Chapter 2

Evelyn's hands shook as she went to grab the divorce documents, the gravity of the situation settling heavily in her chest like a thousand pounds.

She stood still, gazing at the crisp, clear letters on the front page of the paper - Petition for Divorce. The words appeared to blend together in front of her eyes, a harsh illusion that ridiculed her every desire, every offering.

She had put in so much effort to become the ideal spouse. She concealed her riches to align with his lifestyle, feigning a different persona as a sign of her affection and commitment. She had suffered through his aloofness, his detachment, solely for the hope of being happy, for the fantasy that eventually, he would view her as something beyond just a business deal.

However, as she stood in the impressive room, with her marriage now reduced to a pile of documents, it became clear to her just how indifferent he had always been.

"Sign it, Evelyn," Sebastian said sharply, cutting through her thoughts like a sharp, disconnected blade.

She gulped, yet the lump in her throat remained immovable. She glanced up at him, attempting to decipher his expression. His eyes held only a calculated indifference that broke her. The man who had vowed to cherish and defend her had wiped out her presence as though it was just a passing second.

"I…" She stopped speaking, cleared her throat, and pushed herself to continue talking. "How can you act in this way?"

Sebastian hesitated before responding. There was no requirement for him to do so. The amount of information conveyed by his silence was significant. His look of disappointment was obvious, silently criticizing her and causing her great pain.

"I am not the man you are looking for," he stated, his voice low and dismissive. I have never been. I'm exhausted from pretending to be someone I'm not, frankly.

Evelyn held back the tears that were on the verge of spilling. Throughout her life, she had consistently been the pillar of strength, the glue that kept everything intact. However, at that instant, she sensed that she was falling apart.

"Are you exhausted from pretending?" she asked again, her voice shaking. "Sebastian, what about me?" How about the woman who gave up everything for you? The woman who went above and beyond to please you?”

He didn't waver. Actually, he appeared to be almost relieved. He remained standing, arms folded, as though their whole marriage was a small bother that he could quickly get rid of.

Evelyn balled up her hands at her sides. The betrayal struck her with the force of a physical impact. What made Sebastian capable of doing this? What made him think he could swap her for someone like Vanessa, the woman he fell in love with in college, always waiting in the background for her moment?

Glancing at him, she felt a twinge in her heart, yet his eyes held no warmth. He had progressed, and she had no space in his upcoming life.

"Sign it already, Evelyn," he repeated, his voice becoming more impatient.

She took a sharp breath, feeling a tear slip out despite trying to keep her composure, as she looked away. She refused to shed tears. Away from him. Not suitable for him.

Her steps reverberated through the quiet room as she crossed over to the desk. She grabbed the pen with shaky hands, struggling to bear its weight. She hesitated above the dotted line, unable to muster the courage to sign it at that moment.

Rather than that, she placed the pen softly on the table and inhaled deeply.

"You're not worthy of my tears," she whispered quietly to herself, even though she was aware that Sebastian could hear her. "And I refuse to give you the pleasure."

Without saying anything else, she took the divorce papers and quickly tucked them into her purse, feeling her heart pound as she made her way towards the door. She sensed the heavy finality lingering around, with nothing remaining for her in this place.

Evelyn was indifferent.

Leaving the house, her heartbeat thumped loudly in her ears. The chilly evening breeze met her face, a brisk jolt that served as a stark reminder of the reality. This was taking place.

The driveway held her car, ready and waiting for her. Her intention was to depart sooner, but now it was a requirement rather than an option. She was required to depart. She needed to flee before the walls enclosed her, before the suffocating sorrow consumed her.

While getting into the driver's seat, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer, causing her vision to blur. Angry with herself for showing weakness in his presence, she tried to control her emotions but couldn't keep them bottled up any longer.

What possible way could he manage to do that? How was he able to discard everything so effortlessly?

Her hands held onto the steering wheel with such force that her knuckles became pale. She was uncertain of her destination. She was indifferent. She simply had to go away, to create distance between her and the man who had hurt her in the most terrible way possible.

The pain remained as the house disappeared in the rearview mirror.

Several hours later, Evelyn ended up in a cozy apartment in a peaceful neighbourhood. It was not extravagant, only a simple one-bedroom with worn wallpaper and noisy floors, but it belonged to her. For the first time in three years, she finally had a place that was completely hers.

Placing the divorce papers on the kitchen table, she gazed at them as if they were the sole remnants of her previous life.

The heaviness of it was palpable, signaling the conclusion of all her familiarities. The vision she had of a future with Sebastian now seemed like a distant fantasy, one that was snatched away before it could come to fruition.

Evelyn felt movement from the triplets inside her, so she placed a hand delicately on her stomach. During this dark moment, they were the sole source of light and the only reason she held onto hope for the future.

She thought it was for them. I will construct again. I refuse to be defeated by this.