Unlocked His Phone, Divorced Him Chapter 05

Unlocked His Phone, Divorced Him Chapter 05

Ethan drove Evelyn back to her apartment, still smelling of wine and radiating tension.

Evelyn’s voice was soft, soothing. “Ethan, don’t be mad. Claire probably just misunderstood. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

“I’m fine, really. I just feel bad you got caught up in it.”

“Please don’t let this come between you two because of me.”

Ethan stared out the window at the blur of neon lights, distracted. “Mhm.”

She paused, then reached out tentatively, fingers brushing toward his tie—a gesture meant to smooth it.

Her voice dropped even softer. “Seeing you like this… it kind of breaks my heart.”

Ethan pulled back instinctively. Just a slight shift, but enough.

Evelyn’s hand froze midair. Her expression flickered with hurt.

“Ethan, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know.” He exhaled, irritated, and tugged at his collar. “I’ve got it.”

An awkward silence settled between them. Ethan didn’t seem to notice at all—his fingers tapped absently against the window, lost in thought.

—

Soon, they pulled up to Evelyn’s building.

“Ethan, thanks for dropping me off.”

He didn’t even offer the usual “get some rest.” Just a clipped:
“Everything’s set at the office. Go on up. I’m leaving.”

Evelyn stayed where she was, not moving. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, baring the pale curve of her neck.

“Ethan… do you want to come up? Just for a little while.”

“I still have trouble sleeping alone. Maybe I’d feel better if you stayed with me.”

Her act of vulnerability couldn’t have been more perfectly timed.

Ethan’s gaze darkened. For a second, something flickered in his eyes.

But he fought the urge and held back.

“Evelyn. That’s not appropriate.” He sighed. “You know I’m married to Claire.”

The car headed home. Ethan rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the unease.

Maybe Claire really was angry this time. The demotion had been harsh.

But when she saw the plane tickets, she’d be surprised. Happy. She’d act cool for a minute, then throw herself into his arms.

—

Yeah. That’s how it would go.

Ethan pushed open the front door.

The apartment was dark. Silent.

No warm light. No one waiting.

Claire wasn’t even here?

He frowned and flicked on the light.

The living room was spotless—too clean. The air felt hollow.

On the dining table, no late-night snack waited for him.

Instead, a torn plane ticket sat in two pieces.

For a split second, his heart lurched.

Then his phone buzzed—once, twice, in rapid succession.

Messages from his assistant. Screenshots—one after another.

Private group chats. Company employees. Gossiping behind the scenes.

「Mr. Ethan and the new girl Evelyn—there’s definitely something going on.」

「Did you see the way he looked at her on stage? His eyes were practically glued to her.」

—

And that save—when she almost fell? Full-on boyfriend material right there.

Someone had attached a video. Grainy, obviously shot in secret.

It was him catching Evelyn on stage that night.

The camera angle was calculated—it caught his split-second panic and the way Evelyn looked up at him, relying on him. It made everything look way more intimate than it actually was.

「Wait—holy shit, I heard Evelyn was his first love back in college.」

「No wonder.」

Underneath, a grainy old photo. Younger, softer versions of them in matching uniforms. The familiar backdrop of Westbridge University.

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

The rumor was spreading too fast. Too detailed. Too specific. Something that old? No regular employee could have dug that up that quickly.

It hit him all at once—he’d been set up.