disbelief.

He frowned.

For just a moment, something reluctant flickered in his expression.

Then it was gone.

He said, "Vivian, stop making things difficult for people."

Helen beamed.

"There we go, Mia. She'll be answering to you now."

Mia looked down at the ring, now back on her finger.

A faint flush rose in her cheeks.

She glanced at me, and for just a second, a small, barely concealed smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

I watched the three of them perform in front of me.

Suddenly, I felt almost ridiculous.

I looked at Ethan.

"That's fine, Mr. Sinclair. Honestly, I've been more than ready to step down from that director position."

Then I walked past him and headed out.

In the parking garage, I had just unlocked my car when a hand caught me from behind.

"In a little while, I'll move you up to VP, directly under me. Mia will still report to you. Don't read too much into any of this."

"Mom loves her. In that moment, I couldn't embarrass her in front of everyone."

It was always like this.

After every fight.

He could always pull me back with explanations and just enough softness.

I clenched my jaw.

And shook off his hand.

He went still.

I got in the car and drove away without looking back.

When I got home, I found that Ethan had sent me over a dozen messages.

The first ones were more explanations.

But then, in a move completely out of character, he sent me a travel booking confirmation.

A seaside town.

The ocean.

【Vivian, don't worry. While you're on this forced break, I'm taking time off too.】

【You've always wanted to see the ocean. I'll take you. Call it our late honeymoon.】

I couldn't even imagine.

If he had sent me that even a month ago.

How happy I would have been.

But this time, I typed back a simple reply.

【No thanks.】

He responded almost immediately.

【Don't be like that. I already booked tickets for eight tomorrow morning. I'll work late tonight and get everything cleared. Don't wait up for dinner.】

He added a little heart emoji.

I stared at the screen for a moment.

Then put my phone down.

Fine.

I'd wait for him to come home and say what needed to be said.

I had already agreed to go on a blind date that my family had set up.

This relationship.

I was done with it.

But I waited an entire night.

By the time morning light came through the windows, he stumbled home smelling faintly of alcohol.

And eight o'clock had long since passed.

"Didn't you say we had tickets at eight? To go to the beach?"

I couldn't help asking.

He squinted, trying to place the memory.

Then laughed.

"Oh, right. I canceled those. Took Mia instead."

I stared at him.

"You've seen the ocean plenty of times. How many trips have you planned for that?"

He collapsed onto the couch, clearly having not slept.

"After I finished work last night, I was going to come home and pack with you. But Mia just got promoted, and the team threw her a little celebration. I had a few too many drinks."

"She mentioned she'd never seen the ocean."

"So I changed the itinerary last minute."

Even without any real hope left.

Still, in that moment.

I heard myself say:

"You made a promise."

The alcohol slowed him down for a second.

Then he smiled. That easy, unconcerned smile.

"Vivian, we've been together for how long now? Almost ten years. Basically an old married couple at this point."

"Why are you holding onto something so small?"

"And you've been to the beach three times already. Don't be greedy."