Chapter 2
"Claire, don't make a scene. I know I screwed up—can't you just let it go?"
He thought I was just being dramatic.
I stayed silent, quietly reaching into the drawer and taking out the document I'd been keeping ready.
I slid it across the table to him.
It was the divorce papers.
His smile vanished, replaced by shock and panic.
"Claire, you really mean it?"
"I'm moving all my stuff out today."
"This house was yours before we got married—I don't want it."
"The car you bought after we got married is mine."
"We split the savings down the middle."
"As for you..." I paused, locking eyes with him. "You can leave with nothing, or I can ruin your reputation for good. Your choice."
Miles's face turned ashen.
He probably never thought someone as meek as me would ever say something like that.
He looked like he wanted to explode, to smash something.
But when he saw the cold look in my eyes, he forced himself to choke back his anger.
He knew I wasn't joking.
Right then, his phone started buzzing like crazy.
He glanced at the caller ID, and his face drained of all color.
It was Luna.
I bet her family was freaking out right now.
He didn't dare pick up in front of me, so he took his phone and stepped out onto the balcony.
I could just make out Miles growling under his breath, and Luna's voice cracking as she tried to defend herself through tears.
This mess was only just beginning.
I slowly finished my water, got up, and went to my room to start packing.
Miles's phone started ringing again.
This time, when he glanced at the screen, it was like he'd just spotted a lifeline.
He walked over, holding out his phone for me to see, making sure I caught the caller ID.
"It's my mom."
His tone was full of warning, clearly trying to intimidate me.
"Claire, it's not too late to change your mind about the divorce."
"Otherwise, you'll have to explain everything to my mom yourself."
I glanced at the word "Mom" flashing on Miles's phone screen and had to laugh.
Even now, he thought bringing up Lily would somehow intimidate me.
Five years.
He's always been like this.
A total mama's boy—still a man-child, completely wrapped around his mom's finger.
"Answer it," I said, my voice flat.
"Let her come over."
Miles froze.
He never expected me to react like this.
In his playbook, Lily would step in, I'd get scared, give in, and smooth things over.
Just like every argument we've ever had.
Too bad for him, that playbook is ancient history now.
The phone kept blaring, refusing to give up.
Miles gritted his teeth, picked up the call, and switched it to speaker.
He wanted me to hear Lily's rage firsthand.
"Miles! What is going on with your wife? She called me at the crack of dawn, saying you two are getting divorced! Has she lost her mind?"
Her shrill tone stabbed right through my eardrums.
"Mom, chill. Claire's just being a little dramatic, I—" Miles tried to explain.
But I cut him off before he could finish.
"I'm not being dramatic."
I walked over to the phone, leaned in, and spoke slowly and clearly.
"Lily, I'm the one asking for a divorce. I'm just informing you—this is procedure, not a request for your opinion."
There was a long silence on the other end.
Lily was probably stunned by how tough I was.
After a few seconds, she raised her voice.
"Claire! What kind of attitude is that? Listen up—divorce isn't a thing in the Jordan family! Don't even think about it!"
"You don't get to decide that."
I hung up without another word.
The whole living room was dead silent.
Miles stared at me in disbelief, like he was looking at a total stranger.
"Claire, you... you actually hung up on my mom?"
"And why not?"
I snapped back.
"Miles, your mom's your mom—not mine."
"I only ever called her 'Mom' to be polite for you, just to show respect."
"But you know exactly how she's treated me."
"From now on, she gets no respect from me."
After that, I didn't even look at him—I just turned and headed straight for the bedroom.
I opened the closet, pulled out the suitcase I'd prepared ahead of time, and started packing up my things.
I didn't have much.
In these five years, I hardly ever bought anything for myself.
Most of my money went into this home, into Miles and his family.
Miles followed me in, leaning against the doorframe.
"Claire, can we just talk?"