Chapter 11

Roslyn stood outside the court, her eyes fixed intently on the entrance, waiting for Alexander to arrive, her mind consumed by the impending divorce that would soon sever the fragile threads that still bound them together.

She had deliberately come earlier, 9:30 sharp, eager to expedite the procedure and put an end to the lingering ties that had once represented a love-filled marriage, now reduced to a mere formality.

Glancing at her watch for what felt like the hundredth time, her patience began to fray, worn thin by the agonizing minutes that ticked by with excruciating slowness.

"Where is he?" she thought, her mind growing restless, her thoughts swirling with a mix of anxiety and frustration.

She knew Alexander's punctuality; he was always on time, arriving with precision, yet today, every passing minute felt like an eternity, stretching her nerves to the breaking point.

Roslyn's eyes scanned the surrounding area, her gaze lingering on couples holding hands, their love and affection a stark contrast to her own shattered relationship, now lying in tatters.

Her thoughts drifted to the impending divorce, the finality of it all, the realization that their marriage would soon be reduced to a mere memory, a relic of a love that had long since faded.

"Just a few questions from the judge, and it'll be over," she reminded herself, the words echoing hollowly, a stark reminder of the end of their marriage, the closure that would soon bring an end to the uncertainty.

The ticking seconds mocked her, each one a reminder that Alexander was running late, a rare occurrence that unsettled her.

"Why is he late?" she wondered, her mind racing with possibilities.

Had he changed his mind?

No, Alexander wouldn't do that; he wanted this divorce as much as she did.

Didn't he?

A flutter of uncertainty disturbed her resolve, threatening to undermine the strength she had mustered to face this day.

Roslyn pushed it aside, steeling herself for the proceedings ahead, reminding herself that she would not be swayed by emotions.

Their marriage was beyond repair, damaged beyond redemption.

It was time to move on.

But where was Alexander?

Roslyn checked her watch for what felt like the hundredth time, her patience wearing thin as she waited for Alexander to arrive at the court.

Just as she was starting to get anxious, her phone buzzed in her bag.

She pulled it out to see Chris's name flashing on the screen.

"Hey, Chris," Roslyn answered, her voice a welcome respite from the tension.

"Hey, Rose. I was thinking of coming to the court to support you," Chris said, his voice filled with concern.

Roslyn's gaze drifted back to the court entrance, her thoughts still on Alexander's impending arrival.

"No, Chris, I'm fine. Really, it's okay," she replied, trying to reassure him.

"Are you sure?" Chris pressed. "I don't mind being there for you."

Roslyn took a deep breath, steeling herself for the proceedings ahead.

"I appreciate it, Chris, but honestly, it's almost over," she said, glancing at her watch again. "Just a few more minutes."

"Okay, if you're sure..." Chris hesitated.

"I'm positive," Roslyn assured him. "Alexander will be here soon, and we'll get this done."

"Call me as soon as it's over?" Chris requested.

"Of course," Roslyn promised. "I'll fill you in on everything."

"Take care of yourself, Rose," Chris said softly.

"I will," Roslyn replied, her voice steady. "Thanks, Chris."

The line went dead, and Roslyn slipped her phone back into her bag, her eyes returning to the court entrance, watching for Alexander's arrival.

Roslyn tapped her foot impatiently, her eyes fixed on the entrance as the minutes ticked by, her frustration growing with each passing second.

"What is keeping this man late?" she wondered, her mind racing with annoyance.

"He's never late for his personal work, always punctual to the minute," she thought, her eyes narrowing.

Just as she was about to give up hope, Roslyn spotted Alexander's car pulling up, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

But her respite was short-lived, as Alexander emerged from the vehicle with a cold, impassive face, his expression a mask of indifference.

Roslyn's anger flared anew as she strode towards him, her heels clicking on the pavement.

"You're late, Alexander!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with irritation.

Alexander's gaze met hers, his eyes glinting with a hint of defiance, but his expression remained stoic.

In his mind, he thought, "I don't want this, woman; you should have understood that I was intentionally late, testing your patience, pushing you to the limit."

But aloud, he said, "Are you that desperate?" his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Roslyn's eyes flashed with anger.

"Yes, I wish to get rid of you as soon as possible," she spat, her words laced with venom.

"Now let's go inside," she added, her voice firm, brooking no argument.

Alexander's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he nodded curtly and followed her into the court.

*************************************

Rose pov

"What's gotten into him?" Roslyn wondered, her mind racing with surprise.

"Alexander's never been late, and now he shows up with this attitude?" she thought, her eyes narrowing.

"He's trying to provoke me and test my patience," she realized.

"But why?" Roslyn's mind asked, searching for answers.

"Is he trying to make me react, lose my composure?" she pondered.

"No, I won't give him the satisfaction," Roslyn decided, her resolve strengthening.

"I'll keep my cool, no matter what," she vowed.

"But what's behind this sudden change?" Roslyn's thoughts persisted.

"Is he regretting the divorce?" she wondered.

"No, that's impossible," she dismissed.

"He's just trying to assert control and maintain his ego," Roslyn concluded.

"I won't let him get to me," she reaffirmed.

Roslyn's expression remained serene, masking her inner turmoil.

She wouldn't let Alexander see her rattled.

*****************************

Alexander Pov

I stepped out of my car. I could feel Roslyn's piercing gaze on me, her irritation and frustration palpable in the air, like a thick fog that clung to every surface.

I knew I was late, intentionally so, a deliberate attempt to test her patience, to see if she still had feelings for me, to gauge her reaction.

But as I met her gaze, I was taken aback by her composure, her serene expression a stark contrast to the turmoil that must be brewing inside her.

"She's still as beautiful as ever," I thought, my chest tightening with a mix of emotions, longing and regret swirling together like a maelstrom.

But I pushed the feeling aside, reminding myself of my goal—to provoke her, to make her react, to shatter the facade of indifference she'd built around herself.

"Maybe then she'll see the truth," I thought, "maybe then she'll realize that our love is still alive, still worth fighting for."

Roslyn's angry words cut through my thoughts, her voice low and even but laced with a venom that made me flinch.

"You're late, Alexander!" She spat, her eyes flashing with anger, her face a mask of controlled fury.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance, trying to hide the turmoil that roiled inside me.

"Are you that desperate?" I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm, in a desperate attempt to keep my emotions at bay.

In my mind, I thought, "Yes, I'm desperate, desperate to make you see reason, desperate to make you stay, desperate to reclaim what we once had."

But I wouldn't show her that, not yet, not until I knew she felt the same way.

Roslyn's eyes narrowed, her expression unyielding.

"I wish to get rid of you as soon as possible," she said, her words a slap in the face, a harsh reminder of the reality I'd been trying to escape.

Her words stung, but I knew she didn't mean them, or at least, I hoped she didn't.

Doubt crept in, and for a moment, I wavered, unsure if I was fighting a losing battle.

But I pushed on, my resolve firm, my determination renewed.

"I'll make her understand," I vowed. "I'll make her see that our love is worth fighting for, no matter the cost."

As I followed Roslyn into the court, I knew this was far from over, that this was just the beginning of a long and arduous journey.

************************************

They walked into the court; their minds were worlds apart, each lost in their own tumultuous thoughts, a cacophony of emotions that threatened to overwhelm them.

Roslyn's thoughts swirled with frustration and anxiety, her mind racing with questions that seemed to have no answers.

"What's going on with him?" she wondered, her thoughts tangled in a web of confusion.

"Why is he being so difficult, so obstinate, when he knows it's over, when he knows we've reached the end of the road?"

"Can't he just let go, move on, and find happiness without me?" she thought, her heart heavy with sorrow.

She couldn't understand Alexander's sudden change in behavior and his inexplicable desire to prolong the inevitable.

Was he trying to hold on to the past, to the memories they'd shared, or was there something more, something she'd failed to see?

Meanwhile, Alexander's mind raced with determination and longing, his thoughts fueled by a deep-seated refusal to accept defeat.

"I won't give up," he thought, his resolve strengthened by every passing moment.

"I'll make her see reason; make her understand that our love is still worth fighting for, still worth saving."

"I'll prove my love; prove that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work," he vowed, his heart pounding with conviction.

He couldn't accept that their marriage was over and that the love they'd shared was nothing more than a distant memory.

Not yet.

Not when he still felt so deeply, still loved her with every fiber of his being.

As they approached the courtroom, the tension between them grew thicker and heavier, like a palpable force that threatened to suffocate them.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, they locked gazes, the air charged with unspoken words, unresolved emotions, and unanswered questions.

Roslyn's eyes flashed with anger, her expression a mask of frustration.

Alexander's eyes burned with longing, his gaze a plea for understanding.

The air was heavy with anticipation, with the weight of their unresolved past.

Their minds were filled with conflicting thoughts and conflicting desires.

But one thing was certain:

This was far from over.

The divorce proceedings were just the beginning.

The real battle was only just starting—a battle for love, for hearts, and for the future.

**********************************************

Judge Reynolds peered over the rim of his glasses, his expression stern and unyielding, as if scrutinizing every detail of the tense exchange unfolding before him.

"Do you have children?" he asked, his voice firm but gentle, with a hint of curiosity.

Roslyn shook her head, her voice crisp and resolute.

"No, thankfully," she replied, her tone dripping with relief, as if the absence of children was a blessing that spared her from further entanglement with Alexander.

Alexander's eyes snapped to hers, surprise etched on his face, his brow furrowed in dismay.

He hadn't expected that response, hadn't anticipated the vehemence behind it, the evident distaste for the very idea of having a child with him.

Does this woman really hate me so much, he thought, his mind reeling with the implications.

Does she really resent me to the point where she doesn't even want to acknowledge the possibility of having my child, of creating a life together?

I remember the nights we spent together, the countless times we were intimate, he thought, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions.

We were physical many times, but only for pleasure, never for love, never with the intention of building a future.

How stupid I was, he chided himself, his thoughts laced with regret.

I gave in to my desires, ignoring the emptiness that followed and the hollow feeling that gnawed at my soul.

Maybe I am being punished for this, Alexander thought, his conscience pricking him.

Maybe this divorce is my penance for using Roslyn, for not cherishing her as I should have, for not valuing the love we shared.

Roslyn's words hung in the air, a stark reminder of their failed marriage, a painful truth that neither of them could escape.

Judge Reynolds' gaze lingered on Alexander, as if searching for a reaction, a glimmer of understanding.

Alexander's face remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed him, revealing the turmoil that churned within, the depths of his sorrow.

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken emotions and unresolved conflicts.

Finally, Judge Reynolds nodded, his expression somber.

"Very well," he said.

*************************************************