Chapter 2

"Who were you talking to?" Chad's voice cut through the quiet.

Still standing in the kitchen, Amelia snapped back to reality. "No one," she said evenly.

That night, with Chad's soft breathing beside her, Amelia lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Sleep felt impossibly far away.

...

The next morning, Chad frowned at the breakfast spread. "You know I don't eat this kind of stuff in the morning. Why'd you make it?"

Amelia kept her eyes on her plate, cutting into a piece of steak. "It's all we've got left in the fridge."

That was a lie. The fridge was full. She'd made this on purpose, prepping herself for the kind of food she'd be eating after she left.

Chad didn't push it. Instead, he set his phone on the table, glancing at it every few seconds like he was waiting for something—or someone.

When it buzzed, he grabbed it, his face lighting up with a rare smile. She didn't need to guess who it was.

Amelia watched him quietly for a moment, then pulled out the divorce papers. She'd been waiting for this day since she signed the contract. Freedom was so close, she could taste it.

"Chad, let's get a divorce," she said, her voice steady, like she was asking about the weather.

"Mm," he muttered, not looking up, his thumbs flying over his phone.

Yeah, she'd expected that. Five years of this—his indifference had been a constant. And now, with Irina back? She didn't even rate as a distraction.

She slid the papers across the table, along with a pen, tapping the signature line. "Sign here."

"Mm." He grabbed the pen and scribbled his name, still glued to his phone.

Amelia tucked the papers away. "I'll be out after the one-month cooling-off period."

"Mm." He stood, already moving toward the door like she wasn't even there.

That was it. She couldn't hold back anymore. "Chad, do you even know what I just said?"

He stopped, turning with a blank look. "Uh, something about donating supplies to the orphanage? That's what I just signed, right? You mentioned it last week."

Amelia let out a bitter laugh. The donation contract? That was last month. Of course, he hadn't listened. He never did.

But it didn't matter. Not anymore.

She was done.

Go ahead, Chad. Be with Irina.

Forcing a small, practiced smile, she said, "It's nothing."

...

That afternoon, Amelia followed the truck carrying the donated supplies to the orphanage.

After helping unload everything, she went to the office of Ms. Doherty, the head of the orphanage. "I'm leaving to study abroad," she said.

Ms. Doherty's face lit up. Amelia had always been one of the brightest art students, and giving up her scholarship all those years ago had been a regret Ms. Doherty never let go of. "That's amazing, Amelia!" Ms. Doherty squeezed her hand, beaming, but her smile faded. "But won't this mean you and Chad will be apart? Long-distance relationships are so tough."

Amelia glanced out the window at the kids playing outside, her expression steady. "It's not long-distance. Chad and I are divorced."

Ms. Doherty froze, then let out a heavy sigh. "I had a feeling this would happen. If he really cared about you, he wouldn't have gone all these years without coming here even once. It's better this way."

She pulled Amelia into a warm hug, patting her back gently.

Amelia smiled faintly, leaning into the embrace. Yeah, it really was better this way.