Eight hours later, Caleb, carrying every biological specimen he could find on the market and a bouquet of Gloriosa lilies, personally drove towards the research team’ s camp. The joy of finally seeing me overshadowed his fear of the harsh Antarctic weather. He repeated his apologies over and over in his mind. He would tell me he would keep his distance from Stella from now on. He wanted to tell me that now, he finally realized I was the only one he truly loved.
But all his apologies died in his throat the moment he saw me. Because he saw, beneath the dazzling aurora, a tall, handsome man drape a coat over my shoulders, then intimately pull me into his embrace. My eyes, bright and shining, looked at that man, filled with an unmasked love that Caleb had once seen, and now missed. Caleb felt an icy chill spread through him. The biological specimens in his hand clattered to the ground, the sound of shattering glass piercing the crisp air. He sudd- enly rushed forward, pulling me from the man’s arms.
“Ava Hayes, who is he?!” I impatiently shook his hand off. Ethan Vance, sensing the situation, pulled me behind him, shielding me. “And who are you?” Ethan scrutin- ized him, then scoffed. “Oh, I get it. You’re the ex–husband, the one Ava mentioned, who had a ‘little sister‘ on the side, right?”
His use of “ex–husband” made me chuckle. Seeing me laugh, Ethan instinctively smiled too. Watching Ethan and me flirt openly, oblivious to his presence, Caleb felt
as though someone had punched him hard in the chest. The pain left him gasping for air.
“Oh, and by the way, ex–husband, did you come all this way to bring Ava her divorce papers? If
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ethan Vance, and I’m pursuing Ava.”
So,
thank you so much.”
Caleb’s body stiffened. He spoke, his voice tight. “Are you from the Vance family in New York City?”
Ethan nodded, a smile on his face, but his words carried a clear threat. “That’s right. So…”
“You’d best know your place and stop bothering Ava. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind making the Stone family disappear from New York City.” With that, he didn’t even glance at Caleb, intimately adjusted my coat, and led me back to the research base. After a few steps, I turned back to look at Caleb, who stood there, stunned. “Cal-
eb, it’s over between us. If you have anything to say, contact my lawyer.”
Hearing the finality in my voice, Caleb rushed towards me, frantically pleading. “Ava, I know I was wrong! I’ve sent Stella away. I promise you, she will never appear
before you again!”
“There’s really nothing between us! You have to believe me!” However, before he could get close, I pulled Ethan back two steps. My voice was calm, steady. “I know nothing happened between you and her. But Caleb, how can you possibly think a simple apology can erase the pain you’ve caused me?”
“The moment you gave her the good luck charm I got for my mother, that was it for us. I, Ava Hayes, deserve a complete, unreserved love!”
I had said those very words the first time I asked Caleb for a divorce. Back then, he thought I was just acting out, knowing how much I loved him. But now, seeing Ethan standing beside me, subtly in a protective stance, Caleb completely panicked.
