第4章

A beat passed before Liam asked in disbelief.

"...What did you say?"

I said it again.

"I said I want a divorce."

He finally took me seriously.

"Babe, don't joke about something like that."

"I'm not joking."

"I'm not signing divorce papers."

I frowned.

"What makes you think you get a say?"

He paused, dodging my question.

"Just hang in there a little longer. Once this dies down, things can go back to the way they were."

"We've been married for three years. You can't just walk away."

"Without you, I never would have made it this far. I can't lose you."

Liam's voice was full of grief, but my chest hurt more.

I made one last demand.

"Then let me tell the truth."

He refused.

"No. Absolutely not."

"I can't let anyone find out I'm not Noah. This is for our future too."

"In a few days, I'll put that penthouse downtown in your name. Then we'll finally have a home."

"Babe, just do what I'm asking and trust me. I'll handle everything."

He hung up before I could argue.

I sat on the couch in a daze, not knowing what to do.

Liam must have had someone monitoring me, making sure I had no way to fight back online.

And the relentless harassment meant I couldn't even put my SIM card back in, let alone reach out to anyone for help.

In the home I'd lived in for three years, I'd become an island no one cared about.

I waited at home for three days. Liam never came. Chloe did.

She walked in with two bodyguards, glancing around the small apartment in disgust.

"So you're Iris. Pretty face, I'll give you that. Too bad this dump is all you can afford."

I watched her warily.

"What are you doing here, Chloe?"

She sat at the dining table and propped her feet up. A dirty footprint appeared on the tablecloth I'd kept spotless.

"I came to see you. I wanted to know what kind of husband-stealer could make Noah hide her from me."

"Well, you've seen me. You can go now."

Chloe just smiled.

"I've already called Noah. There are some things you need to see for yourself to get rid of your little fantasy."

I didn't know what she was planning, but unease crept over me.

When Liam walked in, his expression was dark.

"Lia..."

"Chloe, what are you doing here?"

He didn't look at me. He went straight to Chloe.

"What, I'm not allowed to come?"

Chloe stood up and looked down at me.

"Noah, today you choose. Me or her. Pick me, and I'll let everything slide. Pick her, and we're done."

She turned to leave, certain of the outcome.

Liam hurried after her.

"Chloe, I don't want to end our engagement."

He chose Chloe. He didn't even hesitate.

I couldn't stop myself from stepping forward and grabbing his sleeve.

"Liam, I..."

He wrenched his arm free, and I fell hard to the floor.

When he saw me fall, panic and regret flashed in his eyes, but in the end, his gaze went cold.

"Don't call me that. I'm Noah."

I sat on the floor, watching them walk away.

He didn't look back.

My Liam was never coming back.

Chloe's footprint was still on the tablecloth. I braced myself against the wall, got to my feet, and wiped the mark away with a tissue.

But the stain wouldn't come out, and I had no more tears left.

I set down the tissue, pulled out the divorce papers I'd already prepared, and laid them over the stain.

It's okay, I told myself, over and over. This is all going to be over soon.

The door clicked shut behind me, and I headed to the airport with my suitcase.