Walking Away While Pregnant: Dear Ex-Husband, I Don't Love You Anymore novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Screech!

The sharp scream of brakes tore through the air.

The white Panamera came to an abrupt stop. The violent force of the sudden braking threw Elise forward, only for the seatbelt to snap taut across her body and yank her back into place.

"Elise, are you okay?" Zoey immediately turned to check on her. "Did your stomach hit anything?"

"I’m fine."

Instinctively, Elise placed a hand over her abdomen and shook her head.

"Thank God we were both wearing seatbelts. Otherwise we’d be walking around with swollen foreheads right now."

Already furious, Zoey unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Seriously, what kind of idiot drives like that? I’m getting out and finding out who this lunatic thinks they are."

Still muttering curses under her breath, she shoved open the car door and stormed outside.

Elise released her own seatbelt and followed.

The driver’s door of the black Maybach opened, and a tall figure dressed in black stepped out.

Elise stopped in her tracks.

The man paid no attention to Zoey’s furious complaints. His eyes, bearing an unmistakable resemblance to Elise’s, were cold and unreadable. After a brief glance around, his gaze settled on her.

A faint crease appeared between Elise’s brows.

Why did it have to be him?

"You forgot what day it is today?"

His tone was icy, carrying an unmistakable edge of reproach.

Zoey frowned and looked from the man to Elise, then back again.

Did they know each other?

She sidled up beside Elise and lowered her voice.

"Friend or enemy?"

Elise’s fingers tightened slightly at her side. "Neither. That’s Ethan Harper, the eldest son of the Harper family."

She paused. "My half-brother."

Zoey fell silent.

Great. Family drama. Those were always the worst kind.

Expressionless, Elise looked at Ethan.

"I honestly don’t know what day you’re talking about. Why don’t you just tell me?"

"It’s Dad’s birthday." Ethan’s gaze remained fixed on her. "Mom called you several times. Why didn’t you answer?"

"I was working." Her response was flat. "I already have plans tonight. I’m not going back."

At that, a flash of irritation finally broke through Ethan’s calm façade.

"You’re his daughter. How can you skip his birthday celebration?"

"It’s hardly the first time." Elise shrugged. "I’ll have someone send a gift later."

"You think Dad cares about your gift?"

Disapproval filled Ethan’s voice.

"Elise, he already knows about your divorce from Dylan. Let me be blunt. If you and Dylan actually separate, then your mother loses all value in his eyes."

And in their father’s world, losing value meant becoming disposable.

For Leah, there could be no crueler outcome.

Elise’s expression darkened. Looking at Ethan, disgust flickered openly in her eyes.

"You really are your father’s son."

A mocking laugh escaped his lips.

Elise had been the only exception... Because she had chosen Dylan.

Back then, the entire family mocked her. They accused her of backing the wrong man. Of sacrificing the family’s future. Of being selfish.

She had accepted every accusation and remained by Dylan’s side anyway.

Then Dylan became CEO of Bennett Group.

Suddenly, the same people who had criticized her changed their tune overnight.

From that point on, Elise became the one child the Harper family treated differently.

She had not attended her father’s birthday banquet in years. Their father had never dared demand the presence of Mrs. Bennett.

So why insist this year?

The answer was obvious... The divorce. The moment the family learned about it, interference became inevitable.

If conflict was unavoidable, perhaps it was better to face it head-on.

At least with everyone gathered in one place, she could make her position clear once and for all.

After a moment of thought, Elise turned to Zoey.

"Go home first."

Zoey immediately frowned. "What about you?"

"When this is over, I’ll call you."

Her friend still looked uneasy. "Are you sure? Your brother doesn’t exactly seem trustworthy."

A faint smile touched Elise’s lips.

"Don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m dealing with."

Then she turned toward Ethan.

"Fine. Let’s go. I’ll attend the celebration."