Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Ethan set down his knife. Slowly. He turned to face her, expression flat as a frozen lake.

“Enough of what?”

“You’re my husband.” Vivian’s voice climbed half an octave. “And you’re sitting here letting this woman feed you like some – like some kept pet. In front of everyone. Do you think this is funny? Do you think I’ll just sit here and watch?”

“But darling, it really is funny.” Sophie took the opportunity to lean into Ethan.

Vivian caught the movement. Her voice dropped. “Sophie Whitfield, you’re the heiress to the Whitfield name. Have some self-respect and get your hands off my husband.”

Sophie didn’t flinch. “I’ll touch whoever I want. You got a problem with that?”

“Shameless.”

Sophie smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The table had gone completely still. Forks frozen mid-air. Conversations dead. Every pair of eyes ping- ponged between the two women like spectators at a blood sport.

Ethan picked up his glass of water. Took a slow drink. Then set it down and turned to Vivian, his gaze flat

and cold.

“Vivian, I’ve already filed for divorce. We’re not husband and wife anymore. Who I spend time with is none of your business.”

The room sucked in a collective breath.

What? Vivian and Ethan are getting a divorce? And they have absolutely no idea? It looks like they really can’t afford to miss the upcoming drama.

Vivian’s face went white. Her teeth clenched so hard a muscle jumped in her jaw.

“Until I sign those papers, we are still legally married. What you’re doing right now is cheating.”

“Cheating?” Ethan laughed. Short. Quiet. The kind of laugh that made the temperature drop.

His gaze slid past Vivian to the man sitting on her other side. Damian.

“Then what do you call this?” Ethan said. “You and him, joined at the hip, every single day. What’s the word for that?”

“Damian is my friend. A former classmate. And a colleague.” Vivian’s reply came fast. “There’s nothing inappropriate about it.”

“Ex-boyfriend to best friend to colleague.” Ethan’s mouth curved. No warmth in it. He reached over and took Sophie’s hand, lacing their fingers together on the tablecloth where everyone could see.

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“Then let me introduce you. Sophie is my best friend. She’s also a major client I work with. I’m accompanying my client to her class reunion. Any questions?”

Vivian’s mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

“Client?” She almost laughed. “What client? You don’t have a job, Ethan. You’ve never had a -”

“Oh my God.” Sophie’s gasp was so dramatic it could have won an award. She pressed one hand to her chest, eyes wide with exaggerated disbelief.

“This is precious.” She turned to the table, addressing the room like a talk-show host delivering the punchline. “Vivian Lockwood, CEO of Lockwood Industries, married to Ethan Carter for five years – and she has no idea what he does for a living.”

Silence.

“What are you talking about?” Vivian frowned.

“Let me guess,” Sophie continued, propping her chin on her hand. “You assumed he was still your little house husband? Cooking dinner, doing laundry, waiting for you to come home?”

She clicked her tongue. “Sweetheart, Ethan is one of the most important clients I’ve ever worked with. The contracts he signs are worth more than this entire hotel.”

Vivian’s eyes darted to Ethan.

He didn’t confirm. He didn’t deny. He picked up his glass of bourbon and took a slow sip.

That silence hit harder than any words could have.

“Since you clearly can’t be bothered to take care of your own husband,” Sophie slid her arm through Ethan’s again, her voice dropping into a purr that carried across every corner of the room, “I’ll just have to take care of him for you. Don’t worry – he’s in very good hands.”

Vivian’s whole body trembled.

Sophie’s gaze swiveled past her – landing on Damian, who sat frozen in his chair like a man trying to become invisible.

“And you.” Sophie’s smile sharpened. “Her beloved white moonlight. Her knight in shining armor. She’s standing here shaking with anger and you can’t even be bothered to open your mouth?”

Every eye in the room turned to Damian.

His jaw tightened. A muscle twitched in his cheek. For a split second, he wanted to snap back, but then he immediately thought of Sophie’s family’s influence.

He stood slowly, placed a hand on Vivian’s arm, and said in his most carefully calibrated gentle voice:

“Viv, don’t let them get to you. Sit down. It’s not worth it.”

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Sophie burst out laughing.

“It’s not worth it,” she repeated, clapping her hands together. “That’s your big move? She’s about to flip the table and the best you’ve got is ‘sit down, it’s not worth it?” She shook her head. “No wonder she married Ethan instead of you. At least Ethan has a spine.”

Damian’s face went from pale to scarlet in two seconds flat.

Vivian’s nails dug into her own palms. She looked around the table – at the averted gazes, the uncomfortable coughs, the classmates who were all suddenly fascinated by their soup bowls.

She was losing. Every word she said gave Sophie more ammunition. Every second she stood here, she bled dignity.

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