Dear Ex Husband, It's too late

3

Autumn’s stomach rumbled loudly, and she rolled onto her back with a groan. She had been sketching for three days now with little to no breaks.

Naomi had been in the Grants’ mansion for three days, which meant Lydia and Alisa were spending all their time catering to her instead of bullying Autumn. That had given her enough time to do what she loved. Designing and sketching structures.

Autumn didn’t know how many ideas were sitting in her head waiting to be laid down until she opened her old sketchbook. She had so many project ideas that she hoped to do in the future.

Her stomach grumbled again in protest. Because she had been so lost in sketching, she had missed dinner last night and breakfast this morning.

“Fine. I guess I’ll have to take a break to eat something,” she mumbled and stood up from the bed. She grabbed the book and tucked it nicely in a hidden corner inside the bedside table before making her way downstairs.

It was already noon.

She paused when she got to the kitchen. Naomi had all the staff gathered and was addressing them with a notepad in hand as though she was organizing an event.

Autumn folded her arms across her chest and watched the scene before her.

“Sarah, please could you make sure to get all the ingredients on this list from the market? I need them today so we can start using the timetable," Naomi said gently, handing the maid a list.

“Of course, Miss Lang. I’ll go immediately," Sarah answered with an eager smile, her eyes scanning the list of things on the paper she had been given.

Autumn couldn’t help but scoff. If anyone saw this scene, they would assume that Naomi was the lady of the house.

And the staff? They looked at her as though her words were gold.

Sarah’s eyes stopped on an item on the list. “Uhm, Miss Lang, are you certain that I should add Salmon? Mrs Grant doesn’t add it to the list because…”

Naomi’s smile froze, and her face tightened with the mention of Autumn. “Sarah,” she interrupted sweetly. “The new timetable is what the mansion will follow from now on. I made everything with care.”

Sarah glanced between the other staff. She liked Naomi more than Autumn. And Alisa also treated her better, but salmon wasn’t something that was eaten in the house, and everyone knew it.

“But…” she tried again, and Autumn decided to step in.

“Ethan doesn’t eat salmon," Autumn said, stepping into the kitchen. “As Ethan’s first love and the woman he would have married, this should be something you should have known, right?”

The room’s temperature went up, and the staff glanced around, trying to pretend they couldn’t hear or see what was happening.

Naomi’s smile faltered, and her hands tightened around the notepad. “I…I…”

“Remove Salmon from that list, Sarah," Autumn ordered, walking past the small crowd to the kitchen to check for something she could eat.

This has been happening since Naomi arrived. She didn’t even let a day pass before she started making changes to the house.

Autumn didn’t say a word. Why? Because Alisa and Lydia were behind her. They encouraged her to make whatever changes she needed to make the house comfortable for her stay.

She changed the curtains, the silverware, and the flowers. Everything Autumn had picked out was slowly being replaced.

“I didn’t know," Naomi whispered, turning to Autumn.

Naomi’s fingers dug into her palm hard enough to hurt. Autumn was supposed to be a placeholder. Someone who didn’t matter, so why did she look like the place was hers?

It grated on Naomi’s nerves how she carried herself like the lady of the house. No one respected her, but she didn’t care, and Naomi hated it.

“It’s okay. You’ve been out of his life for a long time, so it’s normal to forget." Autumn smiled gently as well, but the words did enough damage that Naomi didn’t share the same smile.

Naomi’s expression remained gentle, but the stiffness in her shoulders gave her away.

Out of his life.

As though she had been someone forgettable. As though Autumn had not spent years occupying a place that should have been hers.

Naomi smiled again. “Thank you for correcting me, Autumn. I would have made a terrible mistake." Her nails dug into the notepad.

Autumn studied her for a few seconds before she turned to the chef.

“Michael, come and fix me something to eat. I want pasta. How soon can you make it?”

Naomi stepped forward. “Mrs Grant, breakfast time is over. You will have to wait until lunch. I hope you understand."

That gentle smile again. Except this time, Autumn noticed a hint of malice in her eyes.

That was new.

“Since when do I need permission to eat in my own home?” She scoffed. “Michael, make me something to eat," Autumn ordered, but Michael didn’t move. His gaze shifted to Naomi first for confirmation.

Autumn went still. Even the staff answered to Naomi now.

Triumph flickered through Naomi’s eyes, but she masked it with a soft expression. “Autumn, I know it’s hard to adjust, but trust me, having a schedule for everything is better when managing a home."

“This is my home. I decide what changes." Autumn’s gaze hardened.

“Says who?” Alisa cut in sharply, stepping into the room and standing beside Naomi.

“I asked for breakfast, but she claims we have a schedule. Did you know about this?” Autumn asked Alisa.

“Yes.” She answered. “Naomi thinks it’s better, and I support her. I’ve ordered the staff to listen to her instructions. Naomi feels bad for intruding. She wants to help manage the house as payment for letting her stay."

Autumn looked between them. Naomi could barely hide the smug expression on her face while Alisa was daring Autumn to challenge her.

“Letting her take over the house is payment for letting her stay here?” Autumn laughed. “And you claim she isn’t here to become a mistress.”

The sharp click of heels echoed from the hallway before Lydia appeared at the kitchen entrance.

“Autumn,” she shouted. “Who do you think you are? I’ve warned you about talking so rudely to Naomi.”

Autumn rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you divorce your husband, Lydia? With the way you are always in my house, I’m sure your husband must have forgotten that he has a wife.”

“You…”

Naomi lowered her gaze, hiding the resentment in her eyes with tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you fight. I just wanted to help. I thought…”

“Help?” Autumn interrupted coldly. “Help is staying in your room like a guest or playing tea with Alisa, not taking over my duties. You might as well present a divorce letter for me to sign so you can be the new Mrs Grant. I bet you would like that."

“Autumn Grant,” Ethan thundered, and the kitchen went silent. Even Naomi was startled by the anger in his voice.

“Why are you yelling my name? Did you just remember that I’m the one with the last name and not her?” Autumn met his cold gaze. “Why? Are you here to tell me that her managing the house is her trying to help as well?”

Ethan stared at her in disbelief. This was not the woman he had married for the last five years. She never fought back. Where did this version of her come from?

“Naomi is a guest, yet you are treating her this way? Since when did you become so unreasonable?”

“I have always been like this, Ethan. You’ve just never paid attention enough to notice." Autumn walked out, leaving the room.

Ethan stood there, watching her leave before he followed her.

“Why are you following me? You need to remind me of my place? Hurl more insults at me?” Autumn turned sharply, her gaze cutting.

Ethan froze. He could see it in her eyes that she was not going to yield, and he had no idea what to do with this version of Autumn.

“What has come over you? Naomi did nothing wrong. You should…”

“If you are going to tell me to apologize, save it because I won’t. I did nothing wrong," she interrupted with an unwavering gaze.

Ethan exhaled. Arguing with her felt exhausting. He didn’t understand why she was acting so difficult.

“There is a gala tomorrow. You will be attending with me."

“I’m not interested. You can take Naomi. Doesn’t she want to be your woman so badly?” she sneered.

“Why do you keep insulting Naomi when she has never done anything to you?” He gritted out. “You are getting on my nerves."

“Where was this anger when your mother threw your wife out of your bedroom? Did you even question her? Asked her why she did it. You didn’t even ask me to move back in."

Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Why are you acting like us living in the same room meant anything? It changes nothing, even if you move back."

Autumn’s heart sank. She thought he would at least try to give her an answer.

She gave him a cold smile. “Then take Naomi. I’m sure she would jump at the opportunity." She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“You are my wife.” He said it as though that should be explanation enough.

Autumn looked at him for a long time before pulling her arms free. Then she walked away without another word.