Chapter 9

After that day, things between Ethan and me fell apart, again.

I honestly couldn't wrap my head around why he was so against the divorce.

He was clearly into Olivia and didn't even like being around me. Wouldn't splitting up be exactly what he wanted?

I gave up trying to figure him out.

The next day, I moved out.

When Ethan came home and realized I was gone, he called right away.

"Aria, what the hell is this supposed to mean?"

"What do you mean, what does it mean? We're getting divorced. We shouldn't still be living together."

I added, "Just hurry up and get the divorce papers ready."

Before I could even finish, he hung up on me.

I tossed my phone onto the table. I wasn't about to chase after his mood swings anymore.

I had just finished unpacking when someone knocked on the door.

Thinking it was a delivery, I opened it, and froze. Ethan was standing there, his jaw tight, barely holding back his temper.

My expression dropped. "What are you doing here? Wait… how do you even know where I live?"

He barged in without answering, glancing around the small rental apartment. "You'd rather live in this dump just to throw a fit and move out?"

I took a breath, steadying myself. "Ethan, this isn't a tantrum. I want to divorce you."

Honestly, I was confused too. "Why won't you let me go? Isn't this what you've been wanting?"

"When did I ever say I wanted a divorce?" Ethan looked at me like I was speaking another language.

"Is this still about Olivia?" he asked, his eyes darkening. "I thought we cleared that up. I didn't mean to ignore you when you fell in the pool…"

I just stood there, cold and silent.

He sighed, then gently took my shoulders and guided me to the couch. "Aria, stop being so upset. Just come home. I promise, it won't happen again."

I stared at him, stunned. After all the times it had happened… now he wanted to make it right?

I pushed his hands off. "There's no need. Just get the divorce papers ready."

Ethan suddenly grabbed my chin. "Do you have to take this so far?"

"I already told you, I'm not throwing a tantrum!"

"You really wanna sleep alone in a place like this?" he said lowly.

"What else do you expect me to do?"

Ethan leaned in suddenly and nipped my earlobe. "Come on. Be good. Come home with me. You can't sleep without me."

I actually laughed. "Maybe a spoiled trust-fund guy like you thinks this place is beneath you, but I'm fine here. It's close to work, too."

He let out a frustrated sigh. "Do I seriously have to spell it out for you? Aria, you can't sleep without me."

I blinked at him like he'd just said something insane. "Excuse me? I can't sleep without you?"

Ever since I'd woken up with no memory, I thought we were just a bitter, mismatched couple. I'd loved him, and he'd grown sick of me.

But the way he said that, like we were some happy, bickering husband and wife, left me reeling.

He leaned in like he was about to say more, but I shoved him toward the door.

"Ethan, I've made up my mind. I can't live like this anymore. I want out."

After kicking him out, I threw myself into setting up my little apartment.

Work was still a lot to catch up on, I had the general idea of what I was supposed to do, but I needed to study everything again, like I was starting from scratch.

That evening, I was scrolling through social media while figuring out dinner, when a photo Olivia posted stopped me cold.

It was subtle, just the corner of Ethan's face in the background, but with that profile, it was unmistakable.

The caption read:

"If we hadn't missed each other, maybe we'd have a happy ending. Real love survives the storms."

I scoffed.

She wasn't even trying to be subtle anymore. That post screamed, Ethan and I are meant to be. You two were never in love. Divorce him already.

I liked the post just to mess with her and commented "99" before immediately unfollowing and blocking her.

Then I went and blocked Ethan too. Everywhere.

The next morning, as I walked into the office, Ethan was already waiting for me downstairs with a stormy expression.

He stalked up the moment he saw me. "You blocked me?"

"Oops," I said flatly. "My bad. I forgot we're not divorced yet. Did you come to bring the divorce papers? I was just about to request time off so we could go sign and get the certificate."

His face darkened. "Aria. Add. Me. Back."

"Nope."

His tone softened abruptly. "Please. Be good. I'm sorry, okay? Just add me back."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't even remember your number."

The second those words slipped out, I regretted it.

Ethan froze. "You don't… remember my number?"

"That's right. So what?"

He gripped my shoulders tightly, staring like he was seeing me for the first time. "…You used to know it by heart."

Shit.

My heart skipped a beat. I quickly looked away. "So I forgot. Big deal. We're about to be over, why would I remember your number?"

"Aria…" His voice dropped. "What's going on with you?"

He studied me, hard. "Ever since you woke up from your suicide attempt… you've been like a completely different person."