Chapter 3

3.

By the time I came back from the restroom, the dinner was mostly over.

Maybe because of the awkward scene earlier, Jenna was gone. But Grant was still there, waiting for me.

"Let's go home."

On the way, he even bought me a bouquet of flowers.

He seemed to have forgotten I'm allergic to pollen.

"About tonight, let me explain. It's really not what you think," Grant said as soon as we got home, tossing the flowers onto the entryway table and looking at me seriously.

"I have something to tell you, too."

"Go on."

"Let's get a divorce."

He might have expected me to cry, to scream, maybe even to hit him. But when the word "divorce" came out of my mouth, Grant was completely stunned.

He didn't snap out of it until I picked up the divorce papers I had prepared from the coffee table.

Smack!

The next second, he slammed the papers onto the floor, scattering them everywhere.

"Eleanor, I can't believe this. What new trick is this? Threatening me with divorce?"

I had used childish threats against him before.

But this time, I felt nothing.

"It's not a threat. It's real." I bent down, picked up the scattered pages one by one, and held them out to him again.

"Fine!"

He threw the papers to the ground again and stormed out of the house.

I watched him go without a word.

I had said my piece. If he didn't agree, we'd just have to see each other in court.

For the next few days, I went to work as usual. I needed the money, since I hadn't found a new job yet and moving out would be expensive.

Grant, however, was like a different person after that night.

The man who was never home, who left early and came back late, was now coming home on time every day. Sometimes, he would even cook a table full of my favorite dishes.

A few days later, he even offered to drive me to and from work.

A free ride? I had no reason to refuse.

Then, the company organized a team-building trip to a resort in the countryside. Grant, who usually scoffed at such things, actually signed up.

Of course, I didn't find that out until I got there.

And Jenna had come along too.

At first, with the big boss Grant around, everyone was a bit reserved. But as the alcohol flowed, the atmosphere livened up.

Eventually, everyone started playing "Truth or Dare."

The first round of truth fell to me.

"Is there anyone here that you like?" someone asked.

All eyes in the room instantly focused on me.

Including Grant's.

"No."

"Aww… that's no fun."

"Let's just play Dare next round!"

My answer disappointed everyone. Grant, especially, stared at me with wide, incredulous eyes.

The second round's loser was Jenna.

"Dare! Kiss any person of the opposite sex in the room!"

The dare was announced, and all our colleagues started cheering and hooting.

Jenna's gaze immediately fell on Grant, a shy and expectant look on her face.

However, just as she was about to get up and kiss him, Grant raised a hand, stopping her.

Then, he stood up and sat down next to me.

Just like that, the lively game came to an abrupt end.

Jenna ran out of the dining room, crying.

"Eleanor…" Grant's gaze shifted to me as he watched Jenna leave, a hesitant look on his face.

"If you want to go after her, go. You don't have to ask me."

But in the end, Grant didn't go after her.

After the team-building event, I took three days of annual leave―which, of course, had nothing to do with what happened on the trip.

It was my best friend Chloe's birthday, and I was throwing her a huge surprise party.

As I was setting up for the party, a call came in from an unknown number.

"Ellie, why did you block my number?"

I froze for a second when I heard the voice. It was Grant.

Then I remembered. I had blocked all of his contact information―the day after our anniversary.

"I'm at a friend's birthday party. What's so urgent that you have to call me right now?"

The man on the other end of the line was silent for a long moment before saying something I never expected.