Chapter 2

The next morning, I was jolted awake by my phone.

After spending the whole night curled up on that cold, hard old couch, every bone in my body was screaming in pain.

Lucas called me.

"Where are you?" His voice was still groggy from sleep, with a barely noticeable trace of irritation.

"Outside," I replied, sitting up and rubbing her stiff neck.

Lucas said, "Where? Beatrix said you were out all night."

I asked, "What's up?"

Lucas was silent for a few seconds. "Come back. We need to talk."

I asked, "About what?"

Lucas's voice grew sharper. "About where you were last night! About why you didn't come home!"

I let out a cold laugh. "Lucas, are you seriously questioning me right now?"

"I'm your husband!" Lucas snapped.

I nodded. "Oh. So you do remember you're my husband."

Lucas's breath caught on the other end. "Valerie, what's that supposed to mean?"

"No big deal," I said, gazing out at the gray sky. "I've got things to handle today, so I won't be coming back. I'll send you the divorce papers tonight."

"What did you just say?" Lucas's voice shot up, disbelief and anger mixing in his tone.

I repeated slowly, "Divorce papers. Lucas, let's call it quits."

Lucas snapped, "Valerie! Why are you throwing a fit? Just because I didn't show up for your birthday last night? I told you I had things to deal with! Rita just got back in town..."

I interrupted him, saying, "Yeah, she just got back, all alone and looking helpless. So you had to leave your wife behind to watch fireworks with her and stay with her all night.

"And you post those cozy photos with her on your social media, so everyone gets to see me as a joke.

"For three years, the one who matters most to you, the one you always choose to be with, has always been her, not me."

I continued, "Lucas, I'm tired. I'm out of this three-person drama. You two can have your happy ending."

With those words, I ended the call and switched off my phone.

At last, the world felt peaceful again.

I spent the whole day at the old house.

I cleaned up, went through my parents' old things, and called up a realtor to put the house on the market.

Later that afternoon, my lawyer dropped the draft divorce agreement in my inbox.

I gave it a quick look. It was fair. Actually, it worked out better for me.

I didn't ask for any of the Newman family's shares or real estate. All I wanted were the places that were mine before the marriage, plus enough money to make sure I'd never have to worry about bills again.

Lucas wouldn't make things difficult for me over this. After all, he was all about saving face.

At four in the afternoon, I turned my phone back on.

In an instant, dozens of missed call notifications flooded in.

Lucas, his assistant, and a few mutual friends had all tried to reach me.

My phone was blowing up with notifications.

I tapped on Lucas's chat thread.

Lucas: [Pick up the phone!]

[Valerie, explain yourself!]

[I can explain last night, but asking for a divorce is just going too far!]

[Where are you? Let's meet and talk in person!]

[Pick up the phone! Valerie!]

The latest one was from just ten minutes ago.

[So you really want out? Fine, have it your way. I'll sign the papers. Don't regret it!]

It seemed Rita's pillow talk really did the trick.

I replied: [Tomorrow at 10 am, city hall. Bring the papers and your ID.]

Then I blocked him.

Next, I opened my social media and posted an update.

No caption. Just a single photo.

It was the diamond ring I'd thrown into the overgrown grass, now smeared with mud and catching the morning light with a cold, steely glint.

I set the location, the old house. I set the post to mutual friends only and finally posted it.

That one post stirred up a storm among my friends.

In just a few minutes, the likes and comments were pouring in.

Some were genuinely shocked, some wanted the gossip, and others acted concerned but were really here for the show.

Rita gave it a like too.

She commented: [Valerie, why'd you toss your ring? That's such a waste. Did you and Lucas get into a fight? Please don't misunderstand, we're just friends...]

I didn't bother replying.

I put my phone away, stepped out, and headed straight to the mall.

I swiped Lucas's credit card.

I loaded up on clothes, bags, and jewelry. All the hottest new releases, and none of them came cheap.

The salesgirl beamed at me. "Mrs. Newman, you seem in great spirits today."

"Is that so?" I replied, looking at myself in the mirror as I tried on a diamond necklace.

"Maybe it's because I'm about to stop being Mrs. Newman," I said.

The salesgirl's smile froze on her face.

I smiled and added the necklace to my shopping haul.

I told her, "Have everything packed up and delivered to this address."

I wrote down the old house's address.

Since we were splitting up, there was no reason not to use his money while I still could.

That evening, I met up with my bestie, Tiffany Pratt, for dinner.

We picked a newly opened restaurant downtown.

I entered the venue in a newly purchased red dress, my makeup was flawless, and my heels clicked as I walked. I turned many heads with my entrance.