Chapter 4

I walked forward.

I picked up the plate of ribs.

Under their stunned stares, I hurled the entire plate—food, porcelain, and all—straight into the trash bin.

CRASH!

The loud shatter made Laney shriek, retreating straight into Ethan's arms.

"Avery! Have you lost your damn mind?!"

Ethan shielded Laney, his eyes blazing with fury.

"She came here to apologize to you! If you're angry, take it out on me! What kind of sick satisfaction do you get from bullying her?!"

I pointed at the sea of gardenias filling the room, then at the silk pajamas clinging to Laney's body.

"Apologize?"

"Wearing my clothes, sleeping with my husband, taking over my home—that's what you call an apology?"

"Ethan, do you think losing my uterus meant I lost my brain too?"

Tears streamed down Laney's porcelain cheeks, looking as though she might faint at any second.

"Avery, please, I didn't mean it like that... my clothes got stained, and Ethan just told me to borrow yours..."

"Shut up," I snapped, cutting her off coldly.

"This is my house. Pack your trash and get the hell out."

"Avery!"

Ethan tightened his hold on the woman in his arms, his eyes swimming with profound disappointment.

"When did you become so completely unreasonable?"

"Reporters have staked out Laney's apartment! She had nowhere to go, so she stayed here for a few days!"

"You used to be the most understanding, magnanimous person I knew! How did you turn into such a bitter shrew?"

A shrew.

So, fighting for my dignity made me a shrew in his eyes.

"Right. Good to know."

I nodded, turning on my heel toward the master bedroom.

On the nightstand, our large, framed wedding portrait had vanished.

In its place sat a framed photo of Ethan and Laney laughing together.

I pulled my suitcase from the closet.

I packed only a few changes of casual clothes.

Every single corner of this place made me sick.

Ethan rushed into the room. Seeing my packed bag, sheer panic took over.

"Where are you going?"

He snatched the handle of my suitcase away. "I won't let you leave! This is your home!"

"Avery, can you stop making a scene? If it makes you happy, I'll have Laney move out right now, okay?"

"We can start over. Forget about the baby... we can adopt later."

"Ethan."

I cut him off, reaching into my jacket and slapping a sheet of paper against his chest.

It was a signed divorce petition.

"I've already signed it."

"Keep the house. Keep the car. Keep that woman."

"I just want my freedom."

Ethan stared at the paperwork, terror finally overtaking his rage.

It seemed he had only just realized I wasn't bluffing.

"I'm not signing this! Avery, you can't throw away a marriage over a minor dispute!"

"A minor dispute?"

I pointed to my empty, scarred lower belly.

"Two lives were ruined, and to you, it's just a minor dispute."

"Ethan, the day we took the oath, you swore to defend justice."

"Right now, you are the greatest injustice I have ever faced in my entire life."

I shoved him aside, hauling my suitcase past him.

As I brushed past Laney in the living room, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Leaning in close, I whispered into her ear in a voice meant only for her:

"Laney... do you really think that killer is dead?"