Chapter 2

2.

In my anger, I let everything out.

The suffocating weight in my chest seemed to dissipate with those words.

Madeline suddenly looked panicked, a flash of guilt crossing her face.

She instinctively tried to explain herself.

"It wasn't like that, Asher. Listen to me."

"On your birthday, I had actually picked out a gift. I wanted to surprise you when you got back, but… but…"

She couldn't finish the sentence.

But I knew what she wanted to say. "But Linus had never been to a theme park, he was scared, and he didn't know anyone else, so he asked me to go. I couldn't say no."

After ten years, I knew her far too well.

"Don't bother explaining, Madeline. We're over."

Madeline's expression shifted again.

Her tone turned resentful.

"Asher Pierce!"

"You know perfectly well I wouldn't cheat. Why do you insist on clinging to these baseless rumors? Since when did you become so jealous and bitter?"

"Today, there was a major partnership deal at the office. I had to leave. There was no choice."

"How did you become so petty?"

"Asher, no woman likes a man like this."

"Especially one as envious as you!"

I thought I didn't love her anymore.

I thought I wouldn't be sad.

Before she walked through that door, I was even able to sit calmly and reminisce about our history.

I thought about how we had reached this point, step by step.

I wanted a dignified end.

At the very least, I didn't want it to be this ugly.

But her accusations and resentment still felt like a knife to my heart. Tears started falling like a broken faucet.

I turned to leave.

Linus, who had finally recovered, grabbed my wrist.

He gripped me so hard it actually hurt.

He started crying again.

His crying was more pathetic than mine, more moving. He kept apologizing over and over.

"Asher."

"Please don't be mad. I didn't know it was your birthday. If I had known, I wouldn't have asked Maddy to come."

"You know I never got to go to places like that growing up. I was scared, so I reached out to her."

"And today, a huge client came to the office. It was an emergency! That's why she missed the funeral."

"It's all my fault. Asher, please don't be angry with Maddy. I'll quit tomorrow. I'll never show my face to you again. Just please don't be mad at her."

"She really, really loves you."

Linus always knew exactly how to disgust me and how to make Madeline pity him even more.

Before I could even shove his hand away, Linus forestalled me by collapsing onto the floor.

Madeline rushed to help him up, looking devastated as she saw his reddened wrist from the fall.

She screamed at me.

"Asher Pierce, what is wrong with you? Apologize to Linus!"

"Apologize? To him?"

I didn't look back as I walked out of the house.

I ignored her hysterical screaming and the curses she hurled at my back.

I took a cab to the cemetery.

At three in the morning, the cemetery was freezing.

It was empty, with only a few dim lights flickering in the distance.

I moved the offerings I had placed there earlier and leaned against the cold headstone.

"Mom, I'm getting a divorce."