Chapter 4
After I passed the second round of interviews, they asked if I could start next month.
I confirmed I'd be joining, and that same day, I renewed my lease for another year.
When I signed, the landlord reminded me, "If you move out early, you won't get your deposit back."
"I won't be moving out early," I said.
Back at my apartment, I sent Leonard the details—the time, the place, and what would happen if he failed to show up.
[Friday, 3:00 p.m. You must appear in person. If you fail to show up, I'll file for divorce through the courts.]
He texted back almost right away.
[Yeah, I get it. Stop holding the divorce over my head all the time.]
At 2:40 p.m. on Friday, I arrived at the registry office.
By 3 p.m., Leonard still hadn't shown up.
At 3:10, Leonard's secretary called and said he had rushed to a brand event because Sophie had been confronted by a business partner's wife about her relationship with him, drawing quite a crowd.
"Mr. Hayes asked me to let you know that he'll come over as soon as he's done," the secretary said.
"How long is it going to take?" I asked.
"About half an hour," the secretary replied.
I watched the numbers on the screen by the entrance keep changing.
"Tell him—if he's not here by four, that's it. I'm not booking another appointment," I said.
At 3:25, Leonard sent me a voice message.
"Sophie was there as a business partner. People were surrounding her, asking whether she got those opportunities because of a personal relationship. If I don't step in, she won't be the only one affected," Leonard said.
"Just hang on, I'll sort this out for you."
I listened to it twice with my headphones on.
He said he'd sort things out for me.
Just like two months ago, when he promised to stop seeing Sophie outside of work, only to have her accompany him to an event the very next day.
He said she had only recently started working with key clients, and distancing himself from her now would jeopardize the partnership.
He said, "Marriage is marriage, work is work."
That was the last time I gave him a choice.
"You can keep working with her, but all personal contact has to stop. And don't bring her to our family gatherings again in some undefined capacity," I said.
He agreed.
But that night, Sophie came down with a fever. Leonard drove her home himself and stayed there until after midnight.
"She has no family here. Grace, you're more mature than she is. Don't make me abandon her at a time like this," Leonard said.
For a moment, I wondered if I was being too harsh, if my boundaries were just too strict.
Now, the clock at the registry office read 3:58 p.m.
Leonard's message finally popped up on my phone.
[Let's do this another day. Stop pushing me.]
No explanation, no apology.
He still believed that as long as he pushed the date back, I would keep waiting.
I got up from the waiting area and walked over to the public legal services counter next door.
"You've both already signed an agreement. Why not finalize the divorce by mutual consent?" the attorney on duty asked.
"He didn't show up," I said.
"The statement in the agreement confirming the reasons for the breakdown of the marriage—did Mr. Hayes sign that himself?" the attorney asked.
"Yes. The documents were sent to his secretary three days in advance, and I have records showing they were sent and received."
The lawyer flipped to the last page.
The agreement stated clearly that Leonard and Sophie had maintained an intimate relationship that went beyond normal professional boundaries, and that despite my repeatedly setting clear limits, it had continued. Both parties acknowledged that the marriage had irretrievably broken down.
It was his signature on the paper.
He barely even glanced at it when he signed.
"Are you sure you want to file?" the attorney asked again. "Once litigation begins, the balance of leverage in negotiations will change."
My palm grew sweaty as I gripped the pen.
Over the past six months, I had imagined this day countless times.
There were also nights when I opened our chat and wanted to ask him whether, if I truly left, he would come looking for me.
But every time, I ended up deleting those words before I could hit send.
Today, he gave me his answer.
"I'm sure," I said.
I signed the authorization form and handed the documents in at the counter.
By the time I left, it was already dark outside.
Leonard called, but I didn't pick up.
He texted me: [The event's over. Where are you? I'll come pick you up. We need to talk.]
When I still hadn't replied, Leonard frowned but didn't think much of it.
He was convinced that no matter how far I took things, I would eventually calm down.
Just as the driver started the car.
Leonard's phone suddenly vibrated.
The corner of Leonard's mouth relaxed almost imperceptibly.
The moment he opened the message, that confident smile froze on his face.
The word [court] seared into his vision.
[The divorce petition filed against you by Grace Bennett has been accepted by the court.]