Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the empty living room.

I stood on the cold tiles of the entryway, watching that closed door until the tightness in my chest finally began to fade.

My phone vibrated on the coffee table. The screen lit up with a notification.

It was a voice message from an unsaved number, but I recognized the profile picture immediately.

I hesitated for a second before tapping play.

The voice filled the silent room, dripping with fake sweetness.

"Sienna, babe~"

Rainey Miller's voice came through, sounding thrilled and smug.

"Grant is over at my place now. He's in a bad mood, but don't worry, I'll take good care of him."

In the background, I could hear the faint sound of fabric rustling and a soft, giggling intake of breath.

A second message followed immediately.

"Sienna, I'm so happy you finally signed. I really am."

"You should have done this sooner instead of making such a fool of yourself. Grant told me everything. He said you've become unbearable these past few years."

"He said you're like a psycho. He couldn't stand it anymore."

"Don't be too sad. When a man stops loving you, he stops. Watching you cling to him was honestly pathetic."

"Grant says you think you know him, but you don't. You think you sacrificed so much, but he never wanted any of it. You were just performing for yourself."

Her voice dropped lower, becoming sharper.

"He said seeing you makes him annoyed. Hearing your voice gives him a headache. He only feels relaxed and wanted when he's with me."

"Wake up, Sienna. You were never the one he loved. You were just a responsibility he had to deal with. A big, messy burden!"

"Oh, he also mentioned you were acting all cool and tough today? Hahaha, that's hilarious."

"Do you really think that will make him look at you differently? Do you think he'll come crawling back? Keep dreaming!"

"I'll let you in on a secret. Just now, in bed, he held me and said he finally feels free. He said we can finally be together in the light."

She paused for a moment, letting out a soft laugh.

"...He said you're like a piece of wood. Totally boring. Nothing like me."

The audio stopped, but then my screen was flooded with photos.

There were selfies of Rainey pressed against Grant's face while he slept.

A close-up of their intertwined hands, wearing matching couple's rings.

A photo in my kitchen, where she was hugging Grant from behind as he smiled.

The last photo was taken in dim light, showing messy sheets and rumpled blankets.

Rainey was wearing Grant's dress shirt, unbuttoned, with fresh, angry red marks on her collarbone.

In the background, on the nightstand, our wedding photo had been turned face down.

A final voice note popped up. Her voice was ice-cold now.

"Grant gives me everything you couldn't. He says this is the life and the love he always wanted."

"Your little show is over, Sienna. From now on, I'm the one coming home to him. I'm the one ironing his shirts. I'm the one sleeping on his pillow."

"Don't worry, I'll take *very* good care of him for you. As for you, just take your voided marriage license and go rot somewhere else. Bye-bye, ex-Mrs. Sterling."

The silence that followed was deafening.

I sat on the sofa, my back perfectly straight.

The screen dimmed, reflecting my expressionless face.

Those poisonous words and stinging images washed over me like a tide, but they left no mark.

I realized then that when your heart truly dies, it doesn't hurt.

There is no anger. There is only a vast, cold, infinite emptiness.