My Husband’s Other Women Lived Next DoorChapter 3

On my second day at work, I was in the coastal event area going over the setup for a private booking.

Then I heard Ethan's voice behind me.

"What are you doing here?"

I turned around. I hadn't expected this.

He was the one who'd reserved the entire beachfront for the evening.

Claire was on his arm. Sophie and Mia trailed just behind.

Ethan's gaze dropped to the name badge on my chest.

"You got a job in Bayhaven?"

"That's none of your business."

Claire smiled, waving her phone. "Good thing I had a last-minute craving to visit Bayhaven, or I never would've bumped into you, sis."

Sophie glanced at Ethan. "She mentions wanting to celebrate her birthday by the ocean once, and you reroute the flights and hotels just like that."

Claire tilted her head with a sweet grin. "What can I say? He spoils me."

I looked down at the event sheet.

The entire beachfront, booked until midnight.

"Cost: $780,000."

Three years ago, I'd asked Ethan for the same thing—could we book a private evening, just the two of us watching the sunset?

He'd looked at the price and said, "For a sunset? Not worth it."

Ethan was already standing right in front of me.

"So you even chased your way into our itinerary with a job?"

"I was already in Bayhaven before you changed the route."

He let out a short laugh.

"Spare me the excuses. You bring up divorce, turn off your location, switch jobs. All that drama—you just wanted me to come find you."

I closed the folder.

"Ethan, you're reading way too much into this."

"Sure. I'm reading too much into it." He nodded slowly. "You just happened to come to Bayhaven. And just happened to work at the exact resort we're staying at."

Claire, who'd been listening the whole time, suddenly held out the birthday event plan toward me.

"Since you work here, why don't you handle my party?"

I didn't take it.

"The resort has assigned other staff."

But Ethan took the folder and pressed it into my hands.

"You're thorough. I trust you with it."

I looked up at him.

"I'm here to do my job. Not to help you keep her happy."

His brow creased.

"A client specifically requested you for the event. What's the problem? Stop making everything about us."

I gripped the folder and walked away toward the venue.

After dark, the birthday party officially began.

I was heading out of the event area when Ethan's voice stopped me.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

I turned around.

"The divorce papers are already with my lawyer."

A beat of silence.

"You've threatened to break up before, during fights. This time you just swapped it out for divorce."

I looked at him. "Then go ahead and keep thinking that."

He reached for my arm. "If you could really walk away, you wouldn't have shown up here."

I stepped out of his reach.

"Bayhaven doesn't belong to you."

His expression darkened.

Claire was already calling from the distance. "Ethan, the fireworks are starting."

He watched me for a few seconds, then turned and walked toward her.

At eight o'clock, Claire's name lit up across the ocean in fireworks.

When it was over, the staff wheeled out a birthday cake.

After Claire blew out the candles, Sophie asked with a smile, "What did you wish for this year?"

Claire opened her eyes. She was looking only at Ethan.

"I don't need anything this year. The apartment, the trip, the birthday—I have it all."

She paused.

"Ethan, I want a title."

The air went still.

Ethan frowned, about to speak.

But Claire reached into her bag and placed a medical report in front of him.

"You'll say yes to this one."

"I'm pregnant."