Spring Without Return

Ethan froze for a moment before his expression darkened even more.

“It is only money. As long as you stay with me, you will never worry about food or a place to live for the rest of your life. Why are you so obsessed with this? Olivia is raising a child on her own. Treat it as helping her and let this go.”

He pulled a checkbook from his drawer and tore out a check. “How much do you want? Fill it in yourself. Stop making a scene.”

“I do not want your charity.” I did not take the check. “I only want what belongs to me. My copyrights, my awards, my recognition. I am taking all of it back.”

Ethan lifted his eyes toward me. Something cold and dangerous settled inside them.

“You would not dare. Do not forget, everything you eat and everything you own was given to you by me.

“Half the business world in Stormbay answers to me now. If you insist on turning this ugly, do not blame me for forgetting our past.”

My whole body stiffened.

In that instant, my heart turned completely icy.

I had seen Ethan’s ruthless side many times in business, yet I never imagined he would use that same cruelty against me.

The tension in the room grew sharper by the second. Olivia suddenly cried out in panic. “Ethan, something is wrong. His asthma is acting up.”

Ethan’s face changed at once. He grabbed the child and hurried toward the door without looking at me again.

As he passed me, he called for security.

“Throw this lunatic out. Do not let her step into this company again.”

I stood frozen, watching the three of them disappear down the hallway while every ounce of strength drained from my body.

The guards dragged me outside and left me on the street. I stared at the city I had lived in for five years. For the first time, it felt unfamiliar.

Only one thought remained.

Leave.

The sooner, the better.

I returned to the house Ethan and I had lived in for five years and packed my things in a hurry. I wrapped my parents’ belongings carefully and placed them deep inside my suitcase.

When I dragged the suitcase to the door and opened it, two police officers stood outside.

“Do not move. Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

I froze.

“My name is Vivian. I have lived here for five years, and I am packing my things to leave.”

One of the officers pulled out a copy of the property ownership documents and held it in front of me.

“The legal owner of this house is Ms. Lynch. She reported that you entered her home without permission and attempted to take valuable property. You are suspected of theft.

“Please cooperate with the investigation and come with us.”

The world spun around me.

I never imagined that even the house I lived in for five years belonged to Olivia.

How many things had Ethan been hiding from me?

No matter how desperately I explained, the officers still treated me like a thief.

During the struggle, my suitcase crashed onto the floor. The officers dragged it across the ground until it burst open, scattering everything inside.

My parents’ photo frame hit the floor. Glass shattered everywhere and scratched the picture beyond recognition.

My mother’s treasured bracelet fell out and snapped into two pieces.

“That is mine.”

I tried to bend down to pick it up, but the officers held my arms tightly.

“Do not touch anything. Until the investigation is complete, all of this is considered stolen property.

“Come with us.”

I could not defend myself at all.

At the police station, they followed procedure, took my statement, and then called Ethan to confirm my identity and ask about the situation.

“Mr. Ferguson? This is the local police department. We have a woman named Vivian here who is suspected of stealing property belonging to Ms. Lynch. We would like to verify her identity with you, along with some related details.”