My 1000th Attempt Worked

The room exploded with laughter."Mark, let's bet—how long till she crawls back?""I'm calling it now—Jenna's in your bed tonight, crying to make up!""I'm in. Her mom sucks up three grand a day—without you, she couldn't even afford a cremation!"The escort flashed a ring in my face, all sugary sweet. "I'm broke, but I'll toss in fifty—she's not getting that divorce."I stared at the ring... then laughed.Pathetic.Ten years ago, he promised my dad he'd take care of me. Now he's sliding our wedding ring onto some escort just to make me a punchline.I laughed again, soft and bitter.God, I was pathetic too—for letting him wreck me this long."I already signed the divorce papers. You just need to sign them too."I'd said "divorce" 999 times.This was the first time I meant it—with actual papers.I slipped off the ring, dropped it on top, and held them out.His face froze. Like he couldn't believe it.The shadow he used to drag around was walking away.Then he smirked and

"I'm just here to grab my stuff. After that, I'm out. And when you two tie the knot? Don't bother telling me."I turned and headed to my old room.Dad spat behind me, "Ungrateful brat. What the hell do you think you're taking? Or did you crawl back for your mom?"My stomach dropped.The urn I kept by my bed—gone.I whipped around. He was holding it.My blood iced. I lunged. "Give it back. That's Mom's. You don't get to touch—"Crash.Ashes burst across the floor like smoke.Dad roared, "I don't get to touch it? You dare talk to me like that?!"Something inside me cracked.I shoved him hard. "She was your wife—YOUR wife for decades! Do you even have a soul?!"That set him off.He snatched a beer bottle and slammed it into my forehead.Another sharp crack.Blood poured down my face, soaking my shirt.Fiona screamed, "Patrick, stop! You're gonna kill her!"I blinked through the blur, looked up at him.He just stared—zero shame. Like he was enjoying it.Then he pulled ou

Guess that struck a nerve. Her whole expression snapped."The one who's not loved? That's the side piece," she hissed. "Doesn't matter if you're his wife—you're just the extra."I was about to clap back.Then she glanced past me, grabbed my arm, and threw herself to the floor.Her glass shattered, slicing her hand deep. Blood everywhere.Mark burst in like some knight in shining armor. "Who hurt her?!"He scooped her up and turned on me with a death glare."Guess that'd be me," I said flat.Renee burst into tears, locking eyes with me. "It's... It's my fault. I fell for someone I shouldn't have. Jenna's right, I'm a homewrecker... She didn't do anything."Mark lost it. "Jenna Jensen, you've gone too far. You want a divorce but now you're attacking and humiliating my friend?"He held Renee like she'd break in his arms. Right before storming off, he hit me with one last ice-cold look. "Tomorrow's the final day for your mom's payments. If you don't want her thrown out of the hos

Renee wiped her tears and forced a shaky smile."It's okay. I know how this goes. Jenna throws a fit, you forgive her, and everything goes back to normal."Before Mark could respond, Ariana stepped up."Wait—did you say Renee saved you after the crash? I was on duty that night. Jenna carried you down that whole twisting road. She collapsed at the hospital doors. Got discharged after you."Mark whipped around to Renee, stunned.She looked anywhere but at him. "I—I just helped the nurse when I saw you both faint..."He stopped listening.Everything he believed? Dead wrong.He stood up fast, dialing Jenna over and over.Each call: No connection.Something clenched in his gut. Full-on panic hit.At that same moment, Jenna's plane landed in Amiraka.She met up with a friend, swapped in a new SIM card, and made a quiet promise to herself—no more family, no more love, none of it.She was done.Time to start over. Lighter. Freer. Brand new.Mark didn't stick around the mansion.

Jenna used to ask, 'If you hate me so much, why'd you marry me?'He'd grab her chin and growl, "You owe me."But the whole thing was a lie.She never owed him a damn thing.Back in college, when they were still in love, they used to dream about the future. He knew her biggest wish—just a happy home with someone she loved.After she left, he felt tossed aside, like she didn't care if he lived or died.That rage? It wrecked his head.He wanted to crush her dream himself.And because he still loved her, he kept bringing girls home, testing her, hurting her.But Jenna? She took it all like it didn't even touch her.So he pushed further.Made her serve those women, eyes locked on her like he was studying a stranger.And yeah, he knew Patrick was trash, but kept feeding his booze and gambling habit anyway.Just so Jenna would need him.Beg him.But even after her mom died, when she had nothing left—she still didn't come back.Mark's voice cracked. "I hated her for walking out