Chapter 3

3

After two weeks of recovery, I was finally discharged.

When I walked into the house, it looked exactly as I had left it.

There were no signs of life. No one had been home.

Caleb had been with Vivian for over half a month without coming home once.

I didn't cry. I didn't call him.

I sat at the table and signed the divorce papers I had already prepared.

Then, I went to the bedroom to pack my things.

I couldn't stay in this house for another second. Every memory here felt like a stain.

As I was folding my clothes, the front door clicked open.

Caleb walked in. He stopped when he saw my suitcase.

"Elena? What are you doing?" he asked, sounding genuinely confused.

I didn't answer. I kept packing.

He walked over to me. "The nurse said you were leaving today. Why didn't you call us?"

"How was the surgery? Are you feeling okay?"

I stopped and looked him in the eye. My gaze was flat.

"You weren't there for the surgery, Caleb. Why do you care now?"

He rushed to explain himself. "Vivian had a breakdown. She tried to hurt herself."

"I had to stay and watch her. You wouldn't want her to die, right?"

I let out a soft, bitter laugh.

He was wrong.

I wanted Vivian to disappear from this earth more than anything.

Caleb tried to take my hand. "Don't be like this. I promise it won't happen again."

I yanked my hand away. "There won't be a next time. The divorce papers are on the table."

"Sign them. We can go to the courthouse and end this whenever you're ready."

Caleb's eyes widened in shock. "You want a divorce?"

I don't know why he looked so surprised.

He spent weeks with another woman while I was under the knife.

Since his heart wasn't with me, I was just giving him what he clearly wanted.

"You don't love me," I said. "Divorce is better for both of us."

I had realized the truth the moment Vivian came back from her studies abroad.

The Caleb who promised to love me forever had changed long ago.

I had loved him too much to let go. I thought being his wife would be enough.

But I had overestimated my place in his life.

Caleb was still trying to fix things. "It was an accident. I already talked to Vivian."

"Please, just trust me one last time."

"I've trusted you a thousand times," I snapped. "And every single time, you chose Vivian."

I used to forgive him for everything.

But the well had finally run dry.

Caleb thought he could just sweet-talk me back into submission.

"You're just tired, Elena. Go to sleep and clear your head, okay?"

I was perfectly clear.

Those divorce papers were the result of two weeks of absolute clarity.

I didn't want to waste any more words. I pushed him out of the bedroom and locked the door.

I ignored him as he pounded on the wood, calling my name.