Chapter 7

Jessica replied, "Olivia went to warm up some milk for you. She said you just recovered from your gastritis and can't have anything cold. Honestly, where else could you ever find a wife as good as her? I'll go grab two more bottles of wine and rush her along while I'm at it."

Joshua clenched his fists, a sharp ache twisting in his chest.

How many times had Jessica lied to him to be able to pull it off without so much as flinching?

He couldn't stay here a second longer. "I'm tired. I'm heading back."

"Wait, let me get Olivia."

Joshua fixed his gaze on Jessica. "Don't bother. I don't want to spoil her fun."

Reading the look on his face, Jessica felt a prick of guilt. "Let me call you a ride, then."

Before getting into the car, Joshua stole one last glance at his little sister he had raised with his own hands.

Jessica darted her eyes away nervously. "What's wrong, Joshua?"

Without a word, Joshua looked away and pulled the door shut.

The moment he got home, Olivia called. "Why'd you leave without telling me? You just recovered from your gastritis. How could I feel at ease leaving you on your own?"

At the exact same time, a message from Damien popped up on his phone. "Was your first time on this bed too? She said you're way too vanilla and barely knew more than two positions. No wonder she was so starved after spending two days with you. She nearly drained me dry."

Back when they were dating, their age gap had always been a lingering worry for Joshua.

Afraid she was too young and might regret it later, he had held back even in the heat of passion.

He had wanted to leave her a way out.

On their wedding night, with no reason left to restrain himself, he had still put her comfort first. He was gentle with her, cherishing her every moment.

The moment he finally made her his, his eyes welled up with pure bliss. She had wept, too. "Honey, I'm finally yours. I love you more than anything in the world. I promise you'll never regret marrying me."

Yet here he was, overflowing with regret.

Over the line, Olivia called his name a few more times, sounding tentative.

Joshua covered his mouth tightly, choked up so badly he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

"Must be a bad connection. Don't worry, Olivia. I booked the ride myself, and the app says Joshua's home safe." Jessica's voice drifted in from the background.

"Go spend time with Damien. I'll send Joshua a text in a bit."

"Be careful. Don't slip up," Olivia said.

Jessica let out a soft laugh. "Joshua would never suspect me. Besides, he's the one with the problem. How could he have the nerve to stop you from having a baby with someone else?"

"Jessica!" Olivia snapped. "Don't you dare talk about Joshua like that!"

"Fine, fine, I'll shut up."

The call was cut off.

Jessica's message arrived right on schedule. "It's not often Olivia gets to come out, so she said she'd stay with me a bit longer. I'll have her stay over at our place tonight. Don't worry, Joshua. She's in good hands with me."

Then came Olivia's text. "Honey, go to sleep early if you're tired. Jessica just landed her first big deal, so I'm staying up to celebrate with her. Don't wait up for me."

Joshua didn't reply to a single word.

In that instant, the storm of emotions raging inside him suddenly died down into absolute calm.

He wiped the tears from his eyes.

He wasn't going to wait anymore.

People who weren't worth it didn't deserve his time. Not her, and certainly not Jessica.

He got up and went to the bedroom, leaving all the mess behind, and slept peacefully through the night.

On the morning of their wedding anniversary, Olivia prepared a special breakfast for him with love. "Honey, you'll get to see the fireworks I set up for you tonight."

Joshua offered a faint smile, saying nothing.

"I'll head to the office first and catch the show with you tonight."

Just as she stood up, Joshua pulled the pre-signed divorce papers out of the drawer and slid them across the table. "Sign it."