From Ruin to Radiance
In the second year of their marriage, her once emotionally distant and reserved husband suddenly started living a wild lifestyle, with a revolving door of women by his side.
She had tried reasoning, arguing, and even causing a scene-the most serious of which ended with both of them at the police station in the middle of the night.
No matter how she protested, her husband would simply respond with indifference, "You went to great lengths to marry me, isn't this the life you wanted?"
In that moment, she understood everything.
He had always suspected that she was involved in the death of his idealized first love, and marrying her was just a way to torment her.
When she caught him again, this time with the younger sister of his deceased first love, her last glimmer of hope was utterly shattered.
Once more, he threatened her with divorce, "Keep this up, and we'll get a divorce."
This time, she didn't back down. Instead, she lifted her head and retorted, "Fine, let's divorce. Do you think I won't let go?"
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Chapter 3
"Besides, Nora and I are already divorced." Ethan dropped another bomb on Jake and Madison.
"Divorced!" they gasped. "You split with Nora?"
Ethan glanced at her, his face cold, and tightened his grip on Lilah. "I never loved her. So what?"
Nora found her voice. "You honestly felt nothing for me?"
He let out a short laugh. "Not a shred. You don't deserve it."
The words stabbed her like an ice pick.
The ring slipped from her fingers and clinked on the tiles.
Ethan led Lilah upstairs without a backward glance.
Nora stood hollow, unseeing.
Madison dropped all courtesy. "Good riddance. Three years and no child, nothing but noise. We were cursed with you."
Jake scowled. "Enough sulking. Fix your temper or your next husband's family will despise you."
Their sudden scorn chilled her.
She clenched her fists. "He cheated and got that woman pregnant, yet you blame me? Where's your shame?"
The older pair flushed, having no grounds for an argument.
"I've done nothing wrong," Nora snapped, and strode to her room.
Behind the closed door she slid to the floor, arms wrapped around herself.
Her father, Rodrick Payne, rang. "You always stopped short of divorce. Why not endure this time? The Stanleys just funded my project. Charm him back."
Nora gripped the phone. "You call only to tell me to swallow it?"
Rodrick barked, "You can't keep your man in check. What else can you do but swallow your pride? Your mother raised a rebel."
The mention of her mother burned. "Don't speak of her. Your affairs drove her to her grave!"
She cut the call and sobbed into the quilt.
Three years ago, her mother's heart failed after Rodrick's infidelity came out.
Nora cried until she fainted several times, but her father remained indifferent.
It was Ethan who accompanied her through the darkness. Ethan held Nora then. "I'll stay with you for the rest of my life," he whispered.
That promise had felt like forever.
Now it lay in shards.
He didn't love her, and she didn't want anything from him anymore.
She opened the e-mail from a university in Flison, clicked every box, and sent her acceptance.
It was a dream she had set aside for fear of parting with Ethan.
When the divorce process was done, she would leave everything behind.