The Weight Of Leaving by Riven Kade novel Chapter 18

Chapter 10

Ethan immediately let go of my hand, his voice tumbling out in a rush.

“Don’t overthink it–I’m done with her, I swear. The kid was just throwing a tantrum, begging me to hang out

one last time. If I’d refused, she would’ve made a scene forever. You get that, right?”

He reached for my hand again, desperation in his eyes.

Zoey stepped in, her tone sticky–sweet.

“Yeah, don’t misunderstand. I was the one clinging.to Ethan–it’s not his fault.”

I pulled my hand away, putting a deliberate distance between us.

“We’ve been divorced for ages. Who you date has nothing to do with me.”

My voice was flat. I turned to leave, but Ethan blocked my path.

“Jane, yell at me, fight with me, anything–just don’t shut me out like this. Please, give me a chance to make

things right.”

“I know I messed up. But at least give me some warning before you slam the door in my face. I can’t take you disappearing on me like this.”

“Even if you’re going to sentence me to death, at least give me a heads–up. Don’t just suddenly treat me like

this–I can’t take it.”

I shook my head, wordless. This wasn’t his first betrayal–or his first apology. I’d stopped believing him a

long time ago.

As I walked away, Ethan shoved Zoey hard.

“This is all your fault! She’s never going to believe me again.”

A flicker of triumph crossed Zoey’s face. She wrapped her arms around him, her voice syrupy.

“It’s okay. She’s gone now. You still have me.”

“I’ll stay by your side forever. No matter what.”

He froze.

The words hit a nerve–because once upon a time, I’d said the same thing.

Back then, his life was a wreck. He grew up in a broken home, surrounded by hostility. No one dared get

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close.

But I did.

I fought for him–literally. When his relatives crossed the line, I didn’t hesitate to throw punches. He had to bail me out of the station that night. When he saw the bruises on my face, his eyes turned red with fury.

That was the moment we knew we belonged together.

I made him a promise under the stars: that I’d love him for a lifetime, protect him no matter what, and help him build a better future. He made the same vow, his voice trembling with emotion.

But time wears down everything–even love.

Now, as he watched me walk away, tears welled in his eyes.

Those days were gone for good.

Reluctantly, he reached for Zoey’s hand.

He hated being alone. The thought of emptiness terrified him.

And with me gone, Zoey became the last thing he had left to hold on to.

After that day, Ethan barely showed up again. His company was hit with a massive crisis, and he was too overwhelmed to chase me. Day after day, he was buried in disaster control.

Meanwhile, Zoeyrose through the ranks and secured a real executive position.

And power went straight to her head.

She surrounded herself with flatterers, promoting only the smooth–talkers. Anyone with real skill either got

pushed out–or walked out.

Even as the company spiraled, she proposed across–the–board salary cuts, claiming the payroll was

unsustainable.

“Take it or leave it,” she said. And dozens did.

Soon, the veterans–the ones actually holding things together–were all gone. In their place were bootlickers

and clueless rookies.

The empire I’d helped Ethan build collapsed in months.

He filed for bankruptcy, the company shut down.

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Meanwhile, I kept rising–steady and unbothered.

One day, while heading into a meeting, I overheard voices coming from the lounge.

Familiar voices.

Zoey’s old sycophants–people who used to mock me to my face.

“That Jane Rivers is such a witch,” one muttered. “All we did was speak the truth and she held a grudge. Got

HR to wipe us out!”

“Didn’t even pass the first screening,” another snorted. “God, I was blind to back Zoey, -useless pretty face

with nothing going on.”

“Totally. Should’ve just stuck with being Ethan’s trophy wife. Could’ve lived the high life for years.”

“But nooo, she had to act all high and mighty. Look what that got her.”

“I heard she borrowed money at crazy interest rates to buy stocks. Totally tanked.”

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