Chapter 395

Vanessa's nails dug into her palms, her chest constricting with a storm of conflicting emotions.

She bit back the words burning on her tongue.

Not now. Not with Ethan.

Their marriage had been crumbling for months, and accusing him over Evelyn's lingering perfume would only drive the final wedge between them.

That incident at the lake still hung between them—her shoving him into the water, his icy glare afterward. Repairing their relationship required patience, not provocation.

So when the faint trace of jasmine and vanilla—Evelyn's signature scent—drifted from his collar, Vanessa clenched her jaw and looked away.

Ethan didn’t even meet her eyes as he dropped two crisp documents onto the coffee table.

Then he sank into the leather sofa, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable.

His tailored suit was immaculate, his tie perfectly knotted, every inch the composed CEO. But the way his gaze slid past her—like she was nothing, less than nothing—cut deeper than any blade.

The bold black letters on the top page made her breath hitch.

Divorce Agreement.

Her hands trembled.

To him, she wasn’t worth a second glance. Not even the courtesy he’d show a passing stranger.

The truth struck her like a physical blow.

How had everything fallen apart so completely?

She still loved him—desperately.

She wouldn’t have fought so hard to become his wife otherwise.

Once, he had loved her too.

But now, even with Alexander sitting right in front of her, the distance between them felt insurmountable.

She could have accepted it if he simply didn’t love her anymore. She could have even endured him asking for a divorce.

But knowing it was because of Evelyn?

That made every sacrifice, every year she had given him, utterly meaningless.

At four months pregnant, her belly had begun to curve noticeably, especially with the extra weight she’d gained.

Her steps were slow as she approached him, stopping just before the sofa.

His gaze flickered down to the gentle swell of her stomach, impossible to ignore now.

Vanessa pressed her palm against her belly, then reached for his hand, guiding it to rest where their child grew.

"Alexander," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Can you feel him? This is your son. Our son. If you leave me… will you leave him too?"

The air between them was thick with tension, heavy enough to suffocate.

Vanessa's fingers trembled as they clutched at Ethan's sleeve, her voice breaking.

"He just kicked. Are you really going to abandon us? Destroy everything we've built?"

A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek before landing on his skin, warm and desperate.

Her sorrow would have moved any man—but Ethan Caldwell wasn't just any man.

His gaze remained icy, unyielding, as if her pain meant nothing to him.

He didn’t even glance at her again.

With a sharp motion, he pulled his hand free, leaving Vanessa standing there, stunned.

For a heartbeat, she couldn’t believe he could be so cruel.

Ethan barely reacted, his expression carved from stone as he met her eyes.

"Vanessa," he said, voice devoid of warmth, "I’m giving you a billion. What more could you possibly want? Take it and go. Spare me the performance—it doesn’t work on me."

His words were a blade, slicing through the silence between them.

Secret Longing: A Love That Defies All Odds…

A billion dollars in alimony was beyond generous. Ethan could have left her with nothing.

It was Vanessa who had destroyed everything between them. Their relationship had been built on her web of lies from the very beginning.

And when she pushed him into that lake, fully aware he couldn’t swim, she had shattered whatever lingering affection he might have still held for her.

“Do you think I’ve forgotten?” Ethan stepped closer, gripping her chin just hard enough to make her flinch. “Your tears mean nothing to me. Did you really believe I’d trust you now?”

His fingers tightened, the pressure turning her skin crimson.

The sharp pain forced a gasp from her lips, tears spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.

But Ethan didn’t release her. Instead, his grip only grew firmer. “Vanessa, do you have any idea what happens to people who betray me? I’ve let you get away with too much already. Did you honestly think you could deceive me?”

Vanessa staggered back, collapsing onto the bed.

A cold sweat traced down her spine as she stared up at him, fear tightening her chest.

Vanessa's teeth sank into her lower lip as she struggled to stand. Her legs trembled violently before giving out completely, sending her crashing back onto the hardwood floor.

"Ethan, you don’t understand! That night—it wasn’t what it looked like. Please, just let me explain!"

"An accident?" His voice dripped with scorn. "You expect me to believe you didn’t lace that drink? That you didn’t orchestrate the whole damn scene, dragging my entire family into your twisted little drama? You wanted to destroy Evelyn, didn’t you? Play the victim and soak up everyone’s pity like some tragic heroine?"

A harsh laugh escaped him as he shook his head. "Pathetic. An illegitimate brat throwing a tantrum, drowning in crocodile tears. It’s disgusting."

"Ethan, I swear, that’s not what happened!"

But he was done listening. Done with her lies.

His fingers tapped impatiently against the divorce papers spread across the table. "Sign them. Now. Don’t make this harder than it has to be."

Vanessa’s pulse raced. She couldn’t sign. She wouldn’t.

Eleanor wasn’t here to intervene. Alexander had only just arrived home.

Desperation clawed at her throat. She raised her voice, sharp and shrill, hoping someone—anyone—would hear.

"I won’t sign! Your mother would never allow this! She cares about this baby—are you really going to—"

Her words cut off as his cold glare silenced her.

The air between them crackled with tension.

And in that moment, Vanessa realized—she was completely alone.