Chapter 4

Sienna

The divorce blindsided Ethan. He stormed out that night and vanished for a week—his classic punishment tactic to force me into line.

In the past, his silent treatments would have kept me up all night sobbing. Now? I was too busy updating my resume and securing my next step.

Seven days later, Ethan finally called.

"The marketing team hit its mid-year targets," he said flatly. "There's a corporate celebration downtown tonight. Be ready at six. I'll pick you up."

Outside our apartment building, I waited twenty minutes in the cold before his Porsche finally pulled up. Chloe was sitting right in the front passenger seat.

"Hey Sienna! Ethan said I get too motion-sick in the back, so he let me sit up front," Chloe chirped, flashing a sweet smile. "You don't mind, right?"

Ethan kept his hands on the wheel, glancing nervously at me in the rearview mirror.

Without a word, I opened the rear door and slid in. That passenger seat wasn't mine to fight for anymore anyway.

During the drive, Chloe babbled endlessly, occasionally brushing her shoulder against Ethan's arm. Uncharacteristically, Ethan stayed quiet, staring straight ahead as he checked the mirror.

When we arrived at the hotel, Marcus—Ethan's business partner—greeted us with a tight grin.

"Sienna! Hey! Man, things have been so crazy I completely forgot to text you about tonight."

Marcus always "forgot" whenever Ethan wanted to bring Chloe around without friction.

"It's fine," I said evenly. "I won't be staying long."

Inside the ballroom, after Ethan finished shaking hands with investors, he walked over holding a small plate with a slice of cake.

"Eat something," he said quietly. "You skipped dinner."

Before I could answer, Chloe popped up with her phone on a selfie stick. "Found you, Ethan! The stream wanted to say hi!" She pouted before turning a sugary smile toward me. "Oh, bringing cake for Sienna? How sweet!"

She leaned into her camera. "No, guys~ Ethan and I aren't dating!"

I turned my back and walked out toward the balcony.

Ethan followed me out, brow furrowed. "I didn't know she was going live. Don't listen to the chat—I'll make her stop."

"Do whatever you want," I replied indifferently, walking back inside.

Near the champagne tower, Chloe cornered me with a flute of sparkling wine.

"All my followers keep saying Ethan and I have real chemistry," she purred, her eyes sharp. "Who do you honestly think he cares about more? You or me?"

I looked at her calmly. "You should ask him yourself. But my money's on you."

Her lips curled into a smirk. "Glad we agree."

Before I could step back, Chloe threw herself backward onto the marble floor with a sharp shriek.

At the same exact moment, a heavy hand shoved my shoulder. My lower back slammed hard against the edge of a high-top table, sending flutes crashing down.

A blinding wave of pain ripped through my lower abdomen.

I clutched my stomach, gripping the table edge as a sickening warmth trickled down my legs.

Ethan rushed over, scooping Chloe up before turning to glare at me in front of the crowd. "Sienna! When are you going to stop this childish—"

His voice cut off.

His eyes dropped to the dark crimson stain spreading rapidly across my skirt. The color drained entirely from his face.

"Sienna... are you... are you pregnant?!"