Yet I didn’t even bother answering. I turned, walked straight to my room, and slammed the door.
Blood seeped through the bandage on my palm. At last, I couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears I'd been holding back finally trickled down my cheeks.
Standing by the window, I dialed the number my father had given me.
“One o’clock tomorrow afternoon for the marriage license. Does that time work for you?”
The man on the other end sounded like he was still in a meeting, but he still calmly replied, “Yeah. I’ll have my assistant set it up.”
Not long after we hung up, the notification came through. Among the long string of divorce registration records, that single marriage license application stood out like a bright red flag.
So this was all it took. It was really that simple.
“Who were you calling so late at night?”
Stanley suddenly pushed open the door. His eyes then went straight to the blood-stained bandages on the floor.
“You really were hurt?” A flicker of guilt passed through his face. He stepped closer, gently turning my palm over in his hands.
“I didn’t know it was this bad. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He grabbed fresh bandages and carefully rewrapped the wound. His movements were soft, meticulous, so unlike the man I’d grown used to.
For so long, ever since our fights over Darlene began, there had been nothing between us but sharp words and cold silence.
But people crumbled when they were hurt and were suddenly shown kindness.
So in that moment, I broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
He, on the other hand, wrapped me around his arms, and his hand patted my back in quiet comfort.
Avery's POV
“Alright, alright, stop crying. I know I’ve been neglecting you lately, that’s why your emotions have been so extreme. It’s all over now. Once I take Darlene back home for the funeral, we’ll go on with our marriage, okay?”
My sobs froze mid-breath.
So that was it. His sudden tenderness wasn’t because he finally understood me. It was just because of this. So foolish of me to believe that he actually cared about my hurt and realized his mistakes.
Despite that, I didn’t argue and simply replied, “Okay.”
Stanley let go of me, his eyes widening with surprise and delight.
“That’s my good wife,” he said proudly, pulling me close again, showering me with kisses.