Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce novel Chapter 4

“Damian’s face is swollen. His lip is split open. He can barely talk.” Her breath came fast through the speaker. “You come to my office right now and apologize. Formally. In person. Or I will never forgive you for this.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. The good mood Aurora had left him evaporated like water on a hot skillet. Heat crawled up the back of his neck.

“Apologize,” he repeated. The word tasted like ash.”No.”

“What?”

“I said no. I’m not apologizing.” His voice was flat and steady. “Everything that happened was his fault. His and yours.”

“We didn’t do anything wrong!” Vivian’s pitch climbed. “You attacked him out of nowhere, Ethan! Do you know how humiliating that was? For him? For me?”

A voice drifted in from behind Vivian.

“Viv, it’s okay. Really.”

That gentle, wounded tone. The one that made Ethan’s skin crawl. “Don’t force him. I don’t want to be the reason you two have problems. If he doesn’t want to apologize, I understand. I’d rather take the hit than cause trouble between you and your husband.”

Ethan’s grip on the phone tightened.

This piece of work. The man had turned being a victim into an art form.

And Vivian swallowed it whole.

“Did you hear that?” Her voice came back, trembling with righteous fury. “He’s being generous. He’s being understanding. Meanwhile you — you can’t even manage basic decency. Can you stop being so jealous for one second?”

Ethan stared at the far wall of the café.

Across the table, Aurora set down her cup without a sound. Her eyes never left his face.

“Are you done?” Ethan said.

“I’m DONE when you apologize!”

“Then you’ll be waiting a long time.” A cold smile crossed his face. “I already told you, Vivian. Think whatever you want. Say whatever you want. I’m not apologizing to that man. Not today. Not ever.”

Silence. Three seconds. Five.

“Ethan…”

She’d never heard him like this. In five years of marriage, he’d never once held his ground against her. Not once.

Why was he being so forceful and difficult today? She would just have to put in extra effort to coax him.

“Look,” Her tone shifted. Softer. Almost conciliatory. “I know things have been… tense between us. I’m willing to meet you halfway. You come here, you apologize to Damian, and I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll agree to one request. Anything you want. Just — come and smooth this over.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“Anything?” he asked.

“Anything. You have my word.”

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