Chapter 4: Divorce Papers

I was led into the room, my heart racing with a mix of anger and confusion. The sight of Gideon, so composed and unaffected, made me clench my fists, the pain from the previous night's altercation still fresh. The officers left, closing the door behind them, leaving Gideon and me alone.

“Gideon,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of rage and desperation.

“Why are you here? After everything, you have the nerve to show up?”

Gideon’s gaze remained steady, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

“I’m here to finalize a few things, Amy,” he said, his tone flat and devoid of any empathy. He placed a folder on the table between us, sliding it toward me with deliberate precision.

I looked at the folder, my breath catching as I saw the word “Divorce” emblazoned across the top of the document.

“Is this some kind of joke?” I asked, my voice cracking. “You’re here to divorce me while I’m locked up?”

“It’s no joke,” Gideon said, his expression unwavering. “You’ve made your choices, Amy. This is just a formality.”

I stared at him, trying to process the depth of his betrayal. “You set me up, didn’t you? I never stole from your company, Gideon. I would never—”

“Don’t be naïve,” he interrupted, cutting me off sharply. “The evidence was damning, and your so-called ‘innocence’ didn’t stand a chance against it. The company’s reputation had to be protected.”

“But we were married!” I shouted, my voice rising with desperation. “How could you do this to me?”

Gideon’s face remained impassive, his gaze unyielding. “Marriage or not, Amy, its business. You were a liability. I had to do what was necessary to safeguard my interests.”

I looked at the divorce papers again, feeling a wave of nausea. “And you expect me to just sign this? You’ve already taken everything from me. What more do you want?”

Gideon leaned back in his chair, his demeanor patronizing. “Sign the papers and I will give you a chance to start a new life outside these cold bars,”

The pen felt heavy in my hand as I scrawled my signature, each stroke a painful admission of defeat. Gideon’s smirk widened as he collected the signed papers, clearly pleased with his machinations.

“I’ll ensure this is filed immediately,” he said, his voice dripping with cold satisfaction. “You’ll be out by tomorrow.”

As he left, the door clicked shut with a finality that resonated through me. Alone, the stark reality of my situation settled in. I was no longer just imprisoned by these walls but also shackled by the betrayal of someone I once trusted. The sense of betrayal burned deep, mingling with the raw anger and despair.

The cold steel of the cell door felt heavier than ever as I walked back to my small, dimly lit cell. The young woman who had come to my aid earlier was waiting near the entrance of the block. Her face was a mix of concern and curiosity.

“Hey, Amy. I’m Mona” she said softly as I approached. “How are you holding up?”

I tried to manage a semblance of composure, but the anger and despair were too raw. “Mona, it’s just... unbearable. My ex-husband used me. He made me sign divorce papers in exchange for my freedom.”

Mona’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like he’s not just betrayed you personally, but also made a fool of you.”

"One day, he’ll regret this! “I clenched my fist.

The next morning, I woke with a gnawing sense of dread. My hope for a swift release felt like a cruel joke. As the officers came through with the morning meal, I seized the opportunity to ask about any updates on my situation.

“Any news?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The officer glanced at me with a professional detachment. “No updates. We’re still waiting on paperwork. Your case is being reviewed, but there’s nothing new yet.”

A rush of frustration boiled up inside me. “So Gideon hasn’t even started the process? He made me believe that once I signed those papers, I’d be out of here. But I’m still stuck, and now it seems like he made me stupid!”

The officer’s expression remained neutral. “I don’t have any more information.”

I could feel my anger surging, a seething, impotent rage that made me want to lash out. “He’s been playing me like a fool!”

The officer turned away, leaving me alone with my boiling frustration. I paced the cell, fists clenched, every step echoing my sense of betrayal. Gideon’s deceit felt like a personal assault, and the anger I felt toward him was overwhelming.

The truth of my situation settled in—the walls felt like they were closing in tighter with each passing moment. I was consumed by the desire to confront Gideon, to make him pay for his lies and manipulation. The waiting was torturous, and I was desperate for any means to fight back.

Months went by in the suffocating silence of my cell. No visitors came, and no news reached me. The only connection I had to the outside world was through the occasional newspaper articles, slipped under the door by guards.

One day, the sight of a headline and a photograph hit me like a punch to the gut. There, in the newspaper, was a smiling Gideon Grayson alongside my step-sister, Alexa Mondragon. They are happily married.

The picture included my parents, who were now seemingly enamored with Gideon and Alexa. The betrayal felt like a knife twisting deeper into my heart. It seemed like everyone had turned against me, and the anger and resentment I felt grew with each passing day. I couldn't forgive them, not yet.

But then, a police officer came to my cell with an announcement that stirred a flicker of excitement amidst the desolation. “You have a visitor,” he said, his tone neutral.

I felt a surge of hope. Could it be my parents, finally coming to their senses? My heart pounded as I was escorted to the visiting area, where I prepared myself for a confrontation or a heartfelt reunion.

As I entered the room, my anticipation was quickly dashed. Seated in a wheelchair was an elderly woman, her frail figure and lined face strikingly out of place in the sterile visiting area.

“Hello,” I said cautiously, trying to mask my confusion. “I wasn’t expecting—”