A Hundred Grand a Bow: How I Cashed Out and Walked Away from My Billionaire Husband Chapter 2

Ethan's face darkened instantly.

"Only women who are actually loved by their husbands get to throw tantrums."

"Do you really think you have the right to give me attitude?"

I gripped the blanket tightly, forcing out a smile that felt worse than sobbing.

He always knew exactly where to twist the knife.

He was right. I had no right.

But what use does a dying person have for money?

The hospital TV suddenly flashed to last night's local news.

"Billionaire's Wife Takes a Midnight Swim: Highly Educated Mistress Plays the Ultimate Power Move."

Ethan's brow furrowed, and he whipped out his phone.

I, however, found the tabloids' dramatic headlines genuinely amusing. I let out a bitter chuckle looking at the paparazzi shot of me plunging into the water.

Seeing my reaction, Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"I should have known. Just another one of your tricks."

"You put on this whole 'jumping into the river' spectacle just so you could tip off the press and slander Mia, didn't you?"

"Chloe, risking your own life just to secure a slightly bigger payout... you really are the lowest of the low."

He spun on his heel and stormed out of the hospital room.

But I realized something surprising. My heart didn't ache the way it usually did.

For my last seven days, I refused to waste any more tears on this drama.

I texted Maya, asking her to meet me at the little coffee shop where Ethan and I had our very first date.

I figured, since everything started here, it was only fitting that everything ended here too.

Maya grabbed my hands across the table, her eyes red.

"Chloe, how did you get this thin after only six months of marriage? Look, let's just go back to the West Coast. Leave the Vance family and all this toxic garbage behind."

I shook my head and laid everything out for her—the System, the money, the imminent departure.

She sat in stunned silence for several minutes, but ultimately, she chose to believe me.

But a second later, Maya's eyes flared with pure, unadulterated rage.

I followed her gaze. Right across the street, a trendy new artisan coffee shop was having its grand opening.

The owner was Mia Harper. Ethan was standing right beside her, looking at her with an incredibly soft, indulgent expression.

I should have been used to it.

Last week it was a boutique clothing store. The week before that, a luxury pet spa. Whatever the girl wanted, Ethan personally bankrolled it.

But why did they have to open this one right across the street from here...

"That little homewrecker goes around telling everyone you're a gold digger, while she's literally having her life funded by your husband?! Oh, hell no. I'm going over there!"

I scrambled to catch up with Maya.

But I was too late. Ethan saw her coming and shoved her backward hard.

"Chloe! Put your rabid dog on a leash!"

Hearing that, my grip on Maya's hand tightened.

Before I could even process what I was doing, I slapped Ethan Vance hard across the face.

The world went dead silent. The only thing I felt was the stinging heat in my palm.

"You're a parasite living off Ethan's money! What gives you the right to hit people?!"

Mia pointed her finger right in my face, screaming. Her shrieking drew a massive crowd of onlookers.

Ethan radiated dark, violent fury. Maya immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me.

"Do you have any idea your wife suffers from severe anxiety and depression?! And it's all thanks to you and your little side piece! You practically drowned her yesterday, and now you want to hit her?!"

I tugged at Maya's sleeve, just wanting to escape.

As I turned, a strong hand clamped down on my arm.

"Chloe... is what she said true?"

Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice sounding strangely tight.

Mia suddenly let out a bubbly laugh, stepping around Maya as if they were old friends.

"Wow, what a coincidence, Chloe! I'm getting my master's in psychology. Why don't I give you a free evaluation?"

Maya shoved her shoulder. "Who knows what kind of garbage you'd make up? Back off."

Ethan's gaze shifted to Mia, his tone instantly turning protective and fond.

"Mia is a graduate student at Columbia. She earned her place through hard work and intellect. You can trust her professional opinion."

It was laughable. Why on earth would I trust his mistress?

Mia tilted her head, putting on a perfectly rehearsed look of concern.

"The thing is, the most obvious symptom of clinical depression is a total loss of the will to live."

"But Chloe's survival instincts are incredibly strong. Especially her instinct to acquire wealth. That totally contradicts the diagnosis..."

Ethan raised an eyebrow and let out a scoff.

"Hah. She could lose everything in the world as long as she doesn't lose a dollar. Depression? Hilarious."

"Chloe, you're pretty clever, getting your friend to put on this little theatrical performance. I almost fell for it."

"Playing the tragic, misunderstood victim in the hospital, and now this? Tsk. You're really working overtime to keep my attention."

My expression remained completely flat. Maya looked like she was going to pass out from pure rage.

Ethan pulled Mia into his side, looking us up and down with mocking pity.

"You and your friend should take some notes from Mia. Have your own ambitions and careers. Stop spending every waking hour scheming for a payout. Women need to value their self-respect."

He guided the girl into his waiting Maybach and sped off.

Maya stood on the sidewalk, screaming curses into the exhaust fumes.

I sighed. "Come on, let it go. I'm leaving anyway. What's the point of arguing with them?"

Maya burst into tears and threw her arms around me.

"I swear to God, Chloe, after you leave, that bastard is going to regret this for the rest of his life!"