Chapter 2

Helena's furious voice rang out from outside the door, followed by the unmistakable sound of things being smashed.

After a while, she was on the phone again, her voice suddenly soft and sweet as she tried to coax Jaiden, a tone I had never heard from her before.

When I got back to my room, my phone buzzed with a message.

[Are you home yet? Does it still hurt? I want to take care of you.]

A smile tugged at my lips. It was from Kyla. I quickly typed back: [Don't worry about me. Be good for me, okay? Once I'm back on my feet, I'll come see you. And when the time's right, I'll get the divorce.]

Kyla replied almost instantly: [I'm being good, I promise. I just can't stop thinking about you. Make sure you take your meds and get some rest.]

Another smile tugged at my lips. Kyla was my soulmate, the kind of girl I could talk to about anything. We admired each other, but I hadn't fallen for her yet.

All of that would have to wait until I was officially single.

I just lay down when Helena, fresh off her phone call, stormed in and snapped at me.

She said, "He's seriously pissed this time. Can't you just say sorry to him?"

I froze. Was she for real? Helena actually wanted me to apologize to her ex?

Had she totally lost it?

I shot upright, my stitches aching. Honestly, I wanted to chuck my phone at her face and ask what the hell was wrong with her.

But then I remembered the doctor's warning about keeping my cool, so I took a deep breath and said, "Get the hell out."

Helena's eyes went wide in disbelief. After almost ten years of marriage, I never spoke to her so harshly before.

I flopped back down, feeling weak.

But Helena lost it completely, storming over and grabbing me by the collar.

She said, "Quit playing dead. Get up. I demand you apologize to Jaiden right now."

I gritted my teeth against the pain, feeling blood start to seep from my wound. I shoved her off, then collapsed against the wall, struggling to catch my breath.

Helena just stood there, staring at the blood on her hands, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. But her tone was still cold as ice.

She said, "Get some rest. You'd better apologize to Jaiden tomorrow, or you'll be sorry."

Then she stumbled out, slamming the door behind her. My heart twisted. After ten years of looking after her, pampering her in every way, Helena turned out to be nothing but an ungrateful snake.

I wasn't about to apologize, and I sure as hell wasn't going to regret it.

I spent the whole day lounging at home, living off the thoughtful meals Kyla had delivered from across town.

She made breakfast for me in the morning, sent over homemade soup for lunch, and brought over some simple, light dishes for dinner.

Helena, meanwhile, had completely vanished. I bet she went to apologize to Jaiden.

The next day, I went to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor said I needed to take it easy for a few more days, avoid getting worked up, and come back in a week to get my stitches out.

I nodded, feeling a bit worn out as I headed to the office. But as soon as I walked in, I could tell something was off.

People kept sneaking glances at me, like they wanted to say something but couldn't bring themselves to do it.

Frowning, I made my way to my office door and saw all my stuff had been tossed out, scattered in a messy pile right outside.

My favorite cup set was smashed to pieces.

Just then, Jaiden strolled out, tilting his head with a smirk.

"Still kicking, huh? I figured you looked pretty pathetic, so I helped you move your stuff," he said.

I clenched my fists, narrowing my eyes, feeling anger bubbling up inside me.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" I asked.

Jaiden stepped right on my shattered cup set, completely unfazed.

"Didn't Helena tell you? You're fired. Pack your things and get out," he said.

I stared at the broken pieces under his foot, a sharp pang twisting in my chest. Helena had given me that set as a wedding gift.

For ten years, I treasured it more than anything, never once thinking it would end up crushed beneath Jaiden's heel.