Chapter 3
Crispin's words were like a block of ice, slamming into Daley's raging temper. In an instant, his fury was snuffed out, replaced by a shiver that ran straight to his bones.
Daley wondered why he had ever hurt Jane.
He gave her everything, including money, status, and the best life anyone could ask for. He wondered why she was still unsatisfied.
Daley couldn't understand it.
He looked at Jane, who was being shielded by Crispin. The woman he thought he understood completely now seemed like someone he barely knew.
Daley said, his voice hoarse, with a hint of pleading he didn't even realize, "Jane, come here. Let's talk. Don't let outsiders watch us make a fool of ourselves."
Jane shook her head.
"Mr. Heptinstall isn't an outsider. He's the one I rely on now," she said.
Those words stung Daley more than any accusation ever could.
There was a time when he was the one she leaned on and her everything.
But now, she was shutting him out and turning to someone else instead.
That someone was her lawyer.
"Fine." Daley laughed angrily, pointing at Crispin. "You think bringing in a lawyer is going to scare me? I'm telling you. I won't divorce you!"
With those words, he left, slamming the door behind him.
The loud bang made the whole house shake.
The world finally fell silent.
Jane's whole body finally relaxed. She slumped against the wall behind the door, only now realizing how icy her back had become.
"Thank you, Mr. Heptinstall," she murmured.
Crispin replied, his voice calm again, "Just doing my job. But it looks like Daley isn't going to back down without a fight. We should be ready for a real battle."
Jane nodded, a steely resolve shining in her eyes.
"I'm not afraid," Jane said.
Ever since she made up her mind to leave him, fear was never part of the equation.
Crispin looked at her, his eyes glinting behind his glasses.
"Mrs. Atkinson, you look wiped out. Get some rest tonight. I'll reach out tomorrow and we'll figure out our next steps," Crispin said.
"Okay," Jane replied.
Once Crispin was gone, Jane glanced around the house she'd lived in for three years.
Daley's shadow lingered in every corner. Everything was all luxury, but there was never any warmth.
She didn't feel a shred of nostalgia.
She grabbed the suitcase that had been packed and waiting, pulled open the door, and stepped out.
The night was inky and deep.
She flagged down a cab and told the driver the address of her tiny apartment.
Outside the window, the neon lights of the city sped by, as if every mile was leaving her past further behind.
Then, her phone rang.
It was Daley.
She hung up without a second thought.
The phone rang again, not giving up.
Jane blocked him right away.
Then, a text message popped up.
It was from Naomi.
It read: [Jane, did you and Daley get into a fight? It's all my fault. Please don't be mad at him. He was worried about me.
[Can you come back? Daley's been drinking so much, and now his stomach hurts again.]
Jane read the message, a mocking smile curling at her lips.
She knew that it was the same trick again.
Back then, seeing a message like this would have broken her heart. She would have rushed back, stayed by his side, taking care of him as if he was her whole world.
Now, it made her sick.
She replied: [Not my fucking problem.]
And then, she blocked Naomi, too.
Just like that, her world was finally quiet.
Meanwhile, Daley stormed out, hit the gas, and tore through the city with no destination in mind.
He couldn't wrap his head around how everything got so messed up.
He wondered why the woman who was always soft and obedient, admired him, had turned so icy and ruthless.
She'd even hired a lawyer, ready to drag him to court.
Thinking about the way Crispin looked at him made Daley's blood boil.
That look was nothing but a challenge and disdain.
Daley couldn't believe that a random man was eyeing his wife.
He believed that Jane belonged to him forever, and nobody could ever change that.
His phone was buzzing like crazy on the passenger seat. Annoyed, he grabbed it and saw it was Naomi.
He was in no mood to deal with her right now.
As he was about to hang up, Naomi called again.
He took a deep breath, answered, his tone sharp and impatient.
"What do you want?" he snapped.
Naomi was startled, then began to cry, sounding hurt and pitiful.
"Mr. Atkinson. I wanted to see how you're doing. I texted Jane, but she didn't reply. Is she still angry with us?"
Hearing Jane's name stabbed at Daley's heart again.
His patience snapped.
"Don't reach out to her unless I tell you to," Daley barked.
"Wait, why?" Naomi said, sounding lost.
Daley growled, "Because I said so. And another thing, don't talk to me like that. I'm your boss, not your friend. Watch yourself."
With that, he hung up.
Hearing the busy signal, the hurt and tears on Naomi's face were gone in a heartbeat.
She stared at her phone screen, a flicker of malice in her eyes.
She felt that this was all Jane's fault.
'If it weren't for Jane, Naomi believed that she would have been Mrs. Atkinson ages ago.
Naomi would make sure Jane regretted ever crossing her.
Meanwhile, after hanging up, Daley was swallowed by a crushing emptiness and fatigue like he'd never felt before.
He pulled over to the curb and lit a cigarette.
As smoke drifted around him, his mind wandered back to the early days of his marriage with Jane.
Back then, whenever she looked at him, her gaze sparkled with stars, pure adoration in her eyes.
She'd awkwardly try to cook whatever he liked, and one offhand compliment from him could make her happy for the whole day.
He wondered why her love for him started to fade.
He felt that maybe he'd never truly cared for her at all.
His phone rang again, this time from a number he didn't recognize.
He didn't want to answer, but almost against his will, he picked up.
The voice he least wanted to hear came through the line.
"Mr. Atkinson, this is Crispin Heptinstall."
Daley's pupils contracted sharply.
Crispin said, his voice cold as ice, "Let me remind you. Mrs. Atkinson has officially filed for divorce.
"My team is already digging up evidence about splitting up your shared assets and everything you did wrong in the marriage.
"Adultery and domestic violence are enough to totally screw you over when it comes to dividing up the money."
"You!" Daley was shaking with rage. "You're lying through your teeth. When did I ever cheat on her?"
Crispin said, still icy calm, "Whether you did or not isn't your call. It's all about the evidence.
"Take that apartment under your name, where Ms. Barnett has been living for a long time.
"Or how you keep showing up at her place in the middle of the night, even leaving your wife sick with a high fever to look after her instead."
Daley felt like he'd been struck by lightning.
Daley wondered how he knew about it.
Crispin said, "Mr. Atkinson, because my client is kind doesn't mean she's stupid.
"She was trying to let you keep a shred of dignity. That's why she agreed to an uncontested divorce and was willing to walk away with nothing.
"But if you insist on making this ugly and dragging it into court, I guarantee you'll regret your arrogance today, and the price you pay will be brutal."
With that, Crispin hung up.
Daley gripped his phone, his palm icy and numb.
For the first time, he was hit with a fear he'd never known before.
He whipped the car around and raced back home.
He had to explain everything and had to make her believe that he and Naomi were innocent.
But when he burst into the villa, all he found was an eerie silence and a haunting emptiness.
Her side of the closet was completely bare.
Every bottle and jar of her skincare was gone from the vanity.
Not a single trace of her remained in the whole house.
All that remained was the wedding ring, left all alone on the coffee table, forgotten by him.
He walked over, his hands shaking as he picked up the ring.
He could still feel the lingering warmth from her skin on it.
But she was already gone.
Then, Naomi called again, crying her eyes out.
"Mr. Atkinson, bad news. One of the company's big projects is falling apart."
Back then, he'd drop everything and rush to her side, handling every mess for her.
But now, listening to that sugary, needy voice on the phone made him feel disgusted and annoyed to his core.
"Something went wrong? Handle it yourself! Aren't you supposed to be so talented?" Daley barked.
He roared into the phone, then slammed it down.
He collapsed onto the couch, gripping the ring so tight his knuckles turned white.
For the first time, he realized that he was about to lose Jane for good.