Chapter 3

As soon as I stepped into the office, my phone buzzed with a WhatsApp alert from Caleb. He sent photos of two movie ticket stubs. Obviously, he was trying to mend fences, fully aware that the future deal with Armani Burke depended on the chip I had developed.

"We haven't seen a movie together in ages. Tonight?" he texted.

After pausing to think, I responded, "The project team isn't overloaded tonight. I can meet you at the theater after work."

I intended to use this movie date to discuss our divorce. But after wrapping up work, I saw Vera getting into Caleb’s car yet again. Moments later, another WhatsApp message appeared: "An urgent issue came up at the office. Go to the theater without me."

I didn’t linger. I went straight to a lawyer’s office to start drafting a divorce settlement. By the time I returned to the theater district, the movie Caleb had chosen was already halfway through. A romance film—not my cup of tea, but I always endured it for him.

I bought a ticket for a different show and had dinner before heading home.

Later, scrolling through Instagram, I came across a photo Vera had posted. She was at a fancy restaurant—steak and red wine on the table—with two hands clasped across it. Only the hands were visible, but I immediately recognized them as hers and Caleb’s. The caption read, "Mutual love is the greatest gift. Thank you, darling, for the special treat."

Shortly after I got home, Caleb returned too. "I got you a scarf, take a look," he said.

Every time he broke a promise, he’d try to appease me with a gift. And every time, I’d pretend to be thrilled, fussing over it to please him. Caleb never grew tired of this charade.

"Just throw it in the closet," I replied nonchalantly.

Caleb reacted sharply to my unexpected response. "Amelie, I screwed up tonight, but I got you a gift. Why are you acting like this?"

"Caleb, isn’t that scarf just a freebie?" I asked, watching his face flush with anger.

"What are you hinting at, Amelie?"

I used to never question his gifts, seeing anything from him as a token of affection. But now, with the divorce papers from my lawyer in hand, I didn’t bother to look up. "It’s nothing."

Caleb thought throwing a fit would make me give in, but this time, despite his cold stare, I stayed calm. After confirming the agreement with my lawyer, I finally turned off my phone.

"Caleb, the label on that scarf says 'Not for Sale.' Do I really need to explain? I’m not interested in promotional leftovers."

"Amelie, who do you think you are? You hole up in the development department all day, acting like you know everything! I was being considerate with that scarf, but if you’re not interested, fine!"

Ignoring Caleb’s further outbursts, I got up and went to the guest bedroom. With the decision to divorce made, I wouldn’t let Caleb’s words affect me anymore.

I stayed in the guest room the rest of the night, and Caleb didn’t come looking for me either.