"Leave him."
I turned and headed for the stairs, my voice even. "I'm tired. I'm going to rest."
My footsteps didn't falter. The bedroom lock clicked open, and behind me, Dominic's gaze landed on my retreating back.
"Ava. I'm home."
I paused for half a second. Didn't turn around. Kept walking.
His voice shifted, edged with displeasure.
"Did you not hear me?"
Heavy footsteps climbed the stairs after me.
"What's gotten into you lately?"
He followed me into the bedroom, irritation threading through every syllable.
"You skip the family gatherings. You bail on the company gala. And now you can't even be bothered to acknowledge me when I walk through the door?"
"Nothing's gotten into me." My tone was flat. Almost amused. "I just realized there's no point anymore."
"No point?" His brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I lifted my head and looked him straight in the eyes. Two lifetimes as his wife. I'd told myself it wasn't just an arranged marriage. We'd grown up together, at least. Partners, if nothing else. But in the end, none of it mattered once his precious soulmate fell from the sky.
My gaze dropped to the red string tied around his wrist.
"Dominic. I want a divorce."
We'd only been married a year this time. I had plenty of road ahead of me, and I refused to waste another second tangled up with a man who wasn't worth the air he breathed.
Dominic Calloway stared at me, frozen, as if the words hadn't registered.
Of course. In his mind, I would always be that Ava. The one who saw the bigger picture. The one who compromised, who yielded, who forgave. The one who loved him like he was the only thing keeping her alive.
Divorce. The word coming out of my mouth must have sounded like a joke to him. Absurd. Impossible.
Three seconds passed.
The color drained from his face, replaced by something dark.
"Ava, since when did you learn these little-girl ultimatum tricks?"
"Just because I feel sorry for Fiona and want to help her out?"
"I'm not making ultimatums."
I smiled, perfectly composed, but my voice was steel.
"I think giving her the title of Mrs. Calloway would do a much better job of helping her rebuild the Prescott family business."
"I'm stepping aside for her. What more could you possibly want?"
I turned and walked into the bathroom.
Dominic didn't follow. He didn't chase me in to explain, didn't bother with a few sweet words to smooth things over or tell me I'd misunderstood.