in Between Realms

I looked up at him.

“The seventh divorce ceremony, right?”

“Go on.”

"Go on?"

Damon's careless smile froze, then slowly faded.

"Evelyn, are you serious?"

My gaze moved past him to the words glowing on the stage.

[Let's Get Divorced.]

Seven years.

So many times, I had imagined him standing in a chapel and telling the world I was his wife.

But in the end, what I got was not a wedding.

It was seven ridiculous divorce ceremonies.

The first time, he had the screen flash those same words halfway through our vows.

Let's get divorced.

I cried so hard I could not speak.

He held me for a long time, telling me it was only a joke, telling me it would never happen again.

Then came the second time.

The third.

And now this.

Every time, he promised it would be the last.

Every time, Selene said she wanted to watch, and I became the price Damon paid for what he owed her.

Suddenly, it all felt pointless.

"Yes," I said. "I'm serious."

"We'll finish the ceremony, just like you wanted."

Damon's expression darkened completely.

After a few seconds, he smiled coldly.

"Fine."

"Then let's finish it."

The people who had been enjoying the spectacle slowly went quiet.

Someone muttered,

"Did they really take it too far? She was fine the last few times."

Another woman gave an ugly little laugh.

"Where could she go?"

"Everyone knows she's been with Damon for years and can't even say where her family is."

"Without Damon, what does she think she is?"

I lifted my eyes to her.

She fell silent at once.

That was when Selene stepped forward, her eyes reddened right on cue.

"Evelyn, don't be angry. I'm sorry, I..."

"What are you apologizing for?"

Damon cut her off, anger in his voice, and pulled her behind him.

I looked at him.

He stood in front of Selene as if I were the one bullying everyone.

"What are you waiting for?" he said coldly.

"Continue."

The host went up to the stage with a stiff face.

"Miss Evelyn, do you willingly end your relationship with Mr. Damon and from this day forward go your separate ways, without regret or entanglement?"

The place was absurd.

The setup was ridiculous.

Even the vows sounded like a joke.

Something pressed hard against my chest.

A sudden wave of nausea rose into my throat.

I pressed my lips together and forced it down, thinking it was only the humiliation turning my stomach.

Still, I said,

"I do."

The second the words left my mouth, Damon swept the champagne tower off the table.

Glass shattered across the floor.

His expression darkened.

"Evelyn, you've gone too far."

I suddenly felt exhausted.

"Wasn't this what you arranged?"

"I only followed the script. How is that going too far?"

For once, he had nothing to say.

In the end, he took Selene by the hand and walked away.

When I stepped out of the hall, rain was pouring.

A black car stopped at the foot of the steps. Selene sat in the back seat, looking apologetic.

"Evelyn, why don't you come with us?"

I looked past her.

Damon did not even lift his head.

His voice was cold.

"Drive."

The tires rolled through a puddle, splashing icy, muddy water across my wedding dress.

A hotel attendant brought me an umbrella and quietly asked whether I needed a car.

I nodded.

On the way back to the estate, I texted my father first.

[Father, I've decided to come home.]

[I'll return to the Hale family in three days.]

His reply came almost immediately.

[That's wonderful, Evelyn.]

[You've finally made up your mind.]

[I'll have everything ready for you.]

I turned off the screen.

This time, I would not wait for Damon to turn back.