Once we settled Alexander onto the bed, Gai turned to me, eyes

narrowing. “What’s wrong with your walk?”

I nced down, brushing a hand over my leg. “Nothing serious. I

just hit my knee earlier. I’ll take care of it in my room.”

He nodded but didn’t look entirely convinced.

As I was about to turn and leave, I paused in the doorway.

“Actually …” I turned back. “About tomorrow. You go with him

to the summit. I’ll head to the factory. It’s further out, and I’ll

need more time if I’m going to inspect the system properly.“”

Gai studied me for a moment, then gave a single approving nod.

“Smart call.”

There was something reassuring about his calm.

“Let me know if you find anything,” he said, already turning to

adjust the room’s curtains. “And Olivia?”

I looked back.

“Get in touch whenever you need to.”

I nodded. “Will do.”

And with that, I stepped into the hallway.

Ava’s POV

Ethan walked in wearing a tailored charcoal suit, shoulders

square, posture straight, every strand of his hair in ce. Not a

wrinkle on him. No stubble. No slouch. If you hadn’t known

better, you’d think he came to close a million–dor business

deal, not to beg for the remnants of a failed marriage.

He sat across from me in thew firm’s lounge like he owned

the ce. Like the meltdown from a week ago–those choked- up voicemails, the incoherent sobbing–had never happened. Maybe that’s why I smirked before even saying a word.

“So you’ve finally decided to stop ying the broken husband,” I

said, coolly crossing one leg over the other. “Took you long

enough.”

He didn’t flinch. Just looked at me with those unreadable eyes,

like he was trying to pretend he had any say left in this matter.

I slid the documents toward him. “The cooling–off period’s over.

All that’s left now is for Olivia to show up at the werewolf court

and sign. You’ll both be officially divorced.”

He didn’t speak. Just stared at the papers like they were some foreign object.

I tapped the pen beside them. “This shouldn’t take long. Unless

you’d like me to read it out loud like storytime.”

Still no answer.

“Fine,” I continued, “let’s talk numbers. Olivia’s settlement with

your mother remains unchanged. And before you think of

contesting anything, you might want to remember she has hard

evidence of your affair!””

That got a twitch out of him. His jaw clenched.

“Don’t look so surprised. You weren’t exactly subtle.”

He finally spoke. “When… did she find out?”

The question came out quietly. Almost like he was scared of the

answer.

I scoffed. “Does it matter? You started betraying her long before

Chole. Those fake business trips? We both know you were with

her. The luxury hotels, the excuses, the emotional

abandonment–should I go on?”

“I-”

“She gave up everything for you, Ethan.” My voice rose without

warning. “She dropped her therapist degree and switched to

finance–because you asked. She went against her own parents.

Lied to the world about your marriage. She worked herself to

the bone just to match you, just to prove she was worthy of

being your wife.”

His eyes dropped to the papers. I even saw some guilt crack that perfect face.

“She gave you four years. Four years of silence. Of putting herselfst. And how did you repay her?” I leaned forward, stabbing a finger toward the documents. “You broke her.”

Ethan closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “I know I hurt her.””

“No, Ethan,” I snapped. “You didn’tjusthurt her. You crushed

her. You took a girl who worshipped you and convinced her

that she was receable. That loyalty meant nothing.”

His knuckles whitened around the edge of the armrest.

I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye andposed myself.

“She didn’t leave out of weakness. She left because she had

nothing left to fight for. She burned the wedding photos. Sold

the house. Cut ties. That wasn’t running away. That was

closure.”

His breath hitched, and for a second, I thought he’d break again.

“Please,” I said quietly, “just let her go. You’ve already taken too

much. At least give her thisst piece of peace. End it with

dignity!”

He stared at the divorce papers in front of him for a long time.

Seconds passed. Then he reached out slowly, fingers grazing the

corner of the document.

And then he tore it in half.

I blinked.

“Ethan–what the hell are you-?”

“I’m not signing it,” he said, his voice rough, trembling.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I don’t want a divorce.”

I stood up. “You don’t get to decide that.”

He looked up at me, eyes bloodshot but determined. “I don’t care

what anyone thinks. Not anymore. I just… I just want her back.”