Chapter 2

“I want a divorce.”

The words landed slowly… then all at once.

Ava blinked, staring at him as she had misheard. Like maybe the music, the wine, the emotions, something had twisted his words into something they weren’t.

“A divorce?” she repeated, her voice almost hollow. “What… what are you talking about?”

Ethan looked away, his jaw tightening.

“I’m serious.”

Ava shook her head immediately, a breathless laugh escaping her.

“No. No, you’re not serious.” She waved her hand slightly, as if brushing the words away. “This isn’t funny, Ethan. Is this some kind of prank? Because it’s not—”

“It’s not a prank.”

Her words died in her throat.

The silence that followed was heavy. Suffocating.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice trembling now. “Why would you say something like that?”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly like this conversation was exhausting him.

“I know this is coming as a shock to you—”

“A shock?” Ava cut in, her voice rising. “You think?”

“I love you, Ava,” he continued, as if she hadn’t spoken. “But I just… I can’t do this marriage anymore.”

The world tilted.

Ava stared at him, her heart pounding violently against her chest.

“Then why?” she demanded, stepping closer to him. “Why all this? Why bring me here? Why send a driver, plan dinner, and dance with me like everything is fine? I don’t understand what’s going on!”

Ethan looked at her then, something unreadable in his eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s not an answer!”

His expression hardened slightly.

“A lot has been happening,” he said. “With the company. With everything. I just… I need time. Space. And I don’t think what I need right now is a marriage.”

Ava let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking her head.

“What are you saying?”

She took another step closer, her voice breaking now.

“If you have problems, then this is when I’m supposed to be there for you. That’s what marriage is, Ethan. Do you remember our vows?” Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “For better or for worse. I said I would stand by you no matter what. So what are you even saying right now?”

Ethan didn’t respond.

And somehow… that hurt more.

“How do you just wake up one day and decide you want a divorce?” she continued, her voice sharper now, edged with panic. “After six years? Six years, Ethan!”

Her eyes searched his face desperately

“This isn’t real. It can’t be.”

A thought suddenly struck her and her expression changed.

“Or…” she said slowly, her voice dropping, turning colder. “Is it because of my age?”

Ethan frowned immediately. “What?”

Ava laughed bitterly, crossing her arms.

“Yeah. That makes sense, right? I’m turning thirty in a few months.” Her lips curled into a sad smile. “And you’ve always had a thing for younger women.”

Ethan’s expression darkened. “Ava—”

“You married me when I was twenty-three,” she continued, her voice trembling but relentless now. “So what? Am I too old for you now? You found someone younger? Is that it?”

“How can you even say that?” Ethan snapped, his patience finally cracking. “That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it about?” she shot back immediately. “Because right now, you’re not giving me anything to work with!”

He exhaled sharply, running his hands over his face.

“It is not the age thing…” he started, then paused, like he was choosing his words carefully. “Marriage, it’s supposed to be forever. We’re supposed to grow old together.”

“Exactly!” Ava stepped forward, her voice rising again. “So why are you the one trying to walk away from it?”

Silence, heavy crushing silence.

Ava’s chest tightened.

“What do you want me to think, Ethan?” she asked, her voice softer now, but more broken. “What do you want me to believe? Because none of this makes sense.”

He looked at her and then he said the one thing she wasn’t ready for.

“It’s not you.”

Ava’s breath hitched.

“You’re not the problem,” he continued quietly. “You’re… you’re perfect.”

“Then why?” she whispered.

Ethan swallowed hard.

“It’s me.”

Ava shook her head slowly. “No… no, don’t do that. Don’t give me that line. That’s not—”

“I just don’t love you anymore.”

The words cut clean, precise, and final.

Ava froze.

For a moment, everything inside her went completely still.

“No…” she whispered, barely audible. “That’s not true.”

Ethan didn’t respond.

“I don’t believe you,” she said, louder now, shaking her head. “You’re just confused. You’re stressed. You said it yourself, work has been a lot. You’re not thinking straight.”

“Ava—”

“No.” She stepped back, putting distance between them. “No, I’m not accepting this.”

Her hands trembled as she grabbed her clutch.

“You’re overwhelmed. That’s what this is. You’re trying to distract yourself, and now you’re saying things you don’t even mean.”

“That’s not—”

“I’m going home,” she cut in firmly.

Ethan went quiet.

Ava straightened her shoulders, forcing strength into her posture even as her heart shattered inside her chest.

“And you,” she added, her voice sharp now, “you’re going to stay here and think about what you just said.”

She pointed at him, her eyes burning.

“Because I refuse to believe that the man I married would throw away six years like it’s nothing.”

Ethan didn’t move.

Didn’t argue.

Didn’t stop her.

And somehow… that hurt the most.

Ava swallowed hard, blinking back the tears threatening to fall.

“When you’re ready to get your head straight,” she continued, her voice shaking despite her effort to stay strong, “you can come home.”

She turned toward the door, then paused.

“But don’t,” she said without looking back, “don’t even think of coming back to tell me you want a divorce.”

Her grip tightened around her clutch.

“Because I will never agree to it.”

A beat.

“I’m not giving up on this marriage.”

And with that, she walked out.

Leaving behind the man she loved…

and the night that was supposed to remind them why.