Lillian’s POVWhen he mentioned that name, I felt disgusted.Michael climbs back into the bath, the phone in his hand ringing as he puts it on loudspeaker.He sets it down on the edge of the tub, as we listen to it ring a few times. On the fourth ring, she answers. “Hello, honey,” she says sweetly. “Did you miss me? is that why you're calling me”“I’m sorry Catherine, but you’ll need to get someone else to donate the sperm for your baby,” Michael says, as he drags me closer.I should be stopping this, getting away from him. Instead, I'm letting him guide me. “Why?” she shouts, sounding angry and confused. “What happened? What changed your mind?”Michael fills me in one thrust, and I cry out. “What is that sound?” Catherine asks, sounding even more confused. “Michael, what is happening.”Michael rolls his hips, and I squirm against him, feeling more aroused than I ever have before. “I’m making a baby with my wife; would you like to listen?” he asks her.I moan louder, exaggerating i
Lillian’s POVI hesitate before picking it up. His insistence feels more like a command than a request. I return to the room and start changing clothes.When I catch my reflection in the mirror, disappointment settles in my chest.It’s too loose—especially around the bust. My eyes drift down to the way the fabric hangs awkwardly on me. The size feels like a cruel reminder. Michael’s gaze might have been on me when he picked it out, but his mind? That was somewhere else entirely.“It’s too big,” I say, keeping my voice flat as I reach the kitchen.“I’ll have my assistant exchange it.” Michael glances up from his phone.Did your assistant buy it? I want to ask. Did she base it of the specifications of other dresses you’ve bought before? Do you give the other woman expensive gifts like you do me?I don’t say any of this. Too mentally exhausted to have another screaming match with a man who doesn’t listen.“I’ll go myself. I’ve got time. Winter break means I don’t have much else to do.”
Lillian’s POVThe fabric slips from my fingers and pools at my feet as my heart hammers against my ribs. That voice… I strain to listen, every muscle in my body tense.There is no way. This must be some cruel joke. “Still upset? Didn’t I say I was going to make it up to you?”It’s Michael’s voice.A chill runs down my spine, and I press my ear against the thin wall of the fitting room, praying I’m wrong.This is a woman’s clothing store. There’s no reason for my husband to be here.“How are you going to make it up to me?” The woman’s voice is playful.Her voice is too familiar and my throat clamps around a disbelieving laugh.“Any outfit here—you can pick whatever you like.”“Do you really think I need a few dresses from you?”“Then what do you want? How about this?”Their voices lower, muffled but unmistakable. “Does your wife know you’re this bad?” The woman’s laugh cuts through the air, followed by the heavy sound of breathing.Michael’s reply is low, but it carries clearly throu
Lillian’s POV“Lillian, you are overreacting,” Michael hisses. “I’m always overreacting. Is that your go to sentence when you don’t have a way to defend yourself? When you know my words are true? All I needed for this divorce was evidence, I have it now.” “Thank you, Catherine. I am so sorry for interrupting your time with my husband, please go back and enjoy yourself further.”I look at Catherine with a sharp smile. Ava grabs my arm. She looks past me at Michael, still standing by the store entrance with Catherine lurking just behind him. Her expression hardens.“You’re both disgusting!” she spits, her voice sharp and cutting. Without waiting for a response, she ushers me toward her car. I let her guide me, too numb to resist, my legs moving as if they belong to someone else.Once inside, she slams the car door and turns to me. “Lillian, don’t cry over that bastard. A man like that isn’t worth your tears.” “As painful as this is, you should see it as a blessing in disguise. It’s
Lillian’s POVI delete the messages and block Michael without hesitation. Ava’s breaks through my thoughts as she re-enters the room.“Wine’s ready, drink this and sleep. No overthinking tonight.” she says, setting down a glass of deep red on the table.I nod, managing a faint smile, and take the glass. The wine is rich and warm, its slight bitterness matching the lingering taste of betrayal in my mouth. for a moment I wonder if I should have more than one glass. Maybe the pain will go away if I can’t think. I shake my head, dismissing the idea. I don’t need to worry Ava more than she already is.After finishing the wine, I head to the guest room and collapse into bed, exhaustion finally pulling me under.The days blur together until Christmas looms just around the corner. Everywhere we go, the city buzzes with festive energy—lights strung across shop windows, couples holding hands under garlands of holly, carols echoing through the air. It should feel magical, but to me, it’s sti
Michael’s POVI step into the shopping plaza with Catherine by my side. She’s dressed in something over the top as usual—a tight red dress that barely qualifies as professional. She chose it yesterday while talking to the clerk after Lillian walked out. She loops her arm through mine, leaning in as she talks about the upcoming Christmas promotion we’re supposedly here to finalize.I nod along absently, my thoughts elsewhere. This is just another routine stop, another task to cross off my list. I have bigger things on my mind—like how to fix things with Lillian. Women like Catherine were fun in bed, but they weren’t wife material. And Lillian, well she wasn’t the type to enjoy the type of fun i like to in bed, so I respected that, I took my fun somewhere else.I glance around the mall, the holiday decor shimmering under the lights. Everything feels gaudy, loud. Catherine pulls me toward one of the displays, asking for my opinion, but my focus shifts to a figure in the crowd.Lillia
Lillian POVThe next three days stretch on endlessly. Michael hasn’t made it easy, of course. Every day, I’ve sent him a fresh set of divorce papers. Every day, his response is the same—silence, followed by the inevitable return of the torn pieces. “A reminder,” I’d told myself this morning as I stuffed yet another copy into an envelope.Ava insists I focus on something else, on moving forward instead of looking back. “Do something for yourself for once,” she said just this morning over coffee. “You’ve put everything into him, into that marriage. Now it’s time for you.”Her words still ring in my ears as I sit at her dining table, staring at the blank document on my laptop screen. Writing has always been an escape for me, a way to disappear into a world where I’m in control. I haven’t done it in years, though—not since before Michael.Finally, I start typing. It’s slow, awkward at first. I dredge up stories my mother used to tell me when I was a child, weaving them into something n
Lillian’s POVChris makes his way over. Ava vanishes into the crowd, doing what she does best—networking, laughing, effortlessly making connections. I fidget with the soft gold bracelet on my wrist, the only thing I brought with me that wasn’t borrowed from Ava’s closet. My dress, an elegant emerald green she picked out, is a perfect nod to the 1920s with its shimmering beads and fitted silhouette. “Lillian. Long time no see,” Chris says as he arrives by my side.“I didn’t expect to see you here.” “Same here,” he says. “How’s the neck?” For a second, I’m confused, but then I remember. The fork. The man with the mental illness. “It’s fine now,” I say. “I tend to forget it’s there.” “Good to hear. It’s been worrying me for days, but I had no way to check in on you.” “I’m sorry,” I say, feeling guilty for never using the number he gave me.“No! No. I didn’t mean it like that. Look at me messing things up.”“You’re not messing things up,” I say.“Let's change the subject. This ban
Michael’s POVI sit at the dining table, slowly stirring my coffee, the spoon clinking against the porcelain cup. Across from me, Ginja lounges on the windowsill, soaking up the morning sunlight. She flicks her tail lazily, completely unbothered by the mess of torn papers on the table—another divorce agreement, ripped to shreds like all the others.“Do you even care about any of this?” I ask her. “About her leaving? About me sitting here, looking like a fool every day?”Ginja flicks an ear, uninterested.I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”The sound of the papers crinkling under my arm draws my attention back to the divorce agreement—or what’s left of it. I pick up a torn piece and turn it over in my hand.“She’s not serious, you know,” I say, as if Ginja might argue. “This is just another one of her stunts. She wants me to chase her, to beg. But I’m not doing that. Not this time.”Ginja finally glances at me, her green eyes half-lidded. She lets out a tiny
Lillian’s POVAva flops onto my couch, tucking one leg under her as she looks around my new apartment. “Okay, spill. How are you liking the new place?”I smile faintly, glancing at the boxes I still haven’t unpacked. “It’s cozy. I really like it. It’s close to work, there’s a park nearby, and the layout’s perfect.”She raises an eyebrow. “I still can’t believe you got this place for the price you’re paying. I mean, a 20% discount? That’s crazy.”“Yeah, I got lucky. Chris lowered the rent for me.”“Wait. Chris? The neighbor who helped you move?”“Yeah, turns out he’s not just my neighbor. He’s the landlord.”Her jaw drops, and she points an accusatory finger at me. “And you’re just casually mentioning this now? Since when are you two on a first-name basis?”I sigh, rolling my eyes. “Since the second time we met, I guess. I didn’t know this was his apartment until I ran into him here.”“Wait, wait, wait. Back up. You’ve met before? How? When? And why is this man giving you discounts a
Chris POVMichael’s glare hardens, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s actually going to take a swing at me. My body tenses, ready to deflect or block if necessary. Instead, he scoffs and gestures around the apartment.“This place?” He sneers, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’re telling me this is your apartment?”“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Lillian is my tenant. And you? You’re trespassing.”Michael freezes, his eyes narrowing as he processes my words. “Tenant?” he repeats.“Tenant,” I confirm. “I’m the landlord. The person who rented this apartment to her. And as the landlord, I have every right to kick you out.”“Unbelievable. Of all the places she could’ve moved, she ends up here? What, did you manipulate the situation? Drop the rent just to reel her in?”“The agent sent me a list of potential tenants. When I saw her name, I figured it was a sign. She needed a place, and I had one. Simple as that.”Michael’s jaw tightens, and he glances at Lillian, who’s standing off to t
Lillian’s POVChris offers to help me move as soon as he spots me struggling with the heavy box.“You don’t have to do this,” I protest weakly, even as he lifts the box like it weighs nothing.“Neighbors help each other,” he says with an easy smile. “Besides, it looks like you’ve got enough to keep you busy for a while.”I laugh softly, trying not to focus on the way his shirt stretches over his shoulders as he carries the box inside. “Thanks, Chris. Really. You didn’t sign up for this, though.”Chris grabs one of the heavier boxes labeled Books and lets out an exaggerated groan as he lifts it.“Okay, Lillian, be honest. Are these actual books or bricks disguised as books?”“They’re classics! You know, the cornerstone of every decent library.”“Cornerstone? More like a literal foundation.” He pretends to stumble under the weight, leaning against the wall as if he might collapse. “Do you really need all of these?”“Absolutely. Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who thinks digital
Lillian’s POVMichael takes a step back, his expression caught somewhere between anger and hurt. For a moment, I think he’s going to argue, but instead, he raises his hands in surrender.“I’m not forcing you. But at least let me take you back to your friend’s house. I don’t trust you walking out there alone.”“Fine. But you drop me off and leave. That’s it.”He nods stiffly, leading the way to his car. “I’ll give you some time to calm down,” Michael says after a few minutes, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. “But about the divorce, I will not agree to it.”I turn to him, my voice sharp. “Then I’ll calm down for the rest of my life, Michael. Whether or not you agree to the divorce, we are done. Dragging this on is meaningless.”“You don’t mean that.”“I mean every word,” I snap.The rest of the drive is spent in tense silence. When we pull up in front of Ava’s apartment, I don’t wait for him to say anything else. I step out and slam the door shut behind me, not looking ba
Lillian’s POVMichael’s mother’s gaze narrows, her lips pursed so tightly they look like a single straight line. “You know we’re taking a family photo today,” she says. “How could you not wear something nice, or even put on makeup? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass us?”“Excuse me?” I say.Eleanor scoffs, tilting her head as if I’m some unruly child. “You heard me, dear. It’s a family tradition. A professional photographer comes every year. Everyone knows to look their best. But I suppose that sort of consideration is too much to expect from you.”“I didn’t realize I needed to meet a dress code to eat dinner.”Her eyes narrow even further. Before I can say more, Michael’s sister, Vanessa, appears, sliding into the conversation like a snake. She’s always been good at turning small sparks into full-blown fires.“She has a point, Lillian,” Vanessa chimes in. “It’s not that hard to put in a little effort. I mean, you knew tonight was important, didn’t you?”“I dressed appropriatel
Lillian’s POVI wake to a loud banging on the door, each knock rattling through the quiet apartment. Groggily, I sit up, wondering if I’m still dreaming. But then Michael’s voice cuts through the silence.“Lillian! Open the door!”My heart sinks. For a moment, I freeze, staring at the ceiling. It’s still dark outside, the faint glow of the streetlights barely filtering through the curtains. I reach for my phone.4:47 AM.What the hell is he doing here?I grab my phone, unblock his number, and call him.“Michael, go home,” I say as soon as he picks up.“I’m not leaving,” he snaps. “Not until you talk to me.”“Are you seriously making a scene right now?” I hiss, keeping my voice low. “You’re going to wake everyone up.”“Good. Maybe they’ll talk some sense into you.”The sound of footsteps draws my attention. Ava appears in the room, her face a mix of exhaustion and annoyance, her hair sticking up on one side.“Do you know what’s going on?” she whispers.“It’s Michael,” I mutter, hanging
Michael’s POVHer laughter rings out, light and carefree. It’s been so long since I’ve heard her laugh like that—too long. But that’s not what stops me in my tracks. It’s the way she leans into him, the way his hand lingers near her waist like he belongs there. And the matching outfits? Perfectly coordinated, as if they’re some kind of... couple.The blood rushes to my head, a mix of disbelief and fury. For days, she’s refused to see me, sending divorce papers instead, while this—this policeman—has been keeping her company? My hands clench into fists.Before I know it, I’m crossing the room. She doesn’t notice me, too busy smiling up at him like he’s the center of her universe. When I reach her, my hand moves of its own accord, clamping down on her arm.Her smile vanishes instantly. She whirls around, and her eyes widen when she sees me. “Michael.”The way she says my name, as if she doesn’t have a drop of care for me, cuts deeper than I care to admit.“What’s this?” I demand, ges
Lillian’s POVChris makes his way over. Ava vanishes into the crowd, doing what she does best—networking, laughing, effortlessly making connections. I fidget with the soft gold bracelet on my wrist, the only thing I brought with me that wasn’t borrowed from Ava’s closet. My dress, an elegant emerald green she picked out, is a perfect nod to the 1920s with its shimmering beads and fitted silhouette. “Lillian. Long time no see,” Chris says as he arrives by my side.“I didn’t expect to see you here.” “Same here,” he says. “How’s the neck?” For a second, I’m confused, but then I remember. The fork. The man with the mental illness. “It’s fine now,” I say. “I tend to forget it’s there.” “Good to hear. It’s been worrying me for days, but I had no way to check in on you.” “I’m sorry,” I say, feeling guilty for never using the number he gave me.“No! No. I didn’t mean it like that. Look at me messing things up.”“You’re not messing things up,” I say.“Let's change the subject. This ban