HE WAS NEVER MINE

Avery's Pov

The sounds from the other room continued for hours.

Her moans, his groans and the sound of his bed creaking.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, hands pressed over my ears. But I could still hear everything. Every whispered word. Every sound of happiness I had never heard from him.

When it finally went quiet, I turned away from the door and cried into my pillow until exhaustion finally took over.

The doctor arrived once the guests had gone home. Richard and his wife had also left. 

Dr. Matthews examined me in my room. The result was simple. I wasn't pregnant. I was exhausted and severely stressed.

He'd recommended I should rest and he left within twenty minutes.

Nate never asked about the results, never came to check on me.

He'd been too busy with her.

Three days had passed and Nate didn't come home.

I knew where he was. At her hotel. Somewhere he could finally live the life he had always wanted without me in it.

Even the house felt different. Bigger and colder as if every room reminded me I no longer belonged there.

I stopped going down for meals. The staff brought trays I barely touched. 

Richard came to the house, knocked on my door twice. I pretended to be asleep. I guessed the staff had told him what was happening.

That day, I walked past Nate's study. His coffee cup still sat on the desk from three days ago I had brought to him the morning after that night,  cold and abandoned , just like me.

I picked it up with shaking hands. His scent still lingered faintly on the cup, and that hurt more than I expected

The cup shattered against the wall before I realized I'd thrown it in anger.

I sat on the floor, watching coffee drip down the expensive wallpaper, and laughed.  

This was what I had become. A woman breaking cups because her husband chose someone else.

I pulled my knees to my chest and let the emptiness swallow me whole.

I heard his car in the driveway the next day, my heart jumped despite everything.

I sat on my bed, shaking, waiting.

His footsteps stopped outside my door. He knocked once before entering without waiting for permission.

"The papers are ready." He held up a folder. 

I looked at him and hated that I noticed the difference. He looked lighter, happier as if being with her had returned something I could never give him.

"Already?" I said, arms wrapped around myself.

"I told the lawyer to make it a priority." He said, dropping the folder on my dresser. "Sign them today."

"Just like that." 

I let out a small laugh that sounded hollow even to me.

"Just like that." He looked at his watch like he had somewhere better to be. "There's a settlement inside. Five million plus the Manhattan penthouse, more than fair."

Five million dollars, the number hung in the air between us.

That's what fourteen months of my life was worth. What sleeping in a cold bed was worth. What loving him was worth.

More than fair, really?

I wanted to laugh again or scream. Instead, I just stared at the folder like it might bite me.

"Sign them, Avery." His voice left no room for discussion. "Let's end this."

I moved to the dresser and picked  up the folder with steady hands.

I opened it and I saw the divorce papers,  clean and official. The end of everything I had hoped for was sitting in front of me, printed neatly in black and white.

"Okay." 

His head snapped up. "What?"

"I said okay." I looked at the papers. "I'll sign."

Genuine surprise crossed his face. "You will?"

"Yes." I traced my name. "Right now if you want."

He just stared at me. "No fight? No tears?"

"Why would I fight for someone who doesn't want me?" I met his eyes. "You've made yourself very clear, Nate."

Something flickered in his expression, confusion or discomfort maybe.

"I didn't think you'd agree to this easily."

"What did you expect?" I asked. "Me begging? Crying? Throwing myself at your feet? Would that have changed anything?"

"No." He said firmly. "It wouldn't have."

"Then what's the point?" I set the folder down carefully. "You want this. I'm giving it to you."

He nodded slowly, still looking uncertain like he'd prepared for a battle and I'd just surrendered without firing a shot.

"Good." He said.

"On one condition though."

His jaw tightened immediately, shaking his head. "No...no! No conditions."

"One night." I said calmly. "Sleep with me, just once then I'll sign it."

"Absolutely not." He stepped back like I'd suggested something obscene. "That's insane."

"Then I won't sign." I crossed my arms. "Your choice."

"Avery, don't be ridiculous..."

"Fourteen months, Nate." I tried to keep my voice steady. "I was your wife for fourteen months."

"You didn't kiss me, not to talk of sleeping with me. You owe me one night, one real night, that's all I'm asking."

"I don't owe you anything." He snapped. "The contract is over."

"Then this divorce will take months." I sat on the edge of the bed, keeping my expression calm even though my hands were trembling.  "Lawyers, negotiations, court dates."

"How long do you think Celeste will wait while we drag this out?"

His face darkened. "You wouldn't."

"Watch me." I held his stare. "I have nothing left to lose. You and your family already took everything."

Silence stretched between us. I could see the war happening behind his eyes. The calculations.

"Why?" He asked. "Why do you want this?"

"Because I need to know how it feels." I muttered. "To be touched by you, to be seen by you. Just once, one night then I'm gone."

"You get everything you want."

He turned away, I saw his jaw working. I waited and let the silence do its work.

"One night." I pressed. "Compared to months of legal battles. What's worse?"

His shoulders were tensed. I could see him weighing options from Celeste's impatience to public court proceedings. Time wasted.

Finally, he turned back. "Fine. One night then you sign after and leave. No more games."

"I promise, no more games."

"Tomorrow night." He said. "I have meetings all day. We'll do this tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." 

He moved toward the door, hand on the knob ready to leave, ready to go back to her.

I stood up. "Tomorrow night, Nate. In your room, on your bed."

He stopped to look back at me. Something flickered in his eyes. 

"That's where I want it." I held his gaze."The room I was never allowed to enter. The bed I was never allowed to share."