Kate’s demeanor shifted instantly. Her eyes reddened as if on command, her lip trembling in practiced distress. She darted behind Brian as he entered the room, clutching his arm like a damsel in distress.
It was a scene straight out of a bad drama.
“Seriously?” I muttered under my breath, disgusted by the performance. I wanted nothing more than to leave this house and never look back.
***
Brian looked worse for wear—his face pale, his movements sluggish. He glanced at me, then at Kate, his frown deepening.
“Kate, thank you for taking care of me. But you should go home now.”
Kate’s eyes widened, filling with tears that didn’t quite fall.
“I’m not leaving, Brian,” she said, her voice wavering. “I want to explain to Elise. How can she accuse me of being the other woman?”
She turned to me, her expression painted with mock sincerity.
“Our relationship has always been clean... How can you say otherwise?”
I stared at her, fury burning in my chest. Her words, her tone, her very presence was like a knife twisting in my heart.
Brian’s eyes never left mine, as if waiting for something—for me to relent, to say I believed him. But I was done. There was no trust left to salvage, no love left to give.
This was the end. It had to be.
Brian's expression darkened, his brows furrowing into a tight knot as my words hit him.
“Nonsense,” he muttered under his breath, his tone sharp.
I didn’t have the patience for his dismissive attitude, nor could I bear to listen to their flirtatious banter. My heart felt like it was shattering into a thousand jagged pieces, but I refused to let it show. I focused on packing my clothes, my hands working methodically as I muttered to myself, trying to drown out the pain.
“The divorce agreement is in my bag,” I said aloud, though mostly to myself. “I’ve signed it. Next Monday, we’ll go to the civil registry. Thirty days of silence doesn’t bother me. I’ll move back into my old house. As for the property, I don’t want any of it...”
Brian’s voice cut me off, roughened by a violent cough.
“We’re not divorcing,” he said, his tone firm as though it was the final word. “Elise, listen to me—let me explain.”
I stopped packing long enough to glare at him. “I don’t care about your explanation. I just want a divorce.”
He sighed, his shoulders sagging as he tried again.