Chapter 3

My husband believed I was angry.

He never believed I was leaving.

He came to my hotel room that afternoon. He didn't bring flowers. He didn't offer an apology. He just stood in the doorway and sighed.

"Are you done proving your point?" Grant asked.

I looked at him. "What point?"

"Leaving," Grant said, crossing his arms. "Making Chloe feel guilty."

He still thought this was a game. He thought I was just throwing a tantrum to get their attention.

"If I go back, what changes?" I asked.

Grant fell silent. He didn't have an answer.

"If I go back," I continued softly, "and Natalie wants to play mother again tomorrow, do I still have to step aside?"

Grant frowned. "That's not fair, Lena."

"Why isn't it fair?" I asked.

"You know Chloe needs stability right now," Grant said.

I looked at his face.

In Grant's mind, stability just meant one thing. It meant I continued to sacrifice. It meant I kept my mouth shut and did the work.

I took a step back. "I am divorcing you, Grant."

The word felt unfamiliar in my mouth, but not as frightening as the thought of returning to the same house and pretending nothing had happened.

Grant froze. He stared at me like I had lost my mind.

"Divorce?" Grant repeated. "You are ending a twelve-year marriage because Chloe called Natalie 'Mom'?"

"I am ending it because you let her," I said.

Grant shook his head in disbelief. "Maybe you should stay here until things calm down."

He wasn't kicking me out. In his mind, he was giving me time to cool off. He still didn't believe I was serious.

He turned around and walked out of the room.

Ten minutes later, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a message from Chloe.

Dad says you're talking about divorce.

Are you really leaving because I called Natalie Mom?

I stared at the glowing screen. I didn't type a reply.

A second later, another message popped up.

I thought you loved me more than this.

The words were like a slap to the face.

She was turning my departure into proof that I didn't love her. She didn't want to admit she pushed me away. She just wanted me to be the villain.

Two hours later, I sat across from my lawyer.

I didn't do it because of Natalie. I didn't do it because of Chloe. I did it because I was finally done.

I took the pen and signed the petition authorizing my lawyer to begin the divorce.

Lena Hart.

The lawyer looked down at the paper. He stopped.

"Hart?" the lawyer asked.

"Is there a problem?" I asked calmly.

The lawyer looked at me closely. "No," he said softly. "Nothing."

"I used my professional name before I married," I said. "I am using it again." I took my copy and left for the evening event.

That evening, the Blackwell Young Voices annual event took place downtown.

It was the biggest youth literature gala of the year. Chloe's winning essay was going to be officially showcased and published tonight. Grant and Natalie went with her for the press interviews.

I arrived at the venue wearing a simple black dress.

Chloe saw me first. Her smile vanished.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was invited," I said.

Chloe looked around nervously. The reporters were setting up inside the main hall.

"Can you please not make this weird?" Chloe asked, lowering her voice. "They are interviewing me and Mom tonight. If they ask who you are, I don't want to explain."

Natalie stepped forward. She put a gentle hand on Chloe's shoulder.

"I can let Chloe have dinner with you after the event, Lena," Natalie said sweetly.

I can let.

Chloe turned to her father. "Dad, tell her not to come in."

Grant looked at me. He hesitated. He knew it was unfair. But then, he made the exact same choice he had made for twelve years.

He chose the easiest path.

"Just tonight, Lena," Grant pleaded. "Let them have this."

I looked at him.

Once again, he chose to make me step back. He chose to protect them from me.

I smiled a little.

"Okay," I said.

Just then, the heavy double doors to the inner hall swung open.

Evelyn, the head director of Blackwell Press, walked out. She was surrounded by staff.

Grant immediately straightened his jacket.

Natalie put on her most perfect, elegant smile. She took a step forward. Chloe lifted her chin.

They all thought the head director was coming out to personally welcome the winning author and her family.

Evelyn walked quickly toward us.

Natalie reached out her hand to shake. "Hello, I'm—"

Evelyn didn't even look at her.

She walked right past Natalie's outstretched hand. She walked right past Grant.

She stopped directly in front of me.

"Lena?" Evelyn called out.

She reached out her hand.

I looked at Evelyn. I reached out and shook her hand.

Evelyn smiled warmly.

"Welcome back, Lena," she said clearly. "We have been waiting for you."