Chapter 3

3

I finished organizing my things, took a long shower, and had the best sleep I'd had in years.

The next morning, a ringing phone jolted me awake.

I fumbled for it and swiped to answer.

Immediately, Serena's furious voice exploded through the speaker. "Harlan, where the hell are you? My clothes aren't laid out, and no one made breakfast! Your little tantrum has gone far enough. Are you trying to embarrass me?"

Hearing her words, my disappointment in her grew even deeper.

I had no idea where I ranked in her heart anymore. Apparently, I was lower than her daily outfit.

"Serena, I was very clear yesterday. I want a divorce. You're just too full of yourself to believe me."

Every single day, I used to prep her clothes for the next morning. Every meal she ate was handmade by me.

"You're not an idiot. Can't you find your own clothes?"

"And the Sterling mansion has dozens of maids. Are you telling me you don't know how to use them?"

"Why don't you have your precious Silas do it? You love him so much, don't you?"

"Silas's hands are for filing documents, not for menial chores!" she snapped.

"Harlan! That's enough!" Serena screamed my name through the phone.

"I am ordering you to come back right now. This is your last chance. Don't force me to use other methods."

Finally, Serena was going to use the ruthless business tactics she learned in the corporate world on me.

My heart twinged with an involuntary pang of pain. My eyes felt a bit stinging.

Can a person really change this much?

Serena continued her verbal assault on the other end of the line.

Was I really supposed to just take this?

I remembered her back in school. She was always the quiet, lonely girl who got isolated by everyone else.

Only when she was with me did she ever really speak.

Back then, she asked, "Harlan, will we be together forever?"

I told her, "Of course. As long as you want to, Serena, we'll be together forever."

But now, she didn't need me anymore.

I snapped back to reality and realized she had already hung up.

I didn't call back. I fought to keep my emotions in check so the tears wouldn't fall.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my mind a tangled mess of memories I couldn't unknot.

I sent her a short text: "3:00 PM. Meet me at the courthouse."

Serena replied instantly. "Do you really think you can threaten me? Don't overestimate your importance, Harlan."

"I'm giving you one last warning. Come home. If you keep this up, I'm done with you."

God, I never realized how much she lacked basic listening skills.

Looking at the chat history just made me feel exhausted.

"I don't want your warnings. Just show up at the courthouse."

"Fine. I'll be there. If you don't show, you're a coward. Don't regret this."

I showed up exactly on time.

I waited until the office closed, and she never appeared.

Typical. She always did whatever she wanted, saying one thing and doing another.

I called her dozens of times, but she never picked up.

I sighed, my anger simmering with nowhere to go.

We're getting a divorce, and she's still playing games. It's pathetic.