Chapter 8 

That day at the airport, Lena just stood there in the middle of all that torn up paper. 

People came and went, slowing down to stare, whispering behind their hands. 

Lena had never experienced that kind of public humiliation before–but even so, she didn’t move an inch. 

She gathered up every scrap of paper and stayed right there, like if she guarded it long enough, I’d somehow come 

back. 

But by then, I was already on a plane headed for the other side of the country. 

I stared out the window, watching the clouds float by, completely unaware of Lena’s dramatic solo performance back at the airport. 

I landed in a coastal city I’d never set foot in before, feeling more free than I had in years. 

First thing I did was buy a new SIM card and call my business partner. 

Then I went through all my social media and blocked everyone even remotely connected to Lena. 

People sent me videos of her sobbing at the airport, mascara running, heartbroken mess. 

I didn’t watch a single one. 

Deleted. Blocked. Gone. 

My phone was clean, and so was my life. 

I threw myself into building the new company, shifting all operations here. 

Being busy didn’t leave much room to think about women. 

And honestly, life without a woman to worry about? Kinda amazing. 

One day, my partner called me for a virtual meeting, practically bouncing with excitement–said our old project had finally wrapped up perfectly. 

It’d been a rocky road, but we’d made it, and the payout was more than worth it. 

I asked out of curiosity–what happened with the team we left behind? 

My partner didn’t think twice. “Oh, no big deal.” 

“That rep from Stratus Equity? The one Lena used to hype up like he walked on water?” 

“Apparently screwed up so bad they fired him.” 

I figured there was something going on between those two,” he added 

“She sure acted like he was God’s gift.” 

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. 

Of course. 

Even when we were still married, Lena didn’t hesitate to screw me over for a better deal. 

And her thing with Ethan? 

Just the warm–up phase. 

Lena was always out for herself. That much had never changed.