Chapter 2
At 8:50 the next morning, I was already standing outside the courthouse.
The sun was shining bright, casting a warm glow over my shoulders.
I found a spot on the concrete steps and waited.
At nine on the dot, David's car pulled up.
It was the black sedan I had bought for him.
He got out of the driver's seat, his face stormy.
Then the passenger door clicked open.
Olivia climbed out holding one of the twins, while the other was tucked into a car seat in the back.
She actually came, bringing the babies to a divorce proceeding.
Was she here to show off or to make sure the divorce went through?
I couldn't care less.
David strode right up to me.
"Emily, are you for real?" he yelled.
"Did you bring your ID?" I asked simply.
He pulled his driver's license from his briefcase and practically threw it at me, shouting, "Are you happy now? You are throwing everything away out of petty jealousy."
In his twisted mind, staying meant I was sensible, and leaving meant I was obsessed with titles.
He truly believed he had done nothing wrong.
"Let's go inside," I murmured, standing up and dusting off my jeans.
Inside the courthouse, everything moved surprisingly fast.
We signed on the dotted lines, handing over the documents.
The clerk looked at us and then glanced at Olivia waiting outside with the baby. Her eyes held a knowing look.
But she kept her mouth shut and processed the forms like a total professional.
Thirty minutes later, it was done.
In my hands, a divorce decree replaced the marriage certificate.
The five-year marriage was officially over.
As I walked out of the building, the sky somehow looked a little bluer.
David followed me out.
"Fine, I will move out of the house. But the car is in my name, so do not even think about it. And we split the savings down the middle," he barked.
He was already running the numbers.
"Fine," I replied.
I gave a quick nod.
"I want my house keys back by tomorrow, so you better hire movers today. My lawyer will email you the financial split agreement. And keep the car. Consider it a parting gift," I said.
David was stunned, clearly not expecting me to fold so easily.
"You are going to regret this," he mumbled.
"Regret what?" I shot back.
I looked him straight in the eye.
"Regret not seeing what a monster you were from the start?" I sneered.
Olivia walked over, holding the baby in her arms.
She said, "Emily, please stop talking like that. David is-"
"He is my ex-husband now," I corrected her flatly.
Olivia's face went from red to pale.
"Emily, that is enough," David snapped, pulling Olivia behind him protectively. "We are divorced now, so you have no right to speak to her like that."
I nodded calmly. "Fair enough. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."
Then I turned on my heel and walked away.
"Wait," David called out to me again. "What are you going to tell my mom?"
"She's your mom, not mine," I replied. "You can figure out how to explain it yourself."
"I am taking Olivia and the kids back to Willowbrook this weekend," he declared. "My mother has waited so long to become a grandmother. She is going to be thrilled. She will welcome Olivia with open arms."
He sounded so sure of himself, as if delivering a victory speech to me was the only way to convince himself it was true.
"Really?" I said.
I glanced back, looking at him and then at Olivia, whose eyes darted away nervously.
"Then best of luck to you," I uttered.
I didn't stick around.
I hopped in a cab and went straight to the new apartment I had leased.
It was a modest one-bedroom place, but it was bright and spotless.
Everything about it was tailored to my exact taste.
I popped my suitcase open and began organizing my things, placing each item exactly where I wanted it.
My phone buzzed.
It was my lawyer, Paige Gibson.
She said, "Ms. Carter, everything is sorted. The assets under David's name have been frozen, and I sent the settlement agreement to his inbox. If he tries to fight it, we will see him in court."
"Perfect. Thank you," I replied.
I hung up.
My heart felt completely at peace.
*****
Later that night, my real best friend, Jessica Brown, called me.
"Emily, tell me it is true. Did you actually divorce him?" she asked.
"I did," I replied.
Jessica said, "Good for you. Why keep a jerk like that around? You did the right thing.
"I never trusted Olivia. All that fake sisterly affection hid the fact that she's a vicious snake.
"Where are you now? I'll come over and keep you company."
"No need. I'm doing fine," I replied.
"Are you sure?" Jessica asked.
"Yes," I replied, gazing at the warm lights scattered across the city. "I simply feel like the last five years were a complete waste of time."
Jessica stayed quiet for a moment before uttering, "It's alright. You'll bounce back.
"The cheater and the homewrecker deserve each other. Let them make each other miserable.
"Oh, and by the way, I heard David's mom, Margaret Lane, is a total nightmare. If he actually drags his side chick and her illegitimate babies back to his hometown, it's going to be absolute chaos."
"I can't wait to see it," I replied.
After hanging up, I pulled up the text thread with Margaret.
The last message was from a week ago when I asked if she needed me to mail her some winter clothes.
She replied: [No need. Take care of David, and hurry up and give me a grandchild. That's all that matters to me.]
I stared at those words, let out a soft laugh, and hit block. Then I deleted her contact entirely.
From this moment on, they were dead to me.