Chapter 3

...

The next morning, Kimberly rose early.

She and Daniel always slept in separate rooms, partly because he hadn't fully accepted her into his life and partly due to his germaphobia, which barred others from his space.

After washing up, she drove to her friend's law firm and shared her situation.

Hannah Mitchell gasped, "So, all your kindness to Daniel was just for the contract?"

Kimberly nodded.

Hannah exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I kept seeing news stories about you and Daniel, and I felt bad for you. Knowing it's a contract eases my mind a bit."

She paused, her gaze searching Kimberly's face. "So, what brings you here today? Need a divorce agreement?"

Kimberly gave a bitter smile. "Daniel and I never got a marriage license. I'm here for a custody waiver for Henry."

Hannah was shocked. "What? Everyone knows you'd die for Henry. You're giving up his custody?"

The rims of Kimberly's eyes reddened, but when she looked up, her voice was steady and resolute. "Just draft it."

Hannah, seeing her resolve, prepared the document quickly and handed it over. Kimberly gripped it tightly and stood to leave.

Hannah, sensing her sadness, called out, "Kimberly, you spent five years trying to warm his heart. From now on, keep that goodness for yourself."

Kimberly turned back and managed a small smile. "I will."

...

It was ten in the morning when she returned home.

The living room was empty, and the breakfast she had made sat untouched on the table. It was already cold.

She reheated the burgers and went upstairs to wake Henry and Daniel, as was her routine. Daniel's rule was to knock first, given his dislike of uninvited entry into his personal space.

She tapped once, and the door opened, revealing Siena in a bathrobe.

Siena stretched lazily, unfazed to see Kimberly standing outside. She muttered, "I just borrowed Daniel's bathroom. Ugh, my back is killing me."

Kimberly's stomach twisted with a mix of anger and betrayal.

Before Siena could provoke her further, Daniel emerged from the bedroom in pajamas. He yawned, "Siena, who is at the door? Henry?"

Kimberly looked inside and saw faint red marks on his neck, a telltale sign of intimacy.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. In five years of marriage, they had barely touched each other. She had assumed he lacked interest in physical intimacy, but clearly, it was just that he didn't want her.

Daniel fidgeted, quickly tugging his collar up to hide the marks. He stammered, "Siena just needed my charger. Don't read into it."

Kimberly scoffed at their lies. They hadn't even aligned their excuses, their deception as transparent as glass.

But instead of calling it out, she simply said that breakfast was ready and headed downstairs alone.

This marriage was a contract, a business arrangement that had long since lost its purpose. Daniel's closeness to others wasn't her concern, not anymore.

Now she only needed to wait it out until she could leave this life behind.

Five minutes later, the three people descended. The tension in the air was thick and heavy.

Henry frowned at the burgers on the table, his nose wrinkling slightly. "Reheated burgers aren't fresh, Mom. I want doughnuts."

Daniel coaxed him, "Your mom already made these, Henry. Let's not waste them. You can have doughnuts tomorrow, okay?"

"No! I want them now!" Henry refused, his voice rising in a tantrum.

Never patient with Henry's outbursts, Daniel started to scold him. But Siena interrupted, her tone sweet and conciliatory. "Kimberly, I hear your doughnuts are amazing. I'd love to try them."

Her eyes flickered with a mix of triumph and challenge.

Daniel's stance shifted instantly, his tone softening as he turned to Kimberly. "Since everyone's craving them, go make some doughnuts."

"I can't." Kimberly focused on her burger, never looking up. "Go ahead and make your doughnuts if you want them so badly. I got up early to make these burgers. Toss them if you don't want them."