Leaving My Cheating Mate to Find Love Again

“You look like you could use a break too,” Ethan said, leaning against the counter and eyeing me with a curious smile.

I shrugged, not ready to dive into my sob story. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, whatever’s going on, you’re in good hands here,” he said, his voice full of calm assurance. “Mia’s got your back, and so do I.”

I managed a small smile. Mia finally stumbled into the kitchen, hair a mess and yawning like she hadn’t slept in days. “Morning,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes before flopping into the chair across from me.

“Morning, sunshine,” Ethan teased, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of her. “I made breakfast.”

Mia grinned, clearly not the least bit surprised. “Of course you did. You’re too good to be true.”

I stayed quiet, picking at my pancakes. Ethan was being so kind and gentle, and I didn’t know how to handle it. It was weird how uncomfortable it made me, especially after everything with Derek. I wasn’t used to this... warmth.

Mia, noticing the weird tension between us, quickly jumped into conversation. “So, Ethan’s been trying to find a secretary for his office,” she said, glancing between us with a sly smile. “But apparently, no one can handle the job.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking over at him. “Really?”

Ethan laughed softly, shaking his head. “It’s not that bad, honestly. They just get spooked, I guess. Maybe I don’t seem approachable or something.”

“*Something*?” Mia scoffed. “More like they’re scared of you. You do have that whole ‘serious alpha’ thing going on.”

He rolled his eyes, clearly used to Mia’s teasing. “Or maybe they’re just not up for the work.”

“I dunno, seems like they’re intimidated,” Mia said, biting into her pancake. “You should see them when they meet him—eyes all wide, like he’s about to snap at them or something.”

I couldn’t help but smile a little, picturing it. Ethan didn’t seem intimidating at all, not when he was standing there cooking breakfast with that easygoing smile. But then again, I didn’t know him outside of this kitchen.

Ethan caught my smile and gave me a curious look. “What about you, Lila? Looking for a job?”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, no, not really.” My cheeks warmed under his gaze, and I quickly focused on my plate again.

“I bet you’d be great,” Mia chimed in, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “And I mean, Ethan could really use someone who’s not afraid of him.”

I let out a soft laugh, trying to shake off the awkwardness. “I don’t think I’d be very good at handling someone like you.”

Ethan chuckled, but his expression softened. “I’m really not that scary. Promise.”

His voice was so gentle, and I felt my guard slipping just a little. But after what happened with Derek, I wasn’t sure how much kindness I could trust. Still, I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Maybe.”

Mia grinned between us, clearly loving whatever dynamic was brewing here. “You should give it a shot, Lila. It could be fun.”

I didn’t say anything, just kept my head down. I sat there, pushing my food around my plate, thinking about Mia’s suggestion. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I needed something—*anything*—to distract me from Derek, the betrayal, and... everything else I didn’t want to think about. The pain of losing the baby, Derek’s affair, it all felt like too much. Maybe working would give me something to focus on, and besides, I needed money. If I was going to divorce Derek, I had to at least be able to afford it.

“I... I guess I could try,” I said quietly, finally looking up at Ethan.

Mia’s face lit up. “See? I told you, Ethan! Lila’s perfect for the job.”

Ethan smiled, but there was something a little softer in his eyes. “Are you sure, Lila? I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Honestly, it might be what I need right now. I... I need to move on. And I need the money to file for divorce.” The words came out more bluntly than I expected, but it felt good to say them out loud.

Ethan’s smile faded slightly, replaced with a look of understanding. “I see,” he said quietly. “If that’s what you need, then I’m happy to help.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed for admitting how broke I was. “Honestly, I’m not in a great place right now, financially.”

Mia reached over and squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to explain, Lila. We’ve got your back.”

Ethan nodded in agreement. “We’ll figure it out together. You can start whenever you’re ready. No rush.”

I took a deep breath, feeling a little lighter. “I’ll start tomorrow.”

Mia clapped her hands together. “Perfect! You’ll love it. Ethan’s office is actually really nice. And you’ll get to boss him around a bit.”

Ethan rolled his eyes, but there was a teasing smile on his face. “Yeah, yeah. I’m sure Lila’s looking forward to that.”

I managed a small laugh. Maybe this job wouldn’t be so bad after all. It was a fresh start—something I desperately needed. And maybe, just maybe, it would help me forget about Derek and the mess he’d left behind.