Chapter 281

The Eclipse Lounge was bathed in moody amber lighting, the low murmur of patrons blending with the occasional clink of ice against glass. Ethan Caldwell sprawled lazily in the leather booth while Trevor Moss studied him from across the table.

Trevor tapped his cigarette against the ashtray before taking a slow drag. The smoke curled around his face as he exhaled. "So, Ethan. You're really ending things with Vanessa?"

He leaned forward, voice dropping. "Let's be honest—you never should've married her. The whole of Cresthaven watched Evelyn chase you for seven years. You were engaged, for God's sake. Then suddenly, Vanessa waltzes in and—"

A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Your marriage was a farce from day one. She was just a glorified mistress, and now the entire city's whispering about it."

His expression turned serious. "But if you divorce now? It'll be a scandal. The great Ethan Caldwell, reduced to Cresthaven's favorite punchline."

Ethan remained silent, the smoke from his cigarette weaving a hazy barrier between them.

Trevor wasn't wrong.

Let them talk.

He didn’t care.

Not when his life was already in shambles.

The smoke curled around Ethan Caldwell's fingers as he took another slow drag. His expression remained unreadable, the dim light casting shadows across his sharp features.

Trevor Moss, sitting across from him, exhaled sharply. "You really don't care what people think, do you?"

Ethan didn't respond immediately. His gaze was distant, fixed on some unseen point beyond the haze of smoke.

Trevor lit another cigarette for him, the flame flickering briefly before he leaned back in his chair. "So, Ethan," he pressed, "what's the real reason you're divorcing Vanessa? Did you just… fall out of love?"

A beat of silence.

Then, so quiet it was almost lost beneath the hum of the bar, Ethan murmured, "The woman I love is Evelyn."

Trevor froze. His cigarette nearly slipped from his fingers.

Ethan just admitted he loves Evelyn?

His mind reeled. She chased him for years, and he barely glanced her way. And now—what? Pride? Or is this some twisted realization after losing her?

Trevor had suspected Ethan's feelings for a while, but hearing it aloud still sent a jolt through him. "So, she's married to Alexander now, and you're divorcing Vanessa just for her?" He hesitated, then added carefully, "Isn't that a little…"

You did this to yourself.

He didn't finish the sentence. The icy glint in Ethan's eyes warned him not to push further.

Trevor exhaled, shaking his head. Some truths were better left unspoken.

"Fine, but what about Vanessa? She won't agree to sign, will she?"

Ethan gave a careless shrug. "We were never legally married to begin with."

Trevor's eyes widened in shock.

As darkness settled in, Ethan's phone buzzed to life.

Vanessa's name flashed across the screen.

He barely spared it a glance before swiping to reject the call.

Victor Kane, the man with the jagged scar running down his cheek, watched the call get dismissed with a sneer.

"Your so-called husband isn't exactly husband of the year material, huh? You call, and he can't even be bothered to answer?"

Vanessa's teeth sank into her lower lip hard enough to draw blood, her vision blurring with unshed tears.

She had expected Ethan to ignore her—had braced herself for it—but a tiny, foolish part of her had still hoped for something different.

Victor unbuckled his belt with deliberate slowness. "Money makes the world go round, sweetheart. But without it..."

Vanessa's face drained of color. "I'll call again! Just—don't come any closer!"

Vanessa's trembling fingers dialed Ethan's number again, only for him to reject the call immediately.

Tears blurred her vision as she tried a third time, but Victor had reached his limit. He snatched the phone from her grasp and flung it across the room.

"Enough of this!" Victor barked. "I'm not wasting another second!"

He jerked his chin at the men behind him. "I go first. The rest of you can wait your turn."

Vanessa's blood ran cold at his words.

Panic clawed at her throat as the men advanced. In desperation, she pointed toward Evelyn, who sat frozen in the corner.

"Take her instead!" Vanessa shrieked. "She's untouched! She's never been with anyone!"

Victor's eyes gleamed with sudden interest. He turned slowly, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.

"A virgin?" He licked his lips. "Now that's something new. Let's see what all the fuss is about."