Chapter 8
Chloe's POV:
The next few days passed more peacefully than any I'd had in the past six years.
I didn't have to wake up at six to make breakfast. Didn't have to time the reheating of meals for someone who might not even come home. When the lock clicked late at night, I didn't have to lie awake waiting for an explanation. And I didn't have to deal with Noah's tantrums anymore.
Every morning, I dropped Anna off at her new kindergarten, then drove to Reed Group for work.
After work, I picked Anna up and brought her back to the apartment, where Mary, the housekeeper, had already prepared dinner.
Life was simple. But it felt solid. The apartment wasn't big, but it was warm.
Anna loved it here. She said it didn't feel cold and empty like the big house. Here, it was just her and me. And that was enough.
Mary was in her forties—efficient, dependable, and kind to Anna.
With her help, I could focus entirely on work.
At work, I adapted faster than I'd expected.
The design team had been wary of me at first, but after a few rounds of proposals, their attitudes shifted.
Last week, I submitted an initial proposal for a partnership with Werner Group. Even the notoriously picky design director nodded in approval.
"Chloe, this concept is fresh. Keep it up."
I smiled and nodded. That proposal was built on years of accumulated experience.
All those late nights sketching and revising designs hadn't been for nothing.
That afternoon, I was refining a proposal at my desk when my phone rang. It was Anna.
"Mommy!" Her voice sounded a little upset. "Noah called me."
My chest tightened. "What did he say?"
"He said… he said Ms. Brown made him a cake, and it was really good. Then he said you were irresponsible for running away with me and abandoning him."
I gripped my phone, keeping my voice as calm as I could. "And then?"
"Then I yelled at him!" Anna's voice rose. "I told him you're the best mommy in the whole world, and Ms. Brown is nothing! Noah got so mad he cried. He said I was taking your side and being unfair."
I couldn't help but laugh.
Anna looked quiet and gentle on the outside, but when pushed, she had a sharp tongue.
After hanging up, I sat at my desk, thoughts swirling.
I picked up my phone, tempted to call and get to the bottom of things. But my finger hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally set it down.
Forget it. That house wasn't worth wasting any more energy on.
Just then, my phone rang again. An unfamiliar number.
I answered. A familiar voice came through. "Chloe, it's me."
I froze. It was Ethan's mother—my mother-in-law, Susan.
"Mom…" The word slipped out before I could stop it. I realized it might not be appropriate anymore, but I didn't know what else to call her. I'd always thought of her as a mother.
Susan didn't seem to mind. Her voice was as warm as ever. "Chloe, how have you been? How's Anna?"
"We're both doing well."
"That's good. Chloe, I know you and Ethan have been having some problems. But I'd like to have dinner with you—just the two of us. Would that be okay? The day after tomorrow, our usual place."
I stayed silent for a few seconds.
Honestly, I'd given up on Ethan. But Susan? I was still grateful to her.
Six years ago, when I gave birth to Noah and Anna, I hemorrhaged badly and nearly died on the operating table. The hospital's blood bank was running low. Susan didn't hesitate—she rolled up her sleeve and donated blood for me.
That unit of blood saved my life.
Over the years, she'd never mentioned it. Never used it against me. She just treated me well, like I was her own daughter.
Even if I was divorcing Ethan, I couldn't forget that kindness.
"Okay," I agreed. "See you then."
Ethan's POV:
"Dad, I'm hungry."
Noah's voice drifted in from the living room, tinged with dissatisfaction.
I glanced at the time. 6:30 PM. Usually, by now, dinner would already be on the table.
"Got it."
I set down the documents I was reviewing and walked to the kitchen.
The housekeeper was bustling around inside, but her movements were clumsy. She kept flipping through a cookbook.
"Did Chloe use to cook with recipes?"
The housekeeper shook her head. "No, sir. Mrs. Miller never looked at cookbooks. She just… cooked. And the smell…" She paused. "I've worked here for three years, and I've never smelled anything as good as what she made."
Chloe's cooking had always been good. But I'd never thought about how she did it.
"Dinner will take a little longer, sir," the housekeeper said apologetically. "I… I don't really know how to make Mrs. Miller's dishes."
"Just make something simple."
I turned and went back to the living room. Noah sat on the sofa, hugging a pillow. His lips were pursed so tightly they could hold a bottle.
"Dad, Anna went to Grandma's house! I called her today, and she said she's at Grandma's. She even said Grandma's house is a hundred times better than ours!"
Grandma's house?
Chloe's mother's house?
"What else did she say?"
"She said…" Noah's voice dropped. "She said Mom doesn't want us anymore. She's going to live at Grandma's house with Anna. She's not coming back."
Annoyance flared in my chest. 'Chloe, what the hell are you doing? Taking your daughter back to your parents' house and leaving your son behind?'
Just then, the doorbell rang.
The housekeeper went to answer it. Vivian walked in carrying a cake box, wearing a light pink dress and smiling brightly. "Ethan, I came to see Noah."
"Ms. Brown!" Noah jumped off the sofa and ran over to hug her. "Did you bring me cake?"
"Of course! I made it myself." Vivian crouched down and ruffled his hair. "Your dad told me you've been feeling down lately, so I made your favorite—mango mousse."
Noah's eyes lit up. "Awesome! Thank you, Ms. Brown!"
I watched the scene unfold. Vivian really did know how to handle kids. Noah was always so well-behaved around her.
"Ethan, you should have some too." Vivian looked up at me, her eyes full of expectation.
"I'm not a fan of sweets."
"Then… how about I make you some pasta?" She stood up. "I noticed your housekeeper doesn't seem very experienced. You and Noah probably haven't been eating well these past few days."
Before I could refuse, Noah jumped in. "Yes! Ms. Brown's cooking is definitely delicious!"
Vivian smiled and headed into the kitchen.
The housekeeper stood to the side, looking uncertain. Vivian said gently, "It's okay. I'll take care of it."
Ten minutes later, a steaming plate of pasta was set in front of me.
It tasted fine. But it didn't compare to Chloe's cooking.
"Ethan, I wanted to talk to you about something." Vivian sat across from me, her expression hesitant. "Living alone in my apartment… I've been feeling unsafe lately. Last time, someone knocked on my door in the middle of the night. I was terrified."
Her eyes reddened slightly.
Noah immediately chimed in. "Ms. Brown, you should move in with us! We have a big house with lots of empty rooms!"
I glanced at Noah, then at Vivian.
She lowered her head, her voice soft. "That wouldn't be appropriate… With Chloe not here, if I moved in, wouldn't people talk?"
"They won't!" Noah grabbed her hand. "Ms. Brown, please stay! Mom's not coming back anyway!"
Frustration simmered inside me. But seeing Noah's hopeful expression and Vivian's pitiful look, I nodded.
"You can stay for now. The housekeeper will clean up a guest room."
Vivian's eyes brightened. "Really? Thank you, Ethan!"
That night, Vivian moved in.
After the housekeeper finished preparing the guest room, I returned to my study to work.
I stayed busy until late into the night before finally closing my laptop.
The living room lights were off. The house was dark.
I walked into the bedroom, about to turn on the light, when I saw a figure standing by the bed.
Long hair. Wearing a white silk nightgown.
I recognized that nightgown. It was Chloe's.
"Chloe?" I called out and walked closer.
The figure turned around.
It was Vivian.
She was wearing Chloe's nightgown. Her hair was down.
"Ethan…" Her voice was soft. "You're finally done working?"
