Chapter 5

Series 1 Chapter 5

At seven on Sunday evening, the entire Hale family was already seated around the dining table, waiting for me.

Ethan pulled out the chair beside him as if he were certain I would eventually return to my old place.

Rachel sat on his other side, while the twins stared down at their new phones.

Ethan's sister, Lauren, was there too.

After her divorce last year, I'd let her live in our home rent-free for six months. Now she looked at me as though I were the outsider.

I didn't sit down. Instead, I placed a folder on the table.

"These are the family expenses I've paid over the past eight years."

Margaret opened to the first page, and her expression immediately darkened.

"The lake house vacation has been canceled, and the deposit has been refunded to my account. After this semester, I will no longer pay for Noah and Lily's private-school horseback riding, tennis, or winter camp. Their parents should be responsible for their basic tuition."

"You can't punish the children like this!" Rachel shot to her feet.

"Refusing to pay your bills isn't a punishment."

I turned to the next page.

"Margaret's authorized card has been deactivated. The Hale family anniversary celebration has also been canceled. I signed the venue and catering contracts, and I have no obligation to keep organizing a celebration for a family that has never acknowledged me."

Margaret slammed the folder shut.

"You promised to come here today and resolve this!"

"That's exactly what I'm doing."

The final page was a vehicle lease notice.

"Rachel, the car you're currently driving is registered under my lease account. Return it by five on Wednesday afternoon, or the leasing company will handle the matter themselves."

Rachel looked at Ethan.

"You said you arranged that car."

"I'm the one paying for it," I said. "That's the difference."

Ethan finally stood up.

"Claire, that's enough. We can go home and talk this through."

I took two things out of my purse.

The first was the key to Margaret's house. The second was my wedding ring.

I placed both on top of the folder.

"I'm not going home."

Ethan stared at the ring as though he didn't understand.

"Where are you going?"

"I've already moved my things out."

"When?"

"This afternoon, while you were here preparing dinner."

His face went deathly pale.

Margaret was about to speak when her phone suddenly chimed.

She looked down and saw a notification that the final catering payment had failed.

A moment later, Lily's gaming subscription and Noah's sporting goods order both showed failed payments.

Rachel's phone chimed last. The car leasing platform informed her that the payment method used for automatic renewal was no longer valid.

"You canceled the cards?" Margaret demanded, looking up at me.

"I deactivated the authorized cards issued in my name. Ethan still has access to his own account."

Every pair of eyes instantly turned toward him.

For the first time, they needed him—not his wife—to pay for their family.

I picked up my coat and walked toward the door.

Ethan followed me for two steps before Rachel called him back.

"What am I supposed to do about the car?"

At the same time, Margaret demanded, "What about the anniversary celebration?"

The twins began complaining about their orders too.

Ethan stood among them and didn't come after me again.

Half an hour later, he returned to our house.

Only his clothes remained in the walk-in closet. My skincare products were gone from the bathroom, and everything that belonged to me had vanished from the bookshelves, nightstands, and kitchen.

Our wedding portrait sat on the dining table, but I had been neatly cut out of the photograph.

Beside it lay a white document envelope.

Ethan stopped when he saw the names printed on the front.

CLAIRE BENNETT

ETHAN HALE

Beneath them were the words:

DIVORCE PETITION

He yanked out his phone and called me.

I didn't answer.

The second, third, and fourth calls all went to voicemail.

When Ethan reached the final page and saw my signature and my attorney's contact information, he finally understood that this wasn't an angry performance.

I truly didn't want him anymore.

Chapter 5

Series 1 Chapter 5

At seven on Sunday evening, the entire Hale family was already seated around the dining table, waiting for me.

Ethan pulled out the chair beside him as if he were certain I would eventually return to my old place.

Rachel sat on his other side, while the twins stared down at their new phones.

Ethan's sister, Lauren, was there too.

After her divorce last year, I'd let her live in our home rent-free for six months. Now she looked at me as though I were the outsider.

I didn't sit down. Instead, I placed a folder on the table.

"These are the family expenses I've paid over the past eight years."

Margaret opened to the first page, and her expression immediately darkened.

"You can't punish the children like this!" Rachel shot to her feet.

"Refusing to pay your bills isn't a punishment."

I turned to the next page.

Margaret slammed the folder shut.

"You promised to come here today and resolve this!"

"That's exactly what I'm doing."

The final page was a vehicle lease notice.

"Rachel, the car you're currently driving is registered under my lease account. Return it by five on Wednesday afternoon, or the leasing company will handle the matter themselves."

Rachel looked at Ethan.

"You said you arranged that car."

"I'm the one paying for it," I said. "That's the difference."

Ethan finally stood up.

"Claire, that's enough. We can go home and talk this through."

I took two things out of my purse.

The first was the key to Margaret's house. The second was my wedding ring.

I placed both on top of the folder.

"I'm not going home."

Ethan stared at the ring as though he didn't understand.

"Where are you going?"

"I've already moved my things out."

"When?"

"This afternoon, while you were here preparing dinner."

His face went deathly pale.

Margaret was about to speak when her phone suddenly chimed.

She looked down and saw a notification that the final catering payment had failed.

A moment later, Lily's gaming subscription and Noah's sporting goods order both showed failed payments.

Rachel's phone chimed last. The car leasing platform informed her that the payment method used for automatic renewal was no longer valid.

"You canceled the cards?" Margaret demanded, looking up at me.

"I deactivated the authorized cards issued in my name. Ethan still has access to his own account."

Every pair of eyes instantly turned toward him.

For the first time, they needed him—not his wife—to pay for their family.

I picked up my coat and walked toward the door.

Ethan followed me for two steps before Rachel called him back.

"What am I supposed to do about the car?"

At the same time, Margaret demanded, "What about the anniversary celebration?"

The twins began complaining about their orders too.

Ethan stood among them and didn't come after me again.

Half an hour later, he returned to our house.

Only his clothes remained in the walk-in closet. My skincare products were gone from the bathroom, and everything that belonged to me had vanished from the bookshelves, nightstands, and kitchen.

Our wedding portrait sat on the dining table, but I had been neatly cut out of the photograph.

Beside it lay a white document envelope.

Ethan stopped when he saw the names printed on the front.

CLAIRE BENNETT

ETHAN HALE

Beneath them were the words:

DIVORCE PETITION

He yanked out his phone and called me.

I didn't answer.

The second, third, and fourth calls all went to voicemail.

When Ethan reached the final page and saw my signature and my attorney's contact information, he finally understood that this wasn't an angry performance.

I truly didn't want him anymore.