All Chapters of Would You Divorce Over a Cup of Coffee: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

I was dying from my fear of heights, but my husband, Don Vincent, was busy with his assistant, savoring the latest coffee flown in from Hawaii that morning."You're a grown woman, Bella. What's the big deal? You're stuck on a roof, figure it out."Then he hung up on me.I collapsed onto the hot tar of the roof, my body shaking uncontrollably before everything went black.It was two hours before building security found me.When I got home, I asked Vincent for a divorce.He rubbed his temples, his patience worn thin, looking at me as if I were a child throwing a tantrum."Over a cup of coffee? I told you, the heights are all in your head. You’re perfectly safe now. Stop making a scene alright? What's this nonsense about a divorce? I have more important things to deal with. Calm yourself down."I stared at his back as he left, tears already streaming down my face.Something important?Did he really think I couldn't hear his assistant, Sophia, murmuring in the background?Did he think I di

Chapter 2

"Following you?" I walked toward them, my face calm. "You told me to come pick you up."He seemed to be second-guessing whether he’d actually sent me the text. After all, casually ordering me to do something and then forgetting about it moments later was a common occurrence for him. Sophia was nestled in the booth beside Vincent, poured into a sexy red dress that hugged every perfect curve of her body."Oh, Vincent, I was only teasing. I sent the text.""I wanted to see if Mrs. Salvatore really does everything you say." She batted her eyelashes, looking all innocent.Vincent's face softened immediately. "Sophia, you're such a handful.""But Bella, your timing is perfect. Drive us home."I watched the scene, a storm churning inside me. But on the outside, I was perfectly still."Fine."Vincent looked surprised, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. The old me would have run out crying or stormed over and made a scene."Bella, you..." he started, trying to explain.But I just re

Chapter 3

"Bella, aren't you allergic to lilies? Let's get these flowers into Sophia's office." Anna pointed at the bouquets, pulling me away.Even my co-workers remembered something like that. Had Vincent really forgotten?Sophia loved strong scents. Jasmine perfume, lily bouquets.I remembered when we first got married, Vincent memorized everything I liked. I loved the delicate scent of lily of the valley, and he had them specially ordered and planted all around our villa. I was allergic to lilies, so he'd never let one in the house.Now, he'd even forgotten my allergies."Bella, are you okay?" Anna asked, her voice full of concern."I'm fine." I looked away. "Let's get back to work."I went to my office and started preparing for next month's big exhibition. It was a project I'd been planning for six months, featuring ten up-and-coming artists. The client was one of New York's biggest art investment funds. The deal was worth millions. This exhibition was supposed to be a major milestone in my

Chapter 4

My last day.I was on the balcony, bringing in the laundry, when my wedding ring slipped off my finger."No!"I lunged for it, leaning over the railing, almost falling eighteen stories.A strong hand yanked me back."Are you crazy?!" Vincent pulled me back onto the balcony. "You almost died for a ring?"I looked down. The ring was long gone."It's just a ring," Vincent said, his voice laced with an easy dismissiveness. "It's gone. I'll buy you another one."Just a ring?I looked at his hand. His ring finger was bare."Where's yours?"He instinctively clenched his fist. "It's being repaired.""How long has it been in for repairs?""About a month. The diamond was loose." He avoided my eyes.What a pathetic excuse.A month. The exact same amount of time since he started showing up at family events with Sophia on his arm."Bella, tomorrow is our anniversary," he said suddenly. "Let's have dinner."I looked at him and nodded. "Okay."One last meal. A final end to our story."Seven o'clock.

Chapter 5

On the flight to Seattle, I leaned against the window, staring out into the night.Three years ago, I gave up everything for Vincent.My family’s art business. My life in Seattle.“Come with me,” he’d said. “You're with me now. No one will ever touch you again.”And he did, back then.He’d hold me tight when my fear of heights kicked in.He’d remember every little thing I liked.He’d fly into a rage if anyone so much as looked at me the wrong way.When did it all change?Probably a year after we got married.He started saying things.“Bella, you have nothing without me.”“Your family disowned you. I’m the only one who’ll take care of you.”“So you’d better be grateful. And you’d better listen.”He weaponized my dependence. Took my love for granted.The plane began its descent.Seattle’s lights twinkled outside my window, warm and familiar.I was finally home.Outside the terminal, I spotted my uncle holding a sign.“Uncle Charles!”“Bella!” He wrapped me in a huge hug. “My favorite nie

Chapter 6

"Since when does the great Godfather Vincent Salvatore ask for permission?" I said, my voice dripping with ice.I hung up before he could answer.I blocked his number. Deleted the contact. Erased every trace of him.A clean break.“Good girl, Bella,” my uncle said, patting my shoulder. “A man like that doesn't deserve you.”Grandma brought me a cup of hot tea. “You’re home now. You don't have to worry about a thing.”I looked at their loving faces, and my eyes misted over.This is what family is supposed to be.Unconditional support. Unconditional love.The next few weeks, I worked as my uncle’s assistant at his art studio.The Wellington Gallery holds a special place in Seattle. Many famous artists are old family friends.“Bella’s back? Wonderful!” Miller, a famous sculptor, exclaimed, grabbing my hands. “I always said you had the talent. You should have taken over the family business years ago.”“That Salvatore trash was never good enough for you.”I smiled and greeted every guest, f

Chapter 7

Vincent pushed the glass door open, his voice pleading.“Bella, I’ve been looking for you for so long,” he said, his voice raspy. “Can we please talk?”“There’s nothing to talk about, Vincent.”“Yes, there is. A lot of things.” He took a step forward. “I know you didn’t send those messages. It was Sophia.”“I know.”“You know?” Vincent stopped, confused. “Then why didn’t you say anything?”“Would you have believed me?” I stared into his eyes. “Back at the restaurant, did you even give me a chance to explain?”Vincent opened his mouth, but no words came out.“Bella, I was wrong,” he said, his voice practically a plea. “I shouldn’t have distrusted you. Come back to New York with me. We can start over.”“Start over?” I laughed, a cold, sharp sound. “Vincent, do you even remember why I wanted a divorce?”“Because of the Sophia thing—”“No,” I cut him off. “It was because while I was clinging to a ledge forty stories up, praying I wouldn't fall, you were buying her a necklace and sipping co

Chapter 8

“Sophia, stop!” Vincent yelled, running after her onto the dock.I didn’t turn back. I just kept walking toward the end of the pier.Behind me, I could hear them fighting.“Vincent, why are you still chasing her! She’s gone!” Sophia shrieked. “I’m carrying your child!”“Enough!” Vincent’s voice was full of rage. “Sophia, you want the truth?”I stopped."The only reason I ever gave you the time of day," Vincent's voice carried on the sea breeze, cold and clear, "is because you were a ghost of a younger Bella. Your smile, the sound of your voice, the way you looked from behind... it was like having her back at twenty."What?I turned, looking at the two of them on the dock.“I never loved you, Sophia. You were just a replacement,” Vincent’s voice was cold, brutal. “When my marriage to Bella went stale, you showed up and made me feel like I was falling in love for the first time again. But it wasn't you. It was because you were like her.”Sophia’s face was chalk white.“No… that’s impossi

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