Chapter 3

Nathan fell silent.

After a long pause, he glanced at me, looking torn. But even then, he couldn't bring himself to answer Camille directly.

"Camille, you've got it wrong. There's nothing between Natalie and me. I just felt sorry for her and tried to comfort her."

The ringing in my ears grew so loud that everything else seemed to fade away.

I stared at the man in front of me and almost laughed. We'd been married for three years. I'd lost our baby. I'd kept our home running and done everything I could for his parents.

And Nathan? He'd been taking another woman to see the ocean. Even now, he couldn't bring himself to admit that I was his wife.

That was the moment I finally gave up on him.

Camille and Esther kept arguing, but I could barely hear them anymore. It wasn't until Esther pulled me away that I finally snapped out of it.

"Esther, you don't have to come with me. Go back. I need to find a lawyer and talk to my husband about the divorce."

Esther nodded and pulled me into a worried hug. "Okay. Just be careful driving. Don't let anything Camille said get to you. She's nuts.

"She finally snagged herself a rich guy, and apparently bragging about him all through lunch wasn't enough. Now she thinks every woman around him is trying to steal him. Just ignore her."

I managed a faint smile, then got in my car and drove away.

The scenery blurred past outside my window. I thought I'd cry, but my eyes stayed dry. Maybe after two years of barely speaking to Nathan, I'd already cried every tear I had left.

By the time I got home, my lawyer, Mr. Powell, was already waiting for me.

We had just finished drawing up the divorce papers when Nathan came rushing through the door. For a second, I just stared at him. I hadn't expected him to come home.

Then I gestured toward the couch. "Sit down. This is the first time in six months you've actually chosen to come home. Since my lawyer's already here, we might as well talk about the divorce."

Nathan's face darkened. He ignored me and strode over to the coffee table, staring down at the divorce papers. Then he snatched them up and ripped them to shreds.

Mr. Powell shot to his feet. "Mr. Holt, what are you—"

"Let him," I cut him off.

I waited until Nathan was finished, then looked at him, exhausted. "What exactly do you want?"

My cold reaction seemed to get to him. He stepped forward and grabbed my hand.

"I don't want a divorce. Natalie, just hear me out. Camille and I aren't together. Nothing ever happened between us. I never told her I liked her or anything like that.

"I've always thought of her as a younger sister. I was just helping with her tuition. She's the one who got the wrong idea!"

I let out a bitter laugh and pulled my hand free. "Then why didn't you say that when I asked you today?"

Nathan had no answer.

He hesitated before finally saying, "Her roommates were right there. I didn't want to embarrass her in front of them. Natalie, you have to believe me. I was planning to explain everything to her once she started college. I really don't want a divorce!"

Nathan looked anxious. I reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and held it out to him.

"Camille moved into her dorm today. Call her right now, in front of me, and tell her the truth. Do that, and I won't divorce you."

Nathan didn't take the phone.

After a few seconds, I unlocked it myself and opened his messages. Camille's chat was pinned right at the top. He had her saved as "My Cami."

I stared at the name for two seconds, then hit the call button.

She picked up almost immediately, her voice playful. "Nathan? You just left. Why are you calling me again already? Miss me? Then marry me! You always say I'm too young, but I'm in college now.

"I'm 20. I'm not a kid anymore. Nathan? Why aren't you saying anything? Hello? Hello?"

Nathan stayed silent.

After a moment, Camille muttered, "Did he forget to lock his phone and accidentally call me?"

Then she hung up.

Nathan hadn't said a word the entire time.

I gave a bitter smile and shook my head before tucking the phone back into his pocket. My gaze dropped to the shredded divorce papers scattered across the floor.

"Nathan, I gave you a chance. If you won't agree to a divorce, I'll file for one. Either way, this marriage is ending."

I picked up my bag and turned to Mr. Powell. "Mr. Powell, I brought everything we need. Let's go file the petition."

Nathan moved to stop me, but my phone rang before he could.

It was Alicia.

The second I answered, shouting erupted on the other end.

"Natalie, come back! Esther and Camille are fighting!"