*Noah's POV*
The hope dies in Chloe's eyes as my words sink in. Her face twists with something ugly and desperate.
"You don't mean that," she whispers.
"I've never meant anything more in my life."
She stares at me for a long moment, her breathing shallow. Then something shifts in her expression. The vulnerability disappears, replaced by cold calculation.
"Fine," she says, straightening her shoulders. "You want to be stubborn? You want to throw away everything we had? I have a proposition for you."
I cross my arms. "I'm listening."
"Marry Ethan. Secure my position. Have his child." She speaks like she's discussing a business transaction. "But after a few years, when everything settles, when I have what I need... we can be together again."
My mouth falls open. "Are you insane?"
"Think about it, Noah. It's practical. I get the security I need, the status, the money. You get me back eventually. Everyone wins."
