Chapter 5 - Genesis.

I had always been careful, so waking up naked beside my boss that morning, my boss who wasn’t even my type, felt like the beginning of a disaster I wouldn’t survive.

After everything that followed, I convinced myself I could forget him. Forget Vegas. Forget that night ever happened.

Now it was all crashing back.

I wanted this over with as quickly as possible, so I got ready in silence, fixing my hair the best I could before joining them downstairs.

I slipped into the passenger seat beside the driver, deliberately ignoring the back door he had held open for me as I walked toward the car.

The drive to the courthouse felt suffocating.

My heart wouldn’t slow down.

I kept staring out the window, trying not to look at him. Trying not to notice the veins in his forearms as he adjusted the sleeves of his shirt, calm and controlled like none of this touched him.

Like I didn’t affect him, like he affected me.

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

Who was I kidding?

Of course he wasn’t affected.

I was probably just another mistake from a drunken night he barely remembered.

The moment the car stopped at the courthouse, I was out before he could even come around to open the door.

“Good day, Mr. Thorne.”

A woman approached us with a polished smile. She was dressed in a fitted corporate suit, her blonde hair sleek and perfect.

I became painfully aware of myself.

Sweatpants. Hoodie. My greasy hair. My bare face.

I looked like I didn’t belong here or anywhere in society.

“Your father informed us you’d be coming,” she continued smoothly. “Everything has been prepared. The judge is currently rounding up another case, you’ll be seen shortly.” She ended, handing him some documents.

“Thank you, Chappelle,” August replied.

Then casually he took her hand and pressed a kiss to it.

She giggled.

Something in me tightened.

The gesture was harmless, probably meaningless to him.

Still, it stung.

I looked away immediately, moving to the far corner of the waiting area, making myself as invisible as possible.

That’s where I belonged after all.

A few women passed by, their eyes lingering on me judging, dismissive.

I ignored them.

Until I made the mistake of looking up.

My gaze locked with August’s.

For a second, everything blurred.

Vegas.

The lights. The laughter. His hands on me. The way I had let go just for one night.

And lost everything.

I was snapped back to reality as a sharp sting exploded across my cheek.

My head snapped to the side, my hand flew to my face as the pain registered.

“You bitch.”

I looked up slowly.

Violet Winslow.

Her eyes burned with fury, her expression twisted with disgust.

“You seduced him, didn’t you?” she spat. “Thought you could sleep your way up?”

Shock pinned me in place more effectively than fear ever could.

I didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

“Violet, stop this. We’re in public.”

August’s voice cut in, calm but firm, as he stepped forward only to be intercepted by his parents.

“August, seriously?” his mother snapped.

But Violet wasn’t done.

Her gaze dragged over me like I was something filthy.

I let out a quiet breath and turned, deciding to remove myself from this drama.

I took a step and pain shot through my scalp as her hand had fisted in my hair, yanking me back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she hissed. “You’re going to stand here and sign those papers, you gold-digging slut.”

Gasps rippled through the small crowd that had begun to gather.

I reached up, trying to pry her fingers loose, but she held tight, stronger than me, towering over me in her heels, she easily overpowered me.

“Are you crazy, let go of my hair,” I said, my voice low but strained.

Whispers spread around us.

Eyes watching.

Judging.

Waiting.

***

The judge was a burly, middle-aged man, his hair completely gray, his glasses resting low on the bridge of his nose as he studied the document in front of him.

“Miss Genesis Michealson… Mr. August Thorne,” he read slowly, adjusting the paper. “Any affiliation to the Thorne family, owners of TAG Motors?”

“Yes, sir,” August answered.

“Hmm. Great vehicles, by the way.” The judge nodded. “So you’re here to annul your marriage.”

August glanced at me.

For a brief second, just a second there was something in his eyes. Uncertainty. Like he was searching for something.

Then it vanished.

“Yes,” he said.

I swallowed, forcing my voice steady. “Yes.”

The judge leaned back slightly, folding his hands.

“I see here that you’ve been married for over two months,” he said. “Why did you wait until now?”

My fingers tightened against each other.

Silence stretched.

He tapped the paper lightly.

“And Las Vegas,” he added, glancing up. “The city of impulsive decisions.”

A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.

“I had a couple in here just two days ago. Got drunk, got married in Vegas, and came running back within forty-eight hours to annul it.”

His gaze shifted back to August.

“But you…” he continued, voice slower now, more deliberate. “You don’t strike me as someone careless.”

The air in the room felt thinner.

Harder to breathe.

“So,” he said, leaning forward slightly, “what exactly is the issue here?”

August cleared his throat.

“We’ve… had our differences.”

The excuse sounded weak even to my own ears, but it was the best I could come up with.

The judge held his gaze for a moment longer than necessary.

Then nodded slowly.

“Mm. I see.”

A pause.

Then-

“I’m afraid an annulment will not be possible.”

“What?”

The word slipped out before I could stop myself, sharp and breathless.

Behind me, I could hear his parents, Violet voices rising, overlapping.

“What do you mean it’s not possible?” Violet snapped, stepping forward. “They just said they want it annulled!”

The judge didn’t look at her.

His gaze remained on us.

Calm. Unmoved.

“Madam, what relation do you have to this case?” he asked.

“I’m his—”

“She’s a friend of the family,” his mother cut in quickly, pulling her back.

“Please behave accordingly,” the judge said flatly, “or leave my courtroom.”

Silence fell again.

Heavy.

“Annulments are not granted simply because two parties change their minds,” he continued evenly, “especially after two months.”

My stomach dropped.

This wasn’t going the way I thought it would.

“So what’s the way forward, Judge Andrews?” August asked.

“A divorce.”

The word landed like a blow.

My breath hitched.

“A divorce?” I repeated under my breath, barely recognizing my own voice.

“And it doesn’t come as easily as you think,” the judge added calmly.

My heart dropped.

What the hell!