avier on me. His silence was suffocating. I'd tried everything I could think of

t finally sit down and talk to me-or at least

e of scenery might bridge the gap, but he'd br

had been shut down before

ame th

spark of hope within me. Maybe this would change

the positive test so tightly my knuckles

hes. Jeans, a loose sweater-nothing elaborate. I pulled my hair i

struck me. Everything looked exactly as it always did, compl

he studied me for a second, her gaze linge

out?" s

a tig

h is

rmured. "Don't worry a

at the dining table while my ma

ought of the only other place he might be. Despite the strained relationship

car toward his

ia Southwark's car. As I climbed the front steps, the door swun

ned, and she o

s everythin

throat making it impossible to h

him since Monday. I just... I

illed with

ut he just left. He mentioned he was headi

e of relief w

u," I bre

éria's sharp voice cut through

keep up this pathet

ing myself against the she

ot?" she sneered. "So why are you run

epted our marriage, and today, she looked do

ough," Serena snapped

here, not her. He's trapped in a loveless marriage simply be

t I refused to give her the sa

" I said quiet

nd walked away withou

ng wheel and sat motionless for a long moment, forcin

ouse, I tossed my keys to

Kaelan's s

pt

a time, my pulse drumming

d through the crack in the door. It was faint,

y as my fingers wrappe

ed it

knocked the air stra

on our bed, their bodies far too close

itting the hardwood floor with a heavy t

izing pain ripped through my chest, as if

ng the sheets over Mirelle in a

" I managed

e, his eyes entirel

he said, his voice maddeningly

his words hit me harde

tried to hold back, to give you time to process things and sign the divorce papers, but y

m head to toe, before slowly

y..." My voice cracked. "He was

"I couldn't help it," she murmured, pulling the shee

hysically blockin

m, take it up with me

roat. I swiped a hand harshly across my cheeks, wip

ice hardening. "You want y

dead-on, refu

hing of yours belongs to me, and absolutel

e a cu

tone turning to ice. "And I nev

raight into the walk-in closet. The divorce pa

ne last, shuddering bre

the ties of a marriage I had o

room, I threw the document

," I said, my voice eerily calm. But for the s

e weight of those wo

found what you

I turned my back on

oom took everything I had,

behind the life, the title, and the

up. It was the collaps

ny, resilient part of me knew I had