第3章

The day we'd agreed to finalize the divorce, I was just about to head out.

I opened the door to find Derek standing there with his parents, Richard and Patricia Lawson.

I looked at Derek, puzzled. His face was dark.

Understanding at once, I stepped aside and let them in.

Patricia sat across from me, her expression eager to please.

"Claire, whatever Derek did to upset you, I'll set him straight.

"You know how couples are. You fight, you make up. Don't do anything rash.

"Divorce isn't something to take lightly. You need to..."

Derek finally broke. He stepped in front of me.

"Don't bother asking. It's me.

"I fell in love with someone else."

Richard shot to his feet and slapped Derek hard across the face.

"What do you mean, fell in love with someone else!

"I was against this marriage from the start, and look what happened!

"You threatened to jump off the roof, swore she was your true love, and now she's suddenly not!"

Derek stood his ground in front of me, voice unwavering.

"Vivian and I are alike. We share the same habits, the same passion.

"Meeting her made me realize that being with Claire was a mistake from the very beginning!

"I want to fix that mistake. Is that really so wrong!"

Silence filled the room.

I looked at Richard. My voice was quiet.

"It seems you were right after all."

The truth was, Derek's parents had never approved of our marriage.

They'd minded that I was an orphan. They'd minded that I didn't come from money.

But Derek had locked himself in his room. Refused to eat. Refused to drink.

I was the only one who could get him to open the door.

Looking at his pale face, his gaunt frame, I'd forced myself to break things off.

He'd held me, eyes red and full of tears.

"All I want is to spend my life with you. Please don't leave me."

His parents had given in.

On the morning of our wedding, Richard came to the bridal suite alone.

"I agreed to let you marry Derek, but I don't think this will last.

"Your backgrounds, your experiences, your personalities. You and Derek are nothing alike."

Back then, I'd been brimming with confidence, certain that love could conquer anything.

I gathered the hem of my gown, straightened my spine, and walked up to him.

"I'll prove it to you. Derek and I were made for each other."

When we exchanged rings, Derek held me close and shouted for the whole room to hear.

"Claire, you are the one great love of my life!"

I looked at his glistening eyes and nodded, hard.

I would work at this.

I would prove to everyone how perfect we were together.

I quit my job without looking back and started my own company.

To get the company off the ground, I drank with clients until a bleeding ulcer put me in the hospital. I revised proposals until three in the morning.

To make sure Derek never felt neglected, every spare moment I had went to him.

I went on dates with him. I helped him sort out problems at the school.

To win over his parents, every single holiday, without fail, I showed up at their door with gifts and kept them company.

Three years of that, and the company finally found its footing.

His parents finally accepted me. They even started telling Derek to treat me well.

I bought a bigger house in the heart of the city.

I thought Derek and I were about to walk hand in hand through the rest of our perfect life.

Then, at the coffee shop we visited every weekend, he sat me down.

He flung the divorce papers in my face.

Derek turned to look at me.

Unease flickered in his eyes.

"Claire, that's not what I meant, I..."

The doorbell chimed.