The Wife He Couldn't Keep

Chapter 5: A New Beginning

Clara's first week at Westbridge Holdings passed faster than she expected.

By Friday afternoon, she was beginning to feel like she belonged there.

The first few days had been difficult. There were new systems to learn, unfamiliar faces to remember, and more responsibilities than she had expected.

But Clara didn't complain.

She arrived early every morning and stayed focused throughout the day.

She wanted to prove something to herself.

Not to Ethan.

Not to his family.

To herself.

She could do this.

On Friday afternoon, Clara was organizing some documents when Ryan appeared beside her desk.

"You're still working?"

Clara looked up.

"Just finishing this report."

Ryan glanced at the stack of papers.

"You know, it's almost five."

"I know."

"Most people start packing their bags at four forty-five."

Clara laughed.

"Maybe I'm not most people."

Ryan smiled.

"Clearly."

He leaned against the edge of her desk.

"So, are you doing anything this weekend?"

Clara looked at him.

"Why?"

"Just asking."

She raised an eyebrow.

Ryan immediately lifted his hands.

"Nothing suspicious. I promise."

Clara laughed again.

"I don't have plans."

"Then you should make some."

"Maybe."

Before Ryan could say anything else, Clara's phone vibrated.

She glanced down.

Her smile disappeared.

Ethan.

She had ignored his messages all week.

He hadn't stopped trying.

There were short messages every morning.

Have you eaten?

How was work?

Are you settling in?

And once, late at night:

I know you're angry with me.

Clara had never responded.

She didn't know what to say.

Part of her was still angry.

Another part of her was confused by the sudden concern.

For three years, Ethan had rarely asked how she was doing.

Now that she was gone, he suddenly wanted to know everything.

She turned her phone face down.

Ryan noticed.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes."

He nodded.

"Good."

Clara returned to her work.

But her concentration was gone.

---

Across the city, Ethan sat in his office staring at his phone.

Marcus stood across from him with a folder.

"The Westbridge contract is ready for your approval."

Ethan barely looked at it.

"Leave it there."

Marcus placed the folder on the desk.

Then he looked at his boss.

"Are you waiting for someone to call?"

"No."

"You've checked your phone six times in the last ten minutes."

Ethan looked up.

"Have I?"

"Yes."

Marcus tried not to smile.

Ethan frowned.

"Is there something funny?"

"No."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

Marcus nodded.

"Of course."

He turned toward the door.

"Ethan?"

"What?"

"Clara's doing well."

Ethan became still.

"How do you know?"

"I heard from someone at Westbridge."

"What did they say?"

"That she's doing a good job."

Ethan looked down.

He felt strangely proud.

Then he remembered that he had no right to feel that way.

He had been the one who pushed her away.

---

That evening, Clara left Westbridge just before six.

The sun was beginning to set over the city.

She walked toward the subway station, enjoying the feeling of having somewhere to go and something meaningful to do.

She was halfway down the street when a familiar black car pulled up beside her.

Clara stopped.

The rear door opened.

Ethan stepped out.

Her heart immediately started beating faster.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk."

"You've said that several times."

"And you've avoided me every time."

"Maybe that's your answer."

Ethan looked at her.

"You can't keep avoiding me forever."

Clara folded her arms.

"Watch me."

He almost smiled.

It was the first time she'd spoken to him with that much confidence.

But the smile disappeared quickly.

"I wanted to apologize."

Clara's expression softened for half a second.

Then she looked away.

"For what?"

"For everything."

"That's a lot."

"I know."

"You've never apologized before."

"I should have."

"Yes."

Ethan took a breath.

"I was wrong about you."

Clara looked at him.

"About what?"

"I thought you married me because of my money."

Her eyes hardened.

"And you spent three years treating me like I did."

"I know."

"You never asked what I wanted."

"I know."

"You never tried to understand me."

"I know."

Clara shook her head.

"Then why now?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately.

Because he couldn't explain it.

Because he didn't understand it himself.

Finally, he said, "Because you're gone."

Clara stared at him.

"That's not an apology."

"I know."

"It's not a reason either."

Ethan looked frustrated.

"What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

He looked into her eyes.

"The truth is... I thought I could live without you."

Clara swallowed.

"And now?"

"Now I'm not so sure."

For a moment, neither spoke.

The city moved around them.

Cars passed.

People walked by.

But Clara felt as if everything had gone quiet.

She hated that his words still affected her.

She hated that some part of her still cared.

But she wouldn't let him see it.

"You made your choice, Ethan."

"I know."

"You gave me the divorce papers."

"I know."

"You told me you didn't want this marriage."

His expression tightened.

"I know."

"Then please stop acting like you're the victim."

"I'm not."

"Good."

She stepped back.

"I need to go."

"Clara."

She stopped.

"Will you ever forgive me?"

She looked at him for a long moment.

"I don't know."

Then she walked away.

Ethan watched her disappear into the crowd.

For the first time, he understood that an apology couldn't undo three years of hurt.

If he wanted Clara back, words wouldn't be enough.

---

The following Monday, Clara arrived at work to find an envelope on her desk.

She looked at it curiously.

There was no name on it.

She opened it.

Inside was a printed document.

It was a list of upcoming corporate meetings.

At the bottom was one name.

Blackwood Enterprises.

Clara's heart sank.

She looked toward her manager.

"What's this?"

Her manager approached.

"That?"

"Yes."

"Blackwood Enterprises is one of our biggest clients. You'll be assisting with the executive meeting this Friday."

Clara stared at the document.

"You mean Ethan?"

Her manager nodded.

"Yes. Mr. Blackwood will be attending personally."

Clara closed her eyes for a moment.

Of all the companies in New York...

Of all the clients Westbridge could have...

It had to be his.

Her manager smiled.

"Don't worry. You'll do fine."

Clara forced a smile.

"I'm sure I will."

But deep down, she knew Friday was going to be anything but normal.

Because she was no longer Ethan Blackwood's wife.

She was his employee's colleague.

His business partner's representative.

A woman with her own career.

And when Ethan walked into that meeting room, he would have to face something he had never been prepared for.

Clara Bennett no longer belonged to him.

And she was finally learning how to belong to herself.