Chapter 2
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As soon as she responded, she caught sight of Esther standing next to him-with a little boy by her side.
Greg and Esther’s son, Rolland Mathis. He was four years old, round-cheeked and pudgy.
Lottie wasn’t sure what Nigel was trying to do-until Rolland scrambled into the back seat, limbs flailing, and chirped, “Lottic, can you give me and Mommy a ride home?”
Lottie frowned slightly and gave Nigel a questioning look.
He pressed his lips together. “Mom and Dad are still furious. Let Esther and Rolland stay at our place for a bit.”
Worried she might say no, he quickly added, “Didn’t you say you wanted a kid? This is a good chance to practice-start with Rolland.”
Lottie almost laughed.
Then stopped herself-laughing in a cemetery parking lot felt a little inappropriate.
So now Esther and Rolland would be staying with her, while Nigel headed back to the family estate to take the heat himself.
Surprisingly, that was… responsible of him.
When they got home, it was obvious Nigel had called ahead. Corinne Terrell had already prepared the guest room.
Lottie was glad she didn’t have to deal with anything. She took a long shower, then face-planted into bed and slept like a rock.
By the time she woke up, it was already 9 p.m.
She had just picked up her phone when a call came in from her friend.
“I’ve drafted the divorce papers like you asked. Want me to send them over for a quick review?”
“Thanks, Nancy,” Lottie said, her voice still soft from sleep. “No need-just call a courier.”
“You’re really doing this? You’re sure?”
Nancy Cobb had handled enough cases to recognize when someone might be acting on emotion. “Nigel might not be husband-of-the-year, but-”
Lottie switched on the light and sat up, her thoughts crystal clear now. “I’ve thought it through, Nancy. I caught him jerking off to a photo of another woman.”
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Chapter 2
1288 Vouchers
“What?”
Nancy’s brain short-circuited.
She never expected Lottic-usually so quiet and composed-to say something like that.
But what shocked her even more was how low Nigel had sunk. The man was shameless.
Nancy swore under her breath. “Forget the courier. I’ll bring the papers myself-and head back to the office after.”
No way a scooter was beating her car anyway.
Lottie ended the call, still a little surprised at how easily the words had come out of her mouth.
Maybe it was because that bitterness had been festering inside her for too long.
It clogged up everything-her thoughts, her body, even her breath. Nothing felt right anymore. Just pressure, building and building.
Just like that night at the club, when Nigel had said so casually that he’d never touched her.
Most people wouldn’t believe it. They’d been married for three years, and she was still a virgin.
At first, she wondered if something was wrong with him.
But then she caught him-more than once-alone in the study, jerking off with a photo album in hand.
The sound of his stifled groans-
Each one felt like a slap across her face.
Once, when he realized she’d seen him, he pulled her into his arms, buried his face in her neck, and mumbled, “Lottie, I’m sorry. I just… I’m afraid I’ll hurt you if we go too far. I can’t bring myself to do it. So I… I use your photo in- stead…”
And the worst part?
She believed him.
She actually believed him. Her cheeks even flushed red.
But the night she flew back to Asrark, groggy from fever meds, she forced herself to sneak into the study and break into the locked cabinet.
There it was-the photo album.
Stuffed full of pictures.
All of Esther.
Alive, glowing, radiant Esther.
Every smile, every look, preserved like some sacred collection.
In that moment, Lottie felt like her entire life had been one big, humiliating joke.
