Chapter 2 · After Divorce, He Begged While I Thrived

Chapter 2

When I got back to the place I called home, I didn't bother turning on the lights. In the darkness, I dragged my suitcase out from the corner and started packing my things.

I didn't have much to my name. There were only a few clothes, some books, and my tiny scent-mixing toolbox that Derek always scoffed at. After five years of marriage, his presence was everywhere in this house, while mine was almost invisible.

I zipped up my suitcase with a quiet click. Right then, the door lock turned.

Derek was back.

The entryway light snapped on, making my eyes sting. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame blocking out almost all the light.

He'd ditched his suit for a white shirt, the top two buttons undone. His face was cold, but there was a storm of anger brewing in his eyes.

His gaze swept over the suitcase at my feet before settling on my face, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips. "Cordelia, are you done with your little act?"

I met his gaze, calm and wordless.

He strode toward me, his presence almost suffocating. He stopped right in front of me, towering over me, his voice cold as ice. "Drop the whole push-and-pull routine. I don't have time for your mind games."

"I'm not playing," I said, raising my chin to meet his eyes, my words steady and firm. "Derek, I'm serious. I want a divorce."

He let out a mocking laugh, as I'd just told the world's funniest joke. "A divorce? Cordelia, what makes you think you can ask for a divorce from me? I gave you everything you have. Without me, you wouldn't last a day."

Yeah, that was what everyone believed. I was Derek's accessory, his pet, kept on a whim. Without him, I was nobody.

"Whether I make it or not, that's my problem," I said, sidestepping him to reach for my suitcase.

He seized my wrist, his grip so fierce that it felt like he might snap my bones. "Are you out of your mind today?"

"Me? Out of my mind?" I finally snapped, yanking my hand free, my eyes burning. "Derek, you pushed me away in front of everyone to wrap your arms around another woman, and now you're asking if I'm out of my mind?"

"Iris almost tripped, so I helped her. What's the crime in that?" he said, frowning like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Cordelia, since when did you become so irrational and jealous?"

Jealous? Irrational?

I looked at his handsome, yet cold and distant face, and it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart so tightly that I could barely breathe. So, to him, all the pain and humiliation I'd been through was me being jealous.

A sour ache welled up in my throat, making everything go blurry. I blinked hard, forcing the tears back.

"Yeah, I'm jealous. I'm irrational," I said, forcing a stiff smile. "So let's get divorced. That way, you can openly dote on Iris and never have to see the woman you hate again."

Derek was momentarily speechless, his face darkening with anger.

"I'll get the divorce papers ready and have my lawyer send them over soon," I said, done with arguing. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door without a backward glance.

As my hand closed around the doorknob, Derek's cold voice cut through the silence behind me. "Fine."

His reply was clear-cut. He didn't even try to keep me.

I paused, then heard him add, "Cordelia, I'm giving you three days. If you want to come back after that, you'll have to beg me. Otherwise, don't ever show your face in front of me again."

I didn't look back. I pulled the door open and walked out.

The door slammed shut behind me, cutting me off from the place I once thought would be my home for life.

The night was thick and heavy as I dragged my suitcase down the deserted street. My phone buzzed. It was a bank transfer notification. Derek had sent me 1.5 million dollars, with the note: [Alimony.]

He always handled things this way, thinking money could solve anything. As if tossing cash my way meant we were even.

I stared at the numbers on my screen, the irony hitting me hard. I deleted the message, blocked his number and every other way he could reach me, then called my college bestie, Lilith Sterling.

"Hey, Lilith, I'm going to get divorced. Mind if I crash at your place for a few days?" I asked.

There was a brief pause, then Lilith practically shouted through the phone, "Holy shit, Cordelia, you finally came to your senses. Hang tight. I'm coming to get you right now. Text me your address."

Chapter 2

When I got back to the place I called home, I didn't bother turning on the lights. In the darkness, I dragged my suitcase out from the corner and started packing my things.

I zipped up my suitcase with a quiet click. Right then, the door lock turned.

Derek was back.

The entryway light snapped on, making my eyes sting. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame blocking out almost all the light.

He'd ditched his suit for a white shirt, the top two buttons undone. His face was cold, but there was a storm of anger brewing in his eyes.

His gaze swept over the suitcase at my feet before settling on my face, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips. "Cordelia, are you done with your little act?"

I met his gaze, calm and wordless.

"I'm not playing," I said, raising my chin to meet his eyes, my words steady and firm. "Derek, I'm serious. I want a divorce."

Yeah, that was what everyone believed. I was Derek's accessory, his pet, kept on a whim. Without him, I was nobody.

"Whether I make it or not, that's my problem," I said, sidestepping him to reach for my suitcase.

He seized my wrist, his grip so fierce that it felt like he might snap my bones. "Are you out of your mind today?"

"Iris almost tripped, so I helped her. What's the crime in that?" he said, frowning like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Cordelia, since when did you become so irrational and jealous?"

Jealous? Irrational?

A sour ache welled up in my throat, making everything go blurry. I blinked hard, forcing the tears back.

"Yeah, I'm jealous. I'm irrational," I said, forcing a stiff smile. "So let's get divorced. That way, you can openly dote on Iris and never have to see the woman you hate again."

Derek was momentarily speechless, his face darkening with anger.

"I'll get the divorce papers ready and have my lawyer send them over soon," I said, done with arguing. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door without a backward glance.

As my hand closed around the doorknob, Derek's cold voice cut through the silence behind me. "Fine."

His reply was clear-cut. He didn't even try to keep me.

I paused, then heard him add, "Cordelia, I'm giving you three days. If you want to come back after that, you'll have to beg me. Otherwise, don't ever show your face in front of me again."

I didn't look back. I pulled the door open and walked out.

The door slammed shut behind me, cutting me off from the place I once thought would be my home for life.

The night was thick and heavy as I dragged my suitcase down the deserted street. My phone buzzed. It was a bank transfer notification. Derek had sent me 1.5 million dollars, with the note: [Alimony.]

He always handled things this way, thinking money could solve anything. As if tossing cash my way meant we were even.

I stared at the numbers on my screen, the irony hitting me hard. I deleted the message, blocked his number and every other way he could reach me, then called my college bestie, Lilith Sterling.

"Hey, Lilith, I'm going to get divorced. Mind if I crash at your place for a few days?" I asked.

There was a brief pause, then Lilith practically shouted through the phone, "Holy shit, Cordelia, you finally came to your senses. Hang tight. I'm coming to get you right now. Text me your address."