Chapter 11

Hera was just a soon-to-be ex-wife who no longer mattered to me. I should not care how she felt. I should not let anything she did stir my emotions.

To me, Hera was a stranger. I had finally moved on from that failed marriage.

I celebrated with my teammates, our joy overflowing. They were happy to be reunited with their families. I was happy to be free—finally on a path toward a better future.

Afterward, we returned to work. There was still some clean-up to do, and everyone wanted to do right by those who had fallen. Even if this meant we would have to work into the night, it would still be worth it.

The work lasted until four in the morning. At that moment, the wildfire was officially contained.

Tears of joy welled up in everyone's eyes. They had survived, and tomorrow promised a fresh start.

That was true for me as well. But some of my tears were for my failed marriage.

Fatigue weighed on us after days of hard labor, yet the thought of going home at dawn kept us restless. Albert had to order us back into our tents to rest.

When morning came, we climbed into the truck. Albert decided to send us directly home instead of returning to the station. It was a well-received choice.

Many teammates rushed into the arms of their wives and children, caring little about their disheveled appearances. Some called friends and parents as soon as they got home.

The house Hera and I had shared was nearby. It was the first one along the way, but I said nothing and passed it by.

The truck eventually returned to the station. Those with farther homes got out immediately and headed to their cars, eager to go home. I was the only one who remained slow and detached.

Albert noticed it. "Grimwald."

"Yes, sir?"

"Where's your home? I think it was somewhere along this route."

"Nah, you're wrong. My house is over there," I lied, pointing in the opposite direction.

Albert shook his head. "Damn, I'm getting old. Alright. Go home, kid. You've earned it."

"You too, Captain Holst."

I washed my face at the dorm and changed into fresh, clean clothes. Then I grabbed my suitcase.

I wasn't ready to tell my colleagues about the divorce.

'Not yet,' I told myself.

Still, that meant I couldn't stay at the station's dorm.

Standing at the entrance, I watched the streets. I knew these places well, yet at that moment, I felt like a lost stranger.

I hadn't made as much money as Hera over the years, but I had some savings. The problem was that I had spent it all on our home. Since we were not legally separated, much of my money remained tied up in our joint account.

I didn't have much left for myself.

"I guess I'll have to stay at a hotel for a while," I muttered. "Once the legal process finishes, I'll at least get some of my money back. Then... we'll see."

Just as I turned to leave, an angry voice thundered, "Sebastian Grimwald!"

I spun around and froze.

Hera?

"Why are you here?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

"Why can't I be here? Or are you scared to see me?" she shouted, storming toward me after stepping out of her luxury car.

"Why would I be scared?" I shot back.

"Because you think you can fool me with your pathetic little drama. You lied to me. And as an Awakenist, I hate lies!" she snarled. "So, are you going to admit your fault or not?"

Me? Admit fault? She still acted as if I was the one to blame.

"Excuse me? What exactly did I do wrong? And when did I lie to you?"

As far as I remembered, Hera was a busy woman. Between work, helping at the monastery, and taking care of Edmund and Bobby, where did she find time to waste on someone as insignificant as me?

"Do you really need me to remind you? That farewell letter! Everything you wrote in it was a lie! And don't think I don't know! You only just got back. Which means you were at the campsite last night. So tell me, did you actually miss me while you were working, or were you just avoiding me?" she snapped.

She smirked after every question, her contempt sharp as glass. "You thought threatening me with your death would work, didn't you? You figured I'd panic, give up on Bobby, and come crawling back. That's what you wanted, isn't it?

"Well, you're dead wrong. You know I have the means to find you, wherever you go. You know I can catch you in any lie. Trying to pull this stunt? Pathetic."

Hera's fury kept building. She had forced herself to smile and keep things light for Bobby and Edmund the night before, but Sebastian's absence had been gnawing at her. The night had dragged on with no word from him.

She had barely waited for daylight. The moment morning came, she rushed to her office, her heart pounding as Morgan relayed what he had found.

When he told her Sebastian wasn't among the dead, she felt the tension break—only to be consumed by rage. If he was alive, why hadn't he answered her calls? Why hadn't he called her back? There were plenty of other firefighters on duty. He had to have had a chance to charge his phone and contact her.

That was when she decided he had lied. And she was furious. How dare he use something so low and manipulative to put her through this? Was this his way of responding to Bobby's request not to come home for a few days? Had Sebastian really orchestrated this entire melodrama just to push her into making a choice?

"Are you done yapping, Hera? If so, you can go now," I said flatly. "I didn't lie in that letter. Every word was sincere… but you can twist it however you like. I honestly don't care what you think of me. Now, would you please move? You're in my way."

Watching the so-called Saintess throw a tantrum made me want to laugh. It was like she still believed we were actually married.