I want a divorce.

The next morning, I took up Nathan's breakfast to his study, where he was busy proofreading documents and putting his signatures on them.

He brought his laptop closer, making space for me to drop his meal.

"Nathan," I called softly, "I need to discuss something with you."

"I'm listening," he said, without lifting his head from his documents.

"I want a divorce," I blurted.

"Then get it. How much do you need?"

"Nathan?!"

"I'm listening," he said, looking at me. "Take what you need from the account."

"I'm not buying anything."

"Then, what?"

"I want a divorce."

I knew when my words sank in.

His eyes widened, his gaze unmoving. He opened his mouth, closed it and opened it again.

"You're joking."

"I'm not," I said firmly. "I want out of this marriage.

Nathan threw back his head and laughed. "Stop already, Ariella. We both know you can't survive without me. Where would you even live? Heck, can you even afford a lawyer?"

I swallowed, he wasn't lying. "That's why I'm asking that we solve this amicably," I said softly.

Nathan stared at me for a while, not saying a word.

"Is this about the steward issue? We can work around it, if you want."

"It's not that. I..I'm tired and i...I just want out."

"Are you angry at something I did?"

The old Nathan wouldn't have asked this, he would have figured it out. Heck, the Nathan I knew wasn't this cold.

"Wait, is it because of Jennifer? You're jealous?"

"Nathan! No, I'm just not doing this with you anymore," I blurted.

Silence.

"No," Nathan declared. "I'm not agreeing to a divorce." "When you're ready to let me know what exactly you want, I'll listen. If not, excuse me."

I remained rooted to the spot, calmly staring at him.

It was the second time in two days that he'd blatantly refused me. 

"If that's all, you can use the door. I'll let you know when you're needed," Nathan dismissed me.

Quietly I turned around, shutting the door after me.

*********

Nathan left the house with his Bentley, so I took the Porsche sitting in the driveway and drove out of the house.

On the way, I stopped by a fuel station to buy gas. After the car was filled, I handed my card to the attendant and waited for payment approval.

"I'm sorry ma'am. Payment declined," the attendant echoed, handing back my card.

I frowned. "That's not possible, try again."

The attendant took back the card and I patiently waited as she tried again. She shook her head. "Access denied, ma'am."

Confused, I took back the card. There was no way Nathan would—

I stilled, remembering our earlier conversation.

Oh yes, there was every way he could. He must have blocked my access to the joint account.

I chuckled, "My bad," I said to the attendant. "It's an oversight on my part."

Luckily, I had my personal card with me. I didn't touch my last salary before my company's bankruptcy and I had managed to save up a tiny amount in it.

I handed the attendant my card, paid successfully and drove off.

Surprisingly, I arrived at my friend's office in a better mood. It was all the assurance I needed to know that I was on the right track.

"Ari! You made it," Linda said with surprise, hugging me again.

"I told you I would."

Linda pulled back, studying my face. "Have you thought about this though?"

"Affirmative, and I'm not making a mistake," I told her.

"Go girll, I love the confidence," she scanned me from head to toe and nodded. "You look good to me though, you have this glow around you."

"Stop, don't pull my legs."

We both burst into laughter.

"I should thank you for that perfume again, a lot of people were so jealous of it," I told her.

Melinda arched a brow. "By a lot of people, you mean?.."

"My husband's family and yep Jennifer."

Her eyes widened, "you met the bitch? So fast?"

"They all had lunch at my place yesterday."

It seemed impossible, but Melinda's eyes widened even further. "All of them. What, how did you cope?"

I shrugged.

Her breath came out in a whoosh. "Nathan is so unbelievable."

"You don't even know half of it," I muttered. "Draw up the divorce paper Lin, I'm ready to sign it."

"I've done that," she said, pulling out a sheaf of papers from her drawer. "I only wanted you to be sure before I brought it out."

"I am certain, babes."

She nodded. "The divorce process will take one month to finalize. Y'know paperworks and all. You will need to sign here," she said, taking out one of the papers and pointing to a small section below for me to sign.

I put in my signature, and she brought out another from the sheaf. "Nathan would have to sign here."

My eyes widened. "Is that really necessary?"

"It's not just necessary, it's mandatory," she informed.

I breathed deeply and her gaze softened. "Is that a problem?"

I squared my shoulders. "Not at all. What's my bill?"

"For a quick process in one month, it's ten thousand dollars."

I whistled. "Now there's the problem."

Melinda arched her brow, "how can that be a problem for you?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I'm..I'm a bit broke, babes," I confessed.

Her brow furrowed into a frown. "What about the joint account?"

"He blocked my access."

Melinda reared back, incredulous. "No way. Really Ariella, I think you're too soft for him. Give him a bit of craziness and he'd be taught a lesson."

"It's fine. Uhm, can I pay half? I have almost five thousand dollars in my account. I'll pay the other half before the month ends, I promise."

"Take as much time as you need. I think you should pay three thousand and keep the two thousand for whatever needs emergency funding," she said.

"You can always pay me back at your convenience," she added when I opened my mouth to object. "Know that I'm always here for you, Ariella.

Clogged with emotion, I mumbled my thanks. Scared that I would burst into tears if she tried to be any nicer, I excused myself of using her washroom.

"Lin, you have to tell me the brand of air freshener that you..." I trailed off at the image displayed on the screen Linda was focused on watching.

Melinda raised a hand for silence, tuning up the volume.

*"Popular model and philanthropist, Jennifer Rowling back to the states after three years of studying abroad. Tell me how you feel about returning?" The interviewer thrust a mic before her mouth.

"It's refreshing. I'm a degree hotter, so it's promising. Can't wait for all I will do with my new knowledge and degree," Jennifer drawled.

I rolled my eye. "Degree my ass," I mumbled.

The interviewer forged on. "We saw your post yesterday with the CEO of Evans group of companies. I'm curious, how did you both maintain your friendship with both of your busy schedule and with his being married?"

Jennifer paused before recovering almost immediately. "Our friendship is nothing like the average one you're used to, it has been built on trust over the years. Yesterday, I had lunch at his house, and it's an example of not letting work interfere with our friendship."

"That's just great." The interviewer lit up excitedly. "Is that to say you saw his wife?"

When Jennifer nodded, she forged on, "there have been rumors that these two are not on good terms. What can you say about that?'

"Ahh, actually, erm..." Jennifer stuttered. "As much as it's their story to tell, I'll just let you know that truly there's a bit of misunderstanding between them. But what's marriage without ups and downs."

My fingers curled into fists by my side.

"The jealous bitch,"Melinda burst out, putting off the TV. "How isn't anyone seeing through her disgustingly fake sweetness?"

"She is so mean," I whispered.

But it is okay, one month, and I'll be free as a bird. One month and her bullying would stop. I couldn't wait.