Chapter 5: The Signing

*Elena's POV*

I signed myself out of the hospital against medical advice. Michael argued the entire way to the car, but I wasn't listening. I needed to get this done today before I lost it.

Damian was in his study by the time I got home, like usual, but this time, Rosalie was resting on his legs with her hair splayed over his chest, and I felt Michael tense behind as if the scene shocked him.

I knew that telling him wouldn't make him believe it; he had to see for himself who his childhood friends really were. He didn't believe that Rosalie would be going too far with Damian, but now he was seeing how far she would go.

“Are you here to finally sign the divorce papers and stop throwing a fit because I have new fabricated documents that will be leaked to the press in an hour?”

Damian hadn't looked up; neither had Rosalie, who was stroking his chest lightly.

“You'll be behind bars before the sun sets today. And you'll be gone for a really long time, Elena. I hope you choose wisely.”

“Babe…” Rosalie's voice was soft. “Why bother about giving her an hour? You know she wouldn't do it—”

“Actually, I'm here to sign the papers. That's why I came.” My voice was also soft but firm, and the look of shock on their faces was evident when they both looked up at once, with Damian's glass of whiskey shattering on the tiles.

Their eyes darted behind me, and they were in for another surprise as they saw Michael behind me.

Rosalie rose from Damian's body a little too fast, and she almost stumbled if Damian hadn't caught her by the waist.

“Michael. What a surprise. I didn't know you were making house calls.” She was a little winded, and her cheeks were painted pink as if she was embarrassed or blushing at the sight of him.

“I'm not here for you,” Michael said flatly, and his eyes were trained on his best friend.

“Elena.” Damian didn't look fazed, and he turned his attention to me before he poured out another glass of whiskey. “You brought my best friend to our divorce?”

“Yes, and no,” I told him calmly. “Rosalie would have been a fine witness on her own, but I'm here to have this finished up once and for all. To spare each side of any more emotional torture.”

Damian scoffed and gently lifted Rosalie from his legs before he downed the glass of whiskey and rose to his feet.

“What do you want in return, huh? My company? You'd rather die than—”

“Bring out the papers and stop talking already, Damian.” My voice was so calm and cold that I felt the entire room drop in temperature, and even Damian froze in his tracks.

“You're serious…” He stared at me with an expression I couldn't decipher, and if I were still the delusional woman that I was three years ago, I would have lied to myself that his gaze had softened.

“Yes.” I nodded and moved towards his study table, where I knew the divorce papers were inside a particular drawer.

I took it out and placed it on the table, fishing out for a pen.

“What do you want in return, Elena?” His eyes hardened when he stepped in front of me. “I don't believe you will sign these papers without an ulterior motive. Knowing the type of person you are—”

“There are no negotiations, Damian. I don't want anything from you, and the only thing you want from me is my signature on this paper. And that is precisely what I'm going to give you.”

I was past caring about a man who wasn't concerned about my life nor the life of his child, all because of some cooked-up story he had in his head.

Damian set his whiskey down. “No conditions?”

“None.”

“No demands for alimony? No, half of the company?”

“I don't want your money.” I stepped forward and laid the papers on his desk. “I don't want your company. I never wanted either of those things.”

“Then what did you want? To just destroy my life for fun?”

I didn't bother answering him as I signed the papers.

“There… You get your company, you get your freedom from me, and you get to keep her. I hope it was worth it.”

“Elena.” Michael's voice was quiet, and that was when I remembered that he was also here with me. “We should go.”

I nodded and gave Damian one final look before I turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Damian's voice stopped me cold. I looked back, and his gaze was locked onto his best friend.

“You're leaving with him?”

“What does it matter who I leave with?”

“Michael's my best friend.”

“Okay? And you're my soon-to-be ex-husband. You don't get to dictate my choices anymore.”

Damian's jaw ticked. “Michael, what the hell is this? You've been seeing my wife behind my back?”

“Let's get one thing straight.” Michael stepped forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me.

“I found her bleeding and unconscious at the bottom of your stairs because you couldn't be bothered to call an ambulance. I sat beside her hospital bed while you were here with Rosalie. So no, I haven't been seeing your wife behind your back.”

He sighed and pinched the space between his eyebrows. “Man, I don't know what to say to either you or Rosalie right now, and I would rather not say anything because I couldn't believe you would do this.”

Damian scoffed. “That's because she looks and behaves like an angel now. It would be only a matter of time before she sinks her claws in you and makes you miserable like me.”

“Look at her, Damian.” Michael stepped aside and pointed at me, and Damian's eyes were on me now.

“How does she look, Damian? This isn't the bright woman we grew up with,” Michael said quietly. “This is what's left of her. After five years with you.”

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. I wasn't expecting how deeply it touched my heart that I couldn't hold myself back, and I hated that Damian saw it.

“They are not worth it, Michael,” I said slowly, giving Damian and Rosalie one last look. “Let's just go.”