Chapter 4: You Made Your Choice.

SOPHIE's POV.

"What the hell were you doing with Lucian Storm?"

The moment I stepped through the front door, Ethan grabbed my arm. I barely had time to react before he shoved me against the wall and pain shot through my fractured arm.

"Let go of me!" I gasped.

"I asked you a question, Sophie." But his grip only tightened.

I knew what had set him off, it was seeing Lucien's last name on the plate number of the car that brought me home. Or maybe Lucian's scent lingered on my clothes, and Ethan had recognized it.

But for a man who didn't even care whether I was alive or dead for the past three days, he seemed awfully interested in where I'd been.

"It's none of your business," I snapped.

His eyes narrowed, but then his gaze dropped to my arm. The bruising had darkened over the past few days, and the cast beneath my sleeve was impossible to miss.

"Is that from the accident?" His grip loosened.

"Don't act like you care." I pulled away, cradling my injured arm against my chest.

"Sophie—"

"No." My voice shook. "You don't get to ask me that. You don't get to pretend you're concerned about me now."

He stared at me, apparently taken aback by my tone.

"Of course I care about you."

"Then why didn't you come back for me?" I asked and the question hung between us. I could feel the tears gathering, but I refused to let them fall.

I'd cried enough over Ethan West to last a lifetime.

"I was injured, too," I continued. "I was the one driving. I was the one trapped in that car, bleeding and barely conscious, while you drove away with Vanessa."

"I had to make sure she was all right." He replied.

"And what about me?"

He opened his mouth and then closed it.

"Lucian found me," I said. "He got me to the hospital. I spent three days there, Ethan. Three days, and you never called. Do you understand that I could have died?" My voice broke.

For a moment, Ethan looked almost ashamed.

Then his gaze drifted toward the staircase, as though he expected Vanessa to appear at any second. Even now, he was more concerned about being caught talking to me than about what he'd done.

"I'm sorry, Sophie." He stepped closer, reaching for my face but I turned away. Once, those three words would have been enough. I'd have forgiven him before he finished speaking, desperate to believe that the man who'd promised to protect me still existed somewhere beneath his cruelty.

But not anymore.

"I'm tired, Ethan. I want to sleep." I moved toward the stairs, but his next words stopped me.

"Vanessa is in our bedroom."

"Our bedroom?" I looked back at him.

"You'll have to sleep on the couch tonight." He shifted uncomfortably.

Of course.

"My arm is broken." I said but he only pressed his lips together. "I know. I'll get you an extra blanket."

"Don't bother."

I walked away before he could say anything else.

Behind me, he sighed.

"Sophie, wait. Let me make it up to you." His voice softened. "We'll have dinner tomorrow evening. Just the two of us and a few colleagues from the firm. You could use a night out."

I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.

"Just the two of us?"

"You know what I mean."

I did. And I also knew Lucian would probably be there.

Ethan had a habit of making decisions for me and calling them favors.

"Fine," I said, too exhausted to argue.

I spent the night curled awkwardly on the red couch, trying to find a position that didn't hurt my arm. Every time I shifted, the pain woke me from the little sleep I managed to get.

By morning, my entire body ached but a black dress lay folded on the table beside me.

I stared at it, confused, until Ethan's voice came from the kitchen.

"Good morning." He was dressed in a loose shirt and lounge pants, sipping tea as though the previous day had never happened.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked.

"Wonderfully." I remarked sarcastically and he narrowed his eyes. "You know, Vanessa left early this morning," He said, settling into the chair opposite me.

That explained why he was suddenly comfortable sitting beside me again. Ethan was always so different when nobody was watching.

"I thought you'd like that. Wear it tonight." His gaze shifted to the dress and I picked it up without comment.

Silence settled between us for a moment before he finally asked.

"How long have you been seeing Lucian, Sophie?"

"What?" I looked at him sharply.

"Don't play dumb, Sophie. You came home in his car and you told me he visited you in the hospital." He replied.

"Well you also spent the last three days ignoring me but somehow this is what you want to talk about?" I asked.

"I'm only asking you a question."

"And I don't owe you an answer, Ethan."

His jaw tightened.

"Lucian Storm isn't someone you should get involved with. You have no idea what he's capable of."

I stared at him, genuinely bewildered.

Lucian had been nothing but respectful to me. He'd arranged my medical care, offered me a way out of here, and given me time to consider his proposal without pressuring me.

What had Ethan done?

He'd left me bleeding on the side of the road and then pretended I didn't exist for the next few days.

"Is that supposed to be a warning?" I asked.

"It's advice. I've known Lucian for years. Lycans aren't like us. They can be ruthless, and you need to understand that before you get yourself into trouble." He said.

"Funny. He was the only person who bothered to help me when I needed it." I scoffed.

"I'm trying to protect you." Ethan's expression darkened.

"No. You're trying to control me."

He fell silent.

I looked down at the dress in my hands, suddenly aware of how tired I was of having this conversation. Every discussion with Ethan ended the same way, him making promises, me forgiving him, and nothing ever changing.

Except this time, I wasn't going to forgive him.

"I'll attend the dinner," I said. "But I need you to understand something."

He looked up.

"I'm leaving the firm after. I'll resign from my job, and once I've sorted out my things, I'll leave this house." I said.

"What?" Ethan set his cup down.

"You heard me."

"Sophie, don't be ridiculous."

"You made your decision three days ago. I'm making mine now." I rose carefully, holding my injured arm.

"You can't just walk away."

"What did you think was going to happen after handing me divorce papers?" I asked.

"Or have you forgotten you walked out on me first?"

His expression shifted, and for the first time, I saw something resembling panic behind his anger.

"But you haven't signed them. You're still my wife." Ethan said.

"Not for much longer." I left the dress on the table and walked toward the stairs.

"Sophie!" He called but I didn't turn around.

For years, I'd waited for Ethan to choose me. I'd accepted his excuses, hidden our marriage, and convinced myself that if I loved him enough, he'd eventually love me back.

But he had made his choice and now it was my turn to make mine.