Chapter 6
The next evening, Victor came to pick me up.
The moment I got in the car, the overwhelming smell of cigarettes made me wrinkle my nose.
Just how much had he been smoking?
Seeing my reaction, he quickly rolled down the window.
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a darkness I couldn’t read, heavy with exhaustion.]]
“Madeline,” he handed me the divorce papers, “you really want a divorce?“]]
I nodded. “Yes. So sign it quickly. I don’t want to drag this out, and I definitely don’t want this ending up in court.”
Something occurred to me, and I added with bitter sarcasm, “As for your daughter, if you want to take this to court, I’m ready to-“]
“Madeline,” Victor turned away, struggling to get the words out, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. What happened to Tilly… it had nothing to do with you.”
I let out a cold laugh. I wasn’t surprised.]
“Right. You didn’t even bother investigating before deciding I was guilty.” My voice was sharp with accusation. “After five years of marriage, is that really what you think of me? That I’m the kind of person who’d hurt a child?“]]
Victor’s face went rigid with regret.[]
“I’m sorry…“]]
I stared out the window. It was raining again.]
www
Spill ill me in!
www.
www
www.
wwwwwww
الله الله الله الله الله الله الله الله الله
ان الله الله الله المال بدون الله الله الله الا الله الله الله الله الله او لا
ال و الله الله الله الله اللات
www wwwwwww us as it www.
ار این ایام الله الله الله الله الا الله
This rain seemed to follow me, showing up whenever I felt miserable, crying the tears I wouldn’t let myself shed.]
“Let me tell you something–I don’t stoop to those kinds of tactics.” I was losing patience. “If you really feel guilty, then sign the papers. Consider it compensation.”
Victor’s face went pale, but he still couldn’t
ring himself to sign.
I’d had enough. “Sign it and send it to my lawyer. Then we’re done.“]
As I moved to get out, panic flashed across his face.
“Madeline,” he grabbed my hand, not caring how desperate he looked, “I don’t want a divorce.”
I took a deep breath.[]
This pathetic clinging disgusted me.
“You know exactly how we got here, Don’t give me this ‘I regret everything act. It’s useless.”
“Sign the papers quickly, or I can’t guarantee I w
your
precious daughter.” I waerately provoking him now, my voice threatening.
Pain spread across Victor’s features.[]
“I know… you wouldn’t…“]
Hearing him say that gave me a twisted sense of satisfaction.
But seeing that I still looked cold and unmoved, his voice cracked with desperation.[]
“You don’t like them being here? I’ll send them away, okay?“]]
Wife in Name to You–Queen in Heart to Your Rival
62.5%
Chapter 6
Watching this usually proud, composed man beg me stirred something complicated in my chest.
It wasn’t satisfaction–it was something heavier.]
“Victor,” I turned to look at him seriously, “I told you what my name means. I’m supposed to be someone’s only beloved. If all I am to you is a strategic choice, then we were always going to fall apart.“[]
Victor’s breathing hitched, confusion and pain warring in his expression.[]
“I just don’t understand how we got here.”
I sighed. Outside, the gentle rain was getting heavier, drumming against the windows like it was beating against his panicked heart.
“Victor, the sun doesn’t just suddenly set. And disappointment doesn’t just happen overnight.” My voice grew distant.[]
“I’ve always believed that what’s meant to be mine will stay with me, and what isn’t mine will never be mine no matter what I do. But you don’t understand me–fighting for someone is the one thing I hate most.“[]
I used to stay by Victor’s side willingly.
But willingness, for all its bravery, comes with its own humiliation.[]
And Shaw daughters are born to be above that.[]
Never humiliated.
I opened the car door. Outside, the rain was starting to let up.[]
Just like the storm in my heart.
Maybe it was brief, maybe it was ugly, but this was what our relationship had always really been.
