Phones were raised. Flashes went off.
Tessa's company was in the heart of the commercial district, and the New Year's Eve foot traffic was immense. My stated reason for divorce sounded absurd to outsiders, and several self-appointed vigilantes began livestreaming.
"Look at this guy. Lives off his wife's money, acts tough, and demands a divorce because she built a snowman with a friend."
Viewer counts climbed rapidly. Tessa noticed the cameras, and her tears flowed harder.
"Oliver," she choked out, playing to the gallery. "Even if everyone's guesses are true... as long as you cut ties with that woman, I won't hold it against you. Come home."
She looked so righteous. So forgiving. So understanding.
Bile rose in my throat.
"Tessa has already compromised this much! How are you still not satisfied?" Carter held the "heartbroken" Tessa in his arms, practically spitting as he cursed me. "Oliver Fox, everyone is right about you. You aren't worthy of being called a man."
I looked at the signed divorce papers in my hand.
Then I pointed at the pure white snowman behind them.
"I am getting this divorce," I said, my voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "And the answer to why is right there. Inside that snowman."
Tessa froze, her eyes flickering. "Oliver, I've already compromised. Do you have to force my hand?"
"Tell me!" she screamed suddenly, trying to drown me out. "Who is she? What does she have that I don't? I loved you for five years! Every holiday, every birthday—I spent them with you!"
"Only tonight... only because of overtime, I broke a promise. You cannot use divorce to threaten me over this!"
Her words exploded like a bomb, blasting a crater into calm water, sending ripples of sympathy through the crowd and turning public opinion violently against me.
"I've never seen such a manipulative drama queen in my life. Just because she didn't spend New Year's with him, he's throwing a tantrum like this?"
"Divorce him, then! Tessa, honestly, what are you afraid of?"
An angry voice sliced through the crowd.
Audrey Mason. Tessa's best friend.
"Audrey, please, try to talk some sense into Oliver. He... he insists on divorcing me."
Audrey shot me a look of pure disgust, like she wanted to flay me alive right there.