Chapter 2
His face tightened, but his grip on my hand loosened.
The answer was clear enough.
Dragging my suitcase downstairs, I found Skylar in the living room, the baby cradled possessively.
“Vivian,” she simpered, oozing false concern, “The guest suite is huge! Why move out?”
She was dying for the drama of the demoted wife, but I wasn’t going to play along.
“No, thanks,” I said, looking from her to the baby. “I wish you and the FLESH–AND–BLOOD Voss heir a long and happy life.”
I put extra poison on the words “flesh–and–blood,” and watched her fake smile crack for a half–second.
So much for the naive, simple girl Ethan claimed she was.
At least, not with me.
She recovered in an instant.
“Please don’t say that, Vivian. Ethan still cares about you more than-”
I was already at the door before she could finish.
As if the crumbling marriage wasn’t enough, a downpour had started.
I stood there for a long moment, watching the rain pour down.
Ethan didn’t follow me out.
my face. Rai
Water streaked my face. Rain or tears? Hard to tell.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Ethan:
[Vivian, you’re being unreasonable. Go stay at the corporate apartment. I’ll come get you when you’ve calmed down.]
A bitter laugh escaped me.
I walked straight into the rain and hailed a cab. In den
Maybe because I’d already planned my exit, the sight of Ethan playing daddy didn’t hurt as much as it should have.
After two days of silence, I returned to the house for some forgotten items.
Skylar lounged in the living room, wearing my silk robe. “Vivian! You’re back?”
She patted the baby like a trophy.
I headed straight upstairs, ignoring her.
But when I opened the bedroom door, what little composure I had left crumbled.
The sheets were now a garish tea colour Skylar favoured. My vanity was cluttered with her skincare products.
11.07
Whoops! My Revenge Plan To Trash EX Worked Too Well!
23.4%
Chapter 2
My designer gowns, the ones I’d worn to countless events by Ethan’s side, were shoved in a heap in the corner to make room for her dresses.
My wedding portrait was gone. In its place, a sickeningly sweet photo of them–Ethan holding the baby, Skylar nestled against his shoulder, smiling like she’d won the lottery.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, trying not to cry.
That’s when I truly understood: letting go didn’t have to be a screaming match. Sometimes, it was just… a quiet, hollow emptiness.
After calming down, I went into the hidden room and took out my mom’s urn.
Heading back down, I overheard Skylar on the phone.
“Ethan, the baby misses you….” Her voice was sickeningly sweet. “… Yes, Vivian’s here for some things. I’ll make sure the baby and I get along with her…”
I scoffed. Three days, and she played the lady of the manor better than I had in three years.
No wonder she’d won.
As I reached the foyer, Skylar called out, “Vivian!”
She hurried over, thrusting the baby towards me.
“Would you like to hold him? Get a feel for being a mom?”
Innocent child, yes. But a living symbol of his betrayal? My stomach churned.
“No,” I said, turning to leave.
Suddenly, she let out a shriek and stumbled backward dramatically. “Ahhh!”
My instincts kicked in. I spun around to grab her.
But she twisted deliberately, slamming her shoulder hard against the urn in my hands.
The ceramic pot hit the marble floor with a sickening crack, splitting in two. The pale, gray ashes of my mother spilled across the ground.
I froze.
A roar echoed from the doorway.
“VIVIAN! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!”
Ethan charged in, shoving me aside. He grabbed Skylar, checking her over frantically.
“Are you okay?”
Skylar’s eyes welled up on command. “I’m… I’m fine, I protected the baby.” She sniffled, looking from the ashes to me. “It’s my fault, Ethan. I shouldn’t be here. I’m usurping her place. It’s only right that Vivian would push me…”
Ethan’s head snapped toward me. “Usurping? Vivian, I’m the one who asked her to move in. I’ve told you that.”
I stared blankly at the ashes spread across the floor, my eyes welling up.
“Mom…” I whispered, sinking to my knees.
He thought I was making excuses. “Always crying for your mother when we fight!” he snapped, loosening his tie in frustration. “Did you ever think she’d want you to be a proper wife?”
11:07
Whoops! My Revenge Plan To Trash EX Worked Too Well!
23.7%
Chapter 2
Skylar slithered closer, feigning remorse. “Vivian, I’m so sorry… I broke the baby formula you bought. How much was it? I’ll pay-”
“Don’t bother,” Ethan cut her off, glaring at me coldly. “How could we use anything she bought for the baby?”
“More importantly, did she hurt you? Threaten you? When I wasn’t here?”
Watching him fuss over her, a profound weariness settled over me.
There was no point in explaining anymore.
“Ethan.” I said, my voice unnervingly quiet bu
