Chapter 12

Ethan's voice was cold as ice. "I've done what I needed to. I don't owe you anything, Olivia. I only ever looked out for you out of respect for your grandfather. Don't mistake that for something more."

"I'm greedy?" Olivia's expression twisted. She couldn't come up with a comeback, so she just clenched her fists and shot me a venomous glare before storming off.

It wasn't until after she left that I learned why she'd come to find me so frantically today.

Apparently, Ethan had gone public with what really happened that day at the pool.

He said there was never a moment where he had to choose between me and Olivia. He would've only ever saved me.

He explained that the only reason he rescued Olivia was because he didn't know I'd fallen in too. If he had known, he wouldn't have even hesitated.

His words were clear, brutal even. He completely erased any notion that Olivia ever meant something more to him.

That incident used to be the punchline of every joke in their social circle, "Even her own husband didn't bother saving her." I'd been humiliated, pitied, looked down on. People were just waiting for the day Ethan would toss me aside.

But now? Now everything had flipped.

With Ethan making such a public statement, he was taking my side. Loud and clear. And in doing so, he'd completely crushed Olivia's carefully curated image. No wonder she'd lost it.

But what I couldn't wrap my head around was, if Ethan had no feelings for Olivia, then why did I see her as a threat for so many years?

More blurry memories started flashing behind my eyes. My temples throbbed. I shook my head, trying to make it stop.

Ethan immediately stepped forward, worry flashing in his eyes. He steadied me. "Are you feeling okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"

"I'm fine."

I pushed his hand away. "Just keep your Olivia from showing up again. That's all I want. I don't need anything else from you."

"You won't have to worry about that," Ethan said, voice steady. "I won't make the same mistake twice."

Zack, who had been standing off to the side, suddenly spoke. "You can try not to make mistakes again, but not all mistakes get forgiven."

For once, I found myself fully agreeing with him.

Ethan turned to him coldly. "I gave you the West Side project to thank you for saving her. Don't overstep."

Zack just laughed. "Overstep? Dude, I saved her. She can't swim. If I hadn't been there, you wouldn't have a wife. And this is the attitude you're giving me?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade. "How do you know she can't swim?"

Zack's expression turned playfully smug. "What do you think?"

Then he sighed dramatically. "Since you two are getting divorced anyway, I might as well tell you the truth. I've known her for a long time. I even confessed to her once… but then she fell for you."

He clicked his tongue and looked at me. "Aria, if you think you chose wrong back then, I'm still available."

Before I could react, Ethan swung at him.

A fistfight broke out right in front of me. Ethan, always so composed and aloof, was now all raw emotion, punching like he meant to kill.

I just stood there, arms crossed, watching them go at it.

Not my problem.

I wasn't about to get in the middle of two overgrown boys throwing punches over pride and past regrets.

When I turned to head back inside, I thought that would be the end of it.

But Ethan beat me there.

By the time I reached the steps outside my building, he was already waiting. There was a bruise on the corner of his mouth. His eyes lit up the moment he saw me.

"I'll come pick you up after work," he said casually, like nothing had happened.

I looked pointedly at the bruise. He shifted awkwardly.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. He got it worse."

I rolled my eyes. "Who said I was worried about you? Don't flatter yourself."

His smile faltered, but he still said, "I'll be waiting after work."

That's when my patience snapped. "I told you, I want a divorce. What part of that do you not understand?"

His expression darkened, but his voice turned quiet, almost pleading. "You don't remember how much you loved me. Once you get your memories back…"

"Why should I want to remember?" I cut him off. "Just because you and Olivia weren't having an affair? But all the hurt I felt, that was real. And I meant what I said. I'm not changing my mind. Or do you really think that once I remember, I'll go back to being that pathetic woman who forgave you every time you snapped your fingers?"

"I don't think that…" Ethan's voice cracked slightly.

And suddenly, I felt drained too. My anger fizzled, leaving behind something cold and tired.

I looked him straight in the eyes. "Ethan, when I first woke up, when I realized I had no memories… I was terrified. But then I found out you were my husband. I was relieved. I thought, 'At least I know him. At least I married someone good.'"