The CEO’s Runaway Mommy

Anna Rivers never imagined that one day she'd be designing engagement rings for her husband and his first love.

When the studio manager led her into the VIP room, Ethan Gray was holding a woman's hand, his eyes showing a tenderness she'd never seen before.

"Why did you have to come in person for the sizing? Couldn't you just have them come to you?"

The girl nestled against him and stuck out her tongue, her tone pitiful. "But I haven't been out at all lately. I need to get some exercise. What about you though? Don't you have an important meeting today? Will staying too long affect you?"

Ethan, who always put work above everything else, held her hand dotingly, his voice gentle. "What could be more important than you right now?"

Anna had seen that girl's photo many times in Ethan's wallet—it was his first love, Emma Taylor.

Behind her, several interns watched enviously, whispering, "It must be such a blessing to marry a man like Mr. Gray. I heard the wedding ring budget is ten million, and they're planning the wedding too—they've booked the entire Starlight Beach. If only I could..."

Anna watched the couple from afar, her fingers gripping her phone turning bone white.

A blessing?

Maybe she was never supposed to be the one marrying him, so she never got to enjoy that blessing. In three years of marriage, what she received most was his cold indifference.

Just this morning she'd sent Ethan a message asking when he could come home. Three hours later, he'd finally spared a reply: [Busy.]

So this was what he was busy with—his wedding to his white moonlight?

Anna opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She only felt that cold feeling that had been lingering in her heart spreading further, making her chest ache.

She wanted to run away, but just then, the manager urged. "Annie, what are you standing there for? Go on in."

Hearing this, Ethan turned around and met Anna's eyes.

He frowned deeply. Confirming that the person at the door was really her, the veins on his hand gripping the armrest bulged, and his expression turned cold and hard.

Anna didn't want to face him, but the manager put a hand on her shoulder and brought her directly to the couple.

"Mr. Gray, Ms. Taylor, this is the designer in our studio whose style best matches your requirements. You can absolutely trust her skills. Whatever you need, just tell her directly."

"Anna, Mr. Gray is an important client. You must take this seriously."

Anna looked at Ethan's dark gaze, her nails unconsciously digging into her palms.

Coming to her senses, she addressed them both professionally and politely. "Do you two have any ideas about the style? Or should we start with measurements?"

Ethan kept his lips pressed together and said nothing. Emma beside him smiled and spoke, "I looked at Miss Rivers' portfolio yesterday and really liked the style, so let's start with measurements. You can give me a few designs based on your own ideas, okay?"

Anna lowered her eyes, trying hard to look away from Ethan, and went to get the measuring tape from the workstation.

But when recording the ring size, Emma added, "If possible, please make the ring adjustable. I'm pregnant, and by the wedding my finger size might change, so it's better if it can be adjusted."

Anna froze, only now noticing her slightly rounded belly.

The bitter taste in her mouth surged even stronger. Thinking of the pregnancy test report she'd planned to show Ethan when he came home, Anna felt her chest turn cold and painful.

Her baby was exactly five weeks old today, while Emma's belly looked at least three months along, right?

So what did that night between her and Ethan mean?

Did he feel guilty about cheating on his first love, so he mercifully gave her one more time?

Anna's hand holding the pen trembled slightly. She lowered her head to hide the redness in her eyes and moved to measure Ethan's size.

The moment her fingertips touched his slender hand, Ethan pulled it back with a dark expression. "No need. I'll get measured elsewhere."

The pen and measuring tape fell from Anna's hand, making a clear, crisp sound.

Her body stiffened. She tried to act casual as she bent down to pick them up.

Ethan walked out without a word, not even giving her a proper glance.

Emma smiled and apologized to her. "I'm sorry, Ethan doesn't really like being touched. He wasn't trying to be mean to you, Designer Rivers. Please don't take it to heart."

Anna couldn't help but take it to heart. She'd received enough cold treatment in three years—what just happened was nothing compared to that.

But the undisguised intimacy in Emma's tone still stung her heart.

Coming to her senses, she said it was fine, exchanged a few polite words, and left the meeting room.

On her way back to the office, she ran into Ethan at a corner.

He held an unlit cigarette, his eyes cold. "Why are you working here?"

Anna found his question both funny and felt her eyes getting hot.

Actually, she'd told him before coming here, but he probably hadn't listened at all, just coldly said "whatever" and left. He hadn't expected such a coincidence.

But in Ethan's eyes, she was just a shameless gold-digger who'd climbed into his bed and forced him to marry her when his white moonlight went abroad. His dislike couldn't be clearer—there was really no need for him to care.

Things had come to this point. She didn't want to say anything anymore and just answered numbly,"A friend's shop. I had nothing else to do, so I came here."

Ethan looked at her quietly, the temperature around them seeming to drop.

Anna met his gaze, unable to help guessing what he was going to say.

Would he warn her not to tell Grandpa, or ask her to hide their relationship?

But after a long silence, Ethan said, "Tomorrow I'll have my lawyer send you divorce papers."

"I won't shortchange you on alimony. Property, cash, or company shares—as long as it's not too excessive, you can ask directly."

His eyes showed no warmth at all, just pinching the somewhat deformed cigarette in his hand. "Grandpa hasn't been well lately. Don't alarm him. Even if he knows and disagrees, it won't change my decision."

Anna stiffened, suddenly feeling that her heart, which had been aching just moments ago, was now completely empty.

So there was no need for explanations or warnings—just one casual sentence was enough to dismiss her in Ethan's eyes.

After all, she was a wife in name only, illegitimate in his view, someone who could be bought off with money—she meant nothing.

Looking at his cold eyes, Anna really wanted to ask if her efforts and attempts to please him over the years had ever left even a trace in his heart.

But if she actually asked, she'd just be humiliating herself.

Coming to her senses, she said softly. "No need."

Ethan frowned deeply, clearly misunderstanding. "You're going to make this difficult?"

Anna's expression was calm. "No, I just don't need your compensation. After the divorce, I'll leave with nothing."

"After that, I won't bother you and Ms. Taylor. We'll go our separate ways."

Ethan looked stunned for a moment, studying her with scrutiny, probably finding it unexpected that she didn't want money.

Anna didn't want to face this face she'd once been so infatuated with anymore. She turned to leave, but heard footsteps behind her. "Ethan... oh, Designer Rivers? What are you two talking about?"

Anna stopped in her tracks and saw that Emma had already come out with her bag.

She looked between them, her expression somewhat puzzled. "Do you two... know each other?"

Before Anna could speak, Ethan had already casually distanced himself from her.

"No, I was just telling her about the budget and requirements."

He walked over to Emma's side and draped his coat over her shoulders. "It's raining outside. Let's head back early."

Emma leaned against him with a smile and nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something and took an envelope from her bag.

"Is this Designer Rivers'? I just found it on the sofa. I saw a hospital stamp on it—it must be something important, right?"

Anna's pupils contracted.

That was her pregnancy test report...