Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

The name hit her like a slap.

Vivian Lockwood.

Aurora’s eyes flicked toward Ethan – still standing at the door, hand on the handle, back turned.

The secretary stood waiting, gaze bouncing between them.

Aurora watched Ethan for two seconds. Three.

He didn’t turn around. Didn’t say a word. Just pulled the door open and walked out.

Aurora exhaled through her nose.

“Send her up.”

“Yes, Ms. Sinclair.”

The secretary disappeared.

Vivian stepped out of the elevator and froze.

A man was walking toward her. Toward the elevator she’d just exited.

“Ethan?”

He didn’t stop. Didn’t look at her. Walked straight past, stepped into the elevator, and pressed a button.

The doors closed.

Vivian stared at the brushed steel surface where his face had been a second ago. Was she mistaken? Surely that wasn’t Ethan. Someone like him has no business being in a place like this.

“Ms. Lockwood? Ms. Sinclair is waiting for you.”

She blinked, “Right.”

The CEO’s office was everything Vivian’s wasn’t.

Twice the size. Three times the view. The kind of space that didn’t need to announce power – it simply radiated it.

And behind the desk sat Aurora Sinclair.

The bone structure. The posture. The way she looked at you like she’d already decided you weren’t worth her time before you opened your mouth.

Something ugly twisted in Vivian’s chest when she remembered what happened yesterday. She pushed it down.

“Ms. Sinclair, hello. I’m from Lockwood Indust—”

“I know who you are. We met yesterday, anyway.”

Aurora didn’t stand. Didn’t offer a handshake.

“I don’t really mind that awkward thing, but now, whatever you need, say it. I’m busy.”

Vivian swallowed. “I’m here to discuss the partnership between Stellaris and Lockwood. I understand our company doesn’t meet Stellaris’s usual threshold. But we’re willing to restructure the terms – offer a larger

1/5

+15 Bonus

margin on our end – if Stellaris would consider maintaining the relationship.”

Silence.

Aurora tilted her head. Just slightly.

“Ms. Lockwood, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Stellaris doesn’t care about your margins.” Her voice was flat. Clinical. “If we did, we wouldn’t have partnered with Lockwood for three years in the first place.”

Vivian’s fingers curled at her sides.

“If this is about the partnership,” Aurora continued, “you should be talking to our business development

department. Not me. A deal of Lockwood’s scale has always been handled by people several levels below this office.

“1

She paused. Let that land.

“The partnerships I personally oversee start at a hundred million. Below that, I don’t get involved.”

The words weren’t cruel. They were worse than cruel.

They were dismissive.

Vivian’s face burned. The biggest contract Lockwood had ever signed – the one her father had begged for, the one that kept their company alive – didn’t even register on Aurora Sinclair’s radar.

But she wasn’t leaving empty-handed.

“Ms. Sinclair- if I may ask – if Lockwood was beneath Stellaris’s notice, why agree to the partnership three years ago?”

Aurora’s pen kept moving across the document in front of her.

“Because of a person.”

Vivian’s pulse spiked. “Can you tell me who?”

“No.”

“Was it… Ethan Carter?”

The pen stopped.

Aurora looked up. The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

“Ms. Lockwood. You’re disrupting my work.” She didn’t blink. “Secretary

The secretary materialized instantly.

“Ms. Lockwood, this way please.”

Vivian sat in her car in the Stellaris parking garage.

Engine off. Hands on the wheel.

She replayed every word.

Below a hundred million, I don’t get involved.

–

2/5

15 Bonus

Then why did Aurora know every detail about Lockwood’s contract?

Because of a person.

Three years ago. The same year she married Ethan.

Three years later – the moment they signed divorce papers – Stellaris pulled out.

Once was coincidence.

Twice was a pattern.

And Ethan had been here. Walking out of Aurora Sinclair’s building like he owned the place.

Vivian grabbed her phone and dialed.

It rang. And rang. And rang.

No answer.

She called again. Nothing.

Third time. Voicemail.

Fourth time – the line went dead. Phone off.

“Bastard.”

She hurled the phone onto the passenger seat.

Her knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

Who the hell do you think you are, ignoring my calls?

She sat there for a long time. Breathing. Thinking.

The pieces fit. Ugly, impossible, but they fit.

Aurora Sinclair knew Ethan. Or more than knew him. Maybe — wanted him.

That’s why the partnership started when they got married. That’s why it ended when they split.

“So this is your revenge, Ethan? Getting your little girlfriend to cut us off?”

Her jaw tightened.

“If that’s your play – you’re going to be disappointed. I’m not crawling back to you over one contract.”

Last night, she’d swallowed her pride. Poured herself drinks she didn’t want. Lowered herself to ask him to stay.

He’d said no.

Fine.

She was Vivian Lockwood. Heir to Lockwood Industries. She could bend

Last night was the furthest she’d ever go.

–

once. She would not break.

Ten minutes later.

3/5

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify