Chapter 4

At last, I poured out five years of grief. Sophie asked nothing; she only held me and rubbed my back.

After crying for what felt like forever, I finally told her everything, including the baby I had lost.

Sophie trembled, eyes red. "Edward is not human. He is a monster. Mimi, you have been through hell." She held me tighter.

"I'm going to settle this with him. I'll ruin him," Sophie said, already turning to rush out.

I grabbed her fast. "Soph, forget it."

"How can I forget it? He cost you your baby."

"The baby is gone, and so is my heart." I looked her in the eye, every word deliberate. "All I want is a divorce. The farther away from him, the better."

Sophie looked at the finality on my face and stopped in her tracks. She knew that this time, I was really done.

I moved into Sophie's place, changed my number, and cut off the long hair I'd kept for five years. The short, sharp style in the mirror made me feel strangely free.

It felt good. The old Mia was swept into the trash with that pile of hair.

The next few days were quiet. By day, I shopped and watched movies with Sophie. At night, I tried not to think of Edward, but the emptiness in my belly still woke me. I hugged my knees and sat awake until dawn.

The pain of losing my baby was a thorn buried deep in my heart. I knew I needed time.

A week later, a call came in from an unfamiliar number. It was Edward's lawyer. He said, "Mr. Sinclair agreed to the divorce, but he wanted to see you in person to talk."

I refused. There was nothing left to talk about.

"Ms. Lane, Mr. Sinclair said he'll use any means necessary to find you if you refuse to meet," the lawyer added. I fell silent. I knew Edward was controlling and never accepted no. I wanted no further ties with him.

I nodded. "Fine. I'll see him."

We agreed to meet at an upscale private club. When I arrived, Edward was already there, sitting on the sofa with his back to me. His black suit was perfectly tailored, and even his silhouette carried that same cold, oppressive distance.

Hearing me enter, he turned. After one week, he looked thinner and rougher, with stubble on his jaw and shadows under his eyes.

His old confidence was gone. He looked worn and haggard. When he saw my short hair, mixed emotions crossed his face. I did not care.

I walked straight over and sat down across from him. "Did you read the agreement? If you don't have a problem with it, sign it." I pushed another prepared copy of the divorce agreement in front of him.

Edward didn't even look at it. His eyes stayed locked on my face, like he was trying to read something there. "Mia, are you done throwing a tantrum yet?" His voice was low and tired.

I almost laughed. To me, this was losing my child and ending my marriage; to him, it was just a tantrum. "Edward, I'm not making a scene," I said evenly. "I'm seriously informing you that we're getting divorced."

His brows pulled tight, like he couldn't get used to me speaking to him in such a cold tone. "Is this because I didn't answer your call? It was Viv's birthday that day. I couldn't leave."