Love Disperses With the Wind

"It seems you didn't take yesterday's warning seriously," Ray stated darkly. Now that Nadia had left, his expression had reverted to the cold and unapproachable one I was used to seeing.

He turned, grabbed a document, and tossed it at me.

As I skimmed through it, I realized it was a project my father's company was working on.

"I meant what I said, Claire. Your father could be left with nothing but the clothes on his back if I wanted it so. How long do you think you can continue living like a pampered princess when that happens?" Ray added threateningly.

I licked my dry lips. It turned out he had always resented me all these years.

Years ago, Ray and I confronted my father to tell him about our relationship. The old man was furious.

Dad had refused to allow me to marry Ray because Ray had nothing back then. However, Ray had even gone on his knees at the time. He had also stubbornly refused to let go of my hand and endured it all as Dad humiliated him.

But today, Ray threw a divorce agreement at my face. It reminded me of when Dad had thrown a wad of cash in his.

It seemed karma had made its way to me, and it was now my turn to experience such humiliation—but did it really have to be this way? Ray merely needed to tell me he didn't love me anymore, and I wouldn't have made him stay.

When I picked up the divorce agreement, I couldn't help chuckling mirthlessly when I saw he had already signed it. It seemed he genuinely loved Nadia.

"Can I ask you a question?" I said to him. I looked up from the agreement and back at him.

Taking in his pretentious appearance, I asked, "What do you like about her?"

Ray didn't answer. Our seven years of marriage ended in silence.

…

Ray brought Nadia along to city hall on the day we were to collect our divorce certificate.

"Is this to save the trouble of making a second trip?" I couldn't help asking sardonically.

Ray hid Nadia behind him like a mother hen protecting a chick.

"I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't know you and Ray were married," Nadia apologized. "I definitely wouldn't have come between you two if I had known, but you've seen how unhappy Ray was in your marriage. And now that you've divorced him amicably, I hope you can be happy for us."

The words coming out of her pretty mouth made me want to die.

"I hope you don't mind, but I would like to invite you to our wedding," she added as she handed me an invitation.

I wordlessly looked at Ray, hoping to glimpse a sliver of the old him—the one that used to love me. However, his gaze was focused entirely on the blushing Nadia, so much so that he wouldn't even spare me a glance.

I couldn't believe they were already handing out wedding invitations when our divorce certificate was still hot off the press.