All Chapters of After the Divorce : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Marcus’s POVThe house had returned to its usual rhythm — quiet mornings, separate routines and conversations measured carefully so nothing spilled over.From the outside, it would look like everything had settled, time had fixed the cracks. But in truth, nothing was fixed. Just ignored enough to make it look like it mattered.Diane buried herself in work.Sophia had something important coming up, I could see the way she kept reaching for her art, trying to create something worthy of Sebastian’s attention.“I really can’t tonight,” Sophia’s voice echoed through the hallway as she talked on the phone. I watched her fingers move softly through her hair, tucking it slowly behind her ear as she laughed.Her eyes met mine, as if she had felt my gaze on her body. I gave a tight smile and packed up my laptop, sneaking away before she could read meaning into it.I was becoming too aware of her — and that one small, harmless moment had confirmed what I had been trying to ignore.“We should ha

Marcus’s POVThe shower didn’t help, but it felt like I was fighting for my life. Trying hard to breathe. I thought the water was going to scrub off the thought that wouldn’t leave my head.Diane was in the other room, sleeping softly on the bed, and here I was struck with an incessant thought — a want that should never be.“Fuck,” the word slipped out of me as my hand slowly wrapped around my length. The thought had come faster than I thought it would. The minute I had set foot into the bathroom, I couldn’t bring myself to think about any other thing but her.I closed my eyes, my hands gently tugging as I let my imagination become my ruin. I wasn’t stopping, not when I could see her face, her eyes staring up at me with that softness that begged to be taken.I gritted my teeth, letting out a low groan, my fist slamming hard against the bathroom wall. When the orgasm died down, I could finally think with a clear mind, I heaved, the weight of what I had done settling over me like cold w

Marcus’s POVEmails, meetings, and extended hours became my escape. This was the only way I could keep my head occupied. Anything that would stop me from thinking about it.I buried myself in work, took in more things than I should. Making sure that meetings drag on longer than they need to. This was better than the alternative, the alternative of going home.10:20 pm.The office was empty by the time I packed up my briefcase. I could stay here longer, but there was nothing that I could actually do here. Work was done even two weeks ahead of time, given how meticulous I have been.Avoidance guised as productivity.By the time I pulled into the driveway, I could feel the silence settling around me. The heaviness that comes with being here.“You can do this,” I muttered, as if the words were a mantra.The plan was simple — make my way up the stairs, bathe, sleep, wake up early enough and have the same routine.But there was something I wasn’t saying, the main reason I was keeping my nec

Sophia’s POV What the hell was wrong with him? Why won’t he look at me? I hated how he treated me like I was some freaking plague he needed to avoid. Curt gruff replies, barely a time for us to actually talk. And we used to talk a lot. I glared at the sketchpad, an image that I had drawn of him, I had poked a few holes in his eyes out of anger. “This isn’t helping,” I uttered under my breath. Sitting here and acting like a broken little girl wasn’t going to help me. With that thought, I moved from the bed. I needed something to get my anger out and that was baking. Nothing more therapeutic than actually punching the dough. I hummed a few tunes, anything to keep my mind from actually thinking about the things I shouldn’t. I winced, “fuck!” I growled, throwing the last pan of focaccia bread. “You just had to burn me, didn't you?” The sound of heels clicking down the stairs filled the room, and my eyes snapped up. My mother walked down the stairs with a flowing red g

Sophia’s POVWe had almost kissed.Well, I think I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to close that distance.That was all that had been on my mind. I wasn’t even bothered about the fact that I had almost broken my neck from the nasty fall. But the one thing that stayed constant was the fact that his lips for a second had been just a fraction away from mine.The smell of burnt toast filled my nostrils, my eyes widening as I stared at the slowly smoking toaster. “Shit, shit, shit!” I muttered. Pulling the charred bread out and tossing it into the trash bin. “Fuck, get yourself together,” I grumbled.With a more determined mind, I set back my attention to what I was meant to do, breakfast. And I needed to be done with it fast, before Marcus came down.Last night was a mess and it was still a fresh scar on my mind. It wasn’t just about me being hurt, but the way he had looked at me, his expression unreadable, closed off. He didn’t even look at me with the softness that he usually has whene