“Have you found a divorce lawyer yet?” Ethan Paine asked seriously, leaning against the railing.
“Did you investigate me?” Chloe Austin stared at Ethan in disbelief.
“Don’t think that just because you’ve grown up and look different now, I won’t lay a hand on you.
I can still beat you up.” Chloe clenched her fist and waved it in his face.
Ethan just chuckled, the corners of his mouth lifting in a dismissive smirk.
“If you haven’t settled on a divorce lawyer, why don’t you hire me?
I won’t charge you a dime.
Or, if you insist on paying, I can give you a friendly discount.” Ethan’s tone was lazy and casual, but Chloe could sense there was more to it.
“What are you scheming?” Chloe eyed him up and down.
“You’re a big-shot lawyer at a top-tier firm.
Don’t you have enough cases to handle?
Why do you want to take on my divorce case?
These kinds of cases are messy and drag on forever.
What’s the point?
You’d be better off taking cases that actually benefit society and push your reputation to the next level.”
Ethan slowly lowered his head.
“Chloe, I’m back,” he said softly.
“I’ve been back for a long time—half a year before my dad even returned.
I’ve been trying to find a way to contact you, but I never had a good excuse.
When I heard you were getting a divorce, I thought you would reach out to me.
But then I realized you completely forgot I was even a lawyer.”
“After I got married, I barely even visited my own family…” Chloe suddenly felt a twinge of guilt, looking at Ethan as she tried to explain herself.
“It’s okay.
If you won’t come to me, then I’ll come to you.
So, do you want to think about it?
Will you choose me as your divorce lawyer?” Ethan’s breathing grew slightly ragged, and Chloe could sense his tension.
“You still have the same old habit.
Whenever you get nervous, your breathing goes all over the place.
Deep breaths.
Inhale…
exhale…” Chloe smoothly dodged the question, her mind racing as she weighed the pros and cons.
“If you choose me, I will get you the absolute best outcome,” Ethan continued, his breathing gradually steadying.
“If you don’t choose me, I’ll snatch this case anyway.”
Chloe was stunned by his words.
Though his tone was flat, she could feel the ruthless determination rolling off him in waves.
“What do you mean, Brother Hank…” When they were kids, Chloe used to call Ethan “Brother Hank.” She hoped using the old nickname would bring back some of their past warmth.
“There’s nothing wrong with your current lawyer,” Ethan said.
“But I’m your best option.
Only I can maximize your gains in this case.”
“I don’t want to fight Caden Sterling for anything.
I can walk away with nothing, as long as we get divorced.
As long as he and Vivian Sullivan never show their faces in front of me again, that’s enough.”
“And what about your baby?” Ethan’s eyes reddened.
Chloe instinctively covered her stomach and stumbled back several steps.
“Jensen Austin did alter your medical records,” Ethan pressed on.
“It does say you had a miscarriage.
But as the months go by, will you still be able to hide the truth?”
“How did you find out about all this?” Chloe bit her lower lip, needing a moment to digest this bombshell.
“Don’t worry about how I know.
I’m just asking you—what are you planning to do about the baby?”
“The baby is mine, without a doubt.
Caden will never know about its existence.” Chloe’s tone hardened, but Ethan only looked at her with heartache.
“Chloe, it’s not that simple when a child is involved.
The lawyer Caden hired is no joke.
You might be willing to give up those assets because the Austin Family already has plenty.
You don’t want the money, you don’t want the house.
But do you think Vivian and Caden are fools?
Do you really think they’ll let you off that easily?” Ethan’s pace quickened, each word striking heavy against Chloe’s heart.
“I’ve thought about what you’re saying,” Chloe replied.
“But I can’t afford to overthink it right now.
Caden has no idea about this baby.
I hope you never bring it up again.
Don’t mention it to anyone, not even to Uncle Paine.”
For the first time, Chloe looked at Ethan with pleading eyes.
Ethan’s expression shifted, looking as though he were suppressing intense emotion.
As Chloe turned to leave, Ethan suddenly grabbed her wrist and pinched her chin with his other hand.
“Did you use this same look to beg Caden to come back to you?
Did you use it to make him divorce you?”
“Let go of me!
What does it matter to you how I look?” Chloe wrenched herself free from his grasp, tears welling in her eyes.
“Ethan, you feel like a stranger to me right now.
You aren’t the person you used to be.
What exactly are you trying to do?!”
“Chloe, I’m sorry, I…” Ethan stared down at his own hands, which were trembling violently.
Supporting her lower back, Chloe walked away.
Ethan wanted to call out to her and explain, but seeing her flee like a frightened animal made him realize he had terrified her.
He slammed his fist heavily against the wall, his knuckles splitting and bleeding.
“Jensen, I don’t feel well.
Let’s go home.” Chloe found Jensen in a corner, his brows furrowed as he stared at his laptop.
“What’s wrong?
Where does it hurt?” Jensen immediately softened his expression upon seeing her.
“Were you crying?
Why are you crying?
Your eyes are all red.”
“It’s nothing.
I was just getting some fresh air on the balcony and something got in my eye,” Chloe lied.
“I’m just a little tired.
Let’s go home, Jensen.
Mom and Dad are still here anyway, so Uncle Paine won’t blame us for leaving early.”
“Alright.
Wait at the entrance, I’ll go pull the car around.” Jensen shut his laptop and affectionately patted Chloe’s head.
He then tracked down Wayne Paine to quickly excuse themselves before leading Chloe out.
“Ethan, come see Chloe and Jensen off!
You stay cooped up upstairs all day.
I have no idea what goes on in your head.
Hurry up and come down!” Wayne was a man who valued etiquette.
While he wasn’t overly strict, he still expected Ethan to observe basic manners.
He repeatedly called out for his son.
“Jensen, let’s go.
We have to go now,” Chloe urged.
Though confused, Jensen put the car in drive and pulled away.
It wasn’t until Jensen’s car was a distant speck that Ethan finally walked out.
“Ethan, what took you so long up there?” Wayne complained.
“Chloe finally came to visit, and you didn’t even have a proper chat with her.
She left in such a rush, and you didn’t even bother to ask what was wrong.”
“It’s fine.
Chloe hasn’t been feeling well these past few days.
If she wants to go home, let her,” Mark Austin interjected, speaking up for his daughter.
“You know as well as I do, Old Man Paine, that Chloe has been frail since she was a kid.”
“True, true.
I remember whenever she finished a swimming lesson, she’d immediately catch a cold and get a fever.” Wayne let Ethan off the hook and turned back to chat with Winona Hayes and Mark.