Taking Back My Life After My Fiancé And Best Friend Destroyed Me Chapter 06
The Fall of Ethan
The board member doesn’t even say hello.
“Ethan. Get Chloe back. Whatever it takes. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You let our best designer walk straight to our biggest rival. Are you out of your mind?”
Maya steps forward. “She’s just one designer! How much damage could she possibly—”
The board member cuts her off with a cold laugh. “Just one designer? Do you know how many awards Chloe’s work has brought this company? How much revenue she generates?”
“Ethan—did you actually think we gave you that top job because of your talent? Your skills don’t even match our interns’.”
“We made you CEO because you were Chloe’s boyfriend. Because you could keep her here. That’s it. Without Chloe, you’re nothing.”
The call cuts off.
Ethan drops to his knees in front of me. His face changes fast. Now he looks soft. Loving. Desperate.
“Chloe. We’re having a baby. Our baby. This is what we’ve always wanted. Let’s get married. Just sign the design rights back to me and—”
Liam bursts out laughing. “Oh, wow. She’s pregnant, so you figured you’d use the baby to get your meal ticket back. That’s your whole play?”
I look at Liam. He taps my hand gently. *Trust me.*
“You want Chloe to help you?” Liam says. “Then prove it. You reported Chloe for assault, right? Funny. Five minutes ago, you wanted her arrested. Now it’s just relationship drama?”
I catch on immediately. “Right. You wanted me arrested. Hard to sign design rights documents from a jail cell, don’t you think?”
Ethan spins to the officer. “We’re dropping the charges! Right now!”
The officer raises an eyebrow. “You didn’t file them. She did.” He nods at Maya.
Ethan shoots Maya a look so sharp she flinches. She grits her teeth.
“Fine. I’m dropping it.”
The officer hands her the release form. Maya signs it with shaking hands.
Ethan turns to me, eyes bright and eager. “Okay? It’s done. Can you transfer the design rights back now?”
Liam clears his throat. “Well. Gotta hand it to you, Ethan. Wow, Ethan. You change sides fast when money is on the line.”
He pauses. Smiles.
“Which makes this next part a little awkward. See, Chloe already signed a deal saying her design rights stay with my company forever. Those design rights can never go back to you. Ever.”
Ethan freezes. “Is that true?”
I nod.
“YOU PLAYED ME!”
Liam shrugs. “You’ve been playing her for eight years. Consider this the refund.”
Ethan wheels toward the officer. “I want to press charges! Fraud!”
The officer holds up the release form Maya just signed. “Sorry, Mr. Ethan. You just signed a release saying you won’t press charges. That means you can’t press charges now.”
Ethan’s legs give out. He drops to the floor.
Liam extends his hand to me. “Shall we? I’ve got something to show you.”
I take his hand. We walk out together.
Behind us, Ethan screams: “CHLOE! I WILL NEVER LET THIS GO!”
I don’t look back.
—