Chapter 1: The Divorce

Aurora POV

A day of joy turned into a day of sadness for me in an unexpected manner...

As I arranged the coffee table, ensuring that everything was in order. Then I realized I needed to finish my birthday party preparations on time because of my guests that are coming.

Then all of a sudden, my phone rang with a message from my mom, wishing me a happy birthday because she couldn't come over.

“Happy birthday, Aurora, darling. I’m sorry I can’t be there to celebrate with you, but always remember that I love you.” I smiled at her words, although I had a feeling something was not right. Just as I was about to leave the living room, I ran into Liam. My heart raced as I met his icy gaze.

“Hey, you startled me!” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with tension as a whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” he replied, standing just a step away, appearing calm with his glasses clenched in his hand.

“Happy birthday, Aurora,” he said softly, wrapping his arms around me. A rush of adrenaline surged through me; it was strange that he used my name, and his scent was different—definitely not the fragrance we usually wore. Perhaps he had stopped by a store. But that was beside the point.

I took a deep breath; the scent in the air compelled me to speak up.

“You smell different,” I said, my voice trembling as if I feared the words would betray me.

I searched Liam's eyes for any sign of feeling, but they remained icy and unyielding. The atmosphere between us was electric, thick with tension that felt almost stifling. He gradually withdrew his hands from my head, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Is something wrong?” I inquired, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with doubt. I wanted to brush aside the unease rising within me, yet I couldn’t ignore the sense that something was amiss.

He offered a faint smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Nothing at all, Aurora. Just... savoring the moment.”

I raised an eyebrow. "The moment? What do you mean by that?"

Liam stepped back, his gaze assessing me with a chilling detachment that was unfamiliar. He had always been warm and affectionate with me—playful and loving. But tonight was different. It was supposed to be about me. My birthday. A celebration of us, filled with joy. Instead, I stood there, acutely aware of an unsettling feeling I couldn’t quite identify.

I just... I don’t know, Liam, I admitted, feeling unexpectedly vulnerable. This doesn’t seem right. You’re acting strangely. You’ve never been this... aloof.

A slight twitch crossed his lips, a smirk nearly forming before vanishing just as quickly. You’re just imagining things. You’ve always had a talent for that.

I pulled back, the sarcasm in his voice hitting harder than I anticipated. My thoughts raced. Was I really imagining things? Was I overreacting? Perhaps I was just being paranoid, reading too much into his odd behavior. But then I recalled the scent. That unfamiliar aroma lingering on him—one I had never detected before.

You’re not fooling me, I asserted, my voice growing firmer. Something’s off, Liam. You’ve been acting odd all day. I don’t believe you.

His expression remained unchanged. Oh, come on, Aurora. It’s just a birthday. Stop overthinking everything. You always get lost in your own thoughts. He moved closer again, and I flinched as his fingers brushed my arm, a touch that felt unfamiliar and too cold.

Right, I replied, trying to hide the hurt in my voice. It’s just a birthday. Nothing significant.

He didn’t answer, his gaze momentarily drifting to the phone in my hand before returning to me, his face expressionless. But it wasn’t just the lack of expression that unsettled me—it was the void behind his eyes.

I took a deep breath, my heart racing as the unsettling truth began to sink in. Something was unfolding, something I wasn’t prepared to confront.

“Is there... something you need to tell me?” I asked, my voice shaking. "Liam?"

There was a moment of silence, a drawn-out, agonizing pause. Then, as if he had come to a conclusion, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, folded envelope. My breath caught as he handed it to me.

I stared at the envelope, struggling to accept that Liam was right in front of me, presenting a piece of paper that seemed so... formal. My heart raced.

“What is this?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

“Open it,” he replied, his tone icy, almost mechanical.

I paused, still grappling with the situation. But my hands shook as I opened the envelope, extracting the paper within. My eyes darted over the text, but the words felt like they were swirling, merging together as I fought to understand the significance of the document I held.

A divorce petition.

It struck me like a blow to the stomach. I felt the ground shift beneath me, my vision blurring as I looked up at Liam, trying to make sense of the words on the page.

“Are you really handing me divorce papers?” I asked, the words escaping my mouth as my mind raced to comprehend this nightmare.

Liam remained unfazed. He didn’t seem to acknowledge the emotional chaos swirling within me. “It’s not about you, Aurora,” he replied with a casual shrug. “I thought it would be simpler for both of us to end things. It’s just not working anymore.”

“Are you being serious?” My voice trembled. I had no idea what I expected, but this—this chilling indifference—was beyond anything I could have envisioned.

“I didn’t want to make a fuss,” Liam said, his tone calm and devoid of emotion, as if he were discussing something mundane, like the weather. “So I thought your birthday would be a fitting time to do this. What’s one more gift, right?”

I looked at him, disbelief mingling with a strange emptiness in my chest. Was this truly happening? On my birthday? This wasn’t just a cruel prank—it was real. He was serious.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat constricting as my gaze shifted from the paper back to him. "Liam... I don’t... I can’t understand. I thought we were happy. I thought everything was fine. What went wrong? What did I do?”

He let out a heavy sigh, as if weary of explaining, weary of pretending. “You didn’t do anything, Aurora. It’s just me. I’ve changed. Things evolve.”

The words cut deep, his tone final like a knife slicing through the delicate surface of my understanding. Everything was falling apart so quickly. I struggled to keep pace. This was not how I envisioned my birthday at all.

Anger surged within me, an uncontrollable wave of emotion. “So, this is it? You’re just finished with me? Just like that?”

“Just like that,” Liam replied, his face expressionless. “You’ll manage. You always do.”

I stood frozen, the divorce papers trembling in my hands, unable to grasp the reality of it all. My chest felt constricted, and I struggled to breathe. I couldn’t comprehend this. I believed we were strong. I thought we had something genuine.

“You don’t even feel remorse, do you?” I asked, my voice quivering with a blend of sorrow and rage.

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he turned and walked away, his steps slow and purposeful, as if he had no plans to look back. But just before reaching the door, he stopped and glanced back at me.

“Happy birthday, Aurora,” he said in a chilling tone. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”

And with that, he left.

The silence that followed was overwhelming. I stood there, isolated in the room, feeling the heaviness of the divorce papers in my hand. My birthday, a day meant for joy and celebration, had turned into a nightmare.

My heart raced as I remained frozen, the divorce papers still clutched tightly. The sting of his words echoed in my mind, but something inside me urged me to act. I had to do something.

Before I could fully grasp what had just occurred, I dashed toward the stairs, my feet pounding against the floor as I hurried to the front door. I couldn’t just stay there. I needed to confront him. I needed answers.

“Liam!” I shouted, breathless and shaky. “Liam, wait!”

I flung open the door, and there he was—his back to me on the front porch, a woman in his arms, kissing him. The sight hit me like a punch, and I stumbled back, shock and disbelief washing over me.

The woman was stunning, with long, dark hair and an air of confidence. She clung to Liam, her lips on his with a familiarity that cut through me like a knife. My entire world felt like it was spinning out of control.

I couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

“Who is she?” I blurted out, my voice filled with desperation, craving answers, craving the truth.

Liam turned to face me, his expression almost apathetic. He didn’t seem shocked to see me. If anything, he appeared... relieved, as if my presence was expected.

“She’s your replacement,” he replied, his tone flat, as if he were merely stating a fact.