Chapter 2

"You're being completely unreasonable," he scoffed, glaring at me. "Can you grow up? We have a child together, and you throw around the word 'divorce' like it's a joke?"

"Did you think about our baby when you decided to step out on our marriage?"

"I didn't cheat!" he yelled, his voice echoing violently through the quiet apartment.

Without another word, he snatched his car keys.

The front door slammed so hard the walls vibrated. A second later, Noah burst into screams from the nursery.

I froze for two seconds, then bolted into the room.

My baby's little face was flushed bright red from crying. I scooped him into my arms, gently patting his back.

"Shh, baby, don't cry. Mommy's here."

Noah's warm tears soaked into my shoulder.

A sudden, crushing realization hit me. In the months since Noah was born, Lucas had held him fewer than ten times.

How many diapers had he changed?

How many bottles had he warmed?

How many sleepless nights had he walked the floor with him?

I could count them on one hand.

I paced the nursery, rocking Noah until his breathing finally steadied and his eyelids fluttered shut.

After laying him back down in the crib, I picked up my phone.

A text from Lucas popped up:

I'm not coming home tonight. Take some time to calm down.

I checked the calendar.

This was the tenth time this month.

I stayed awake until three in the morning. I stared at flight booking apps, browsing one-way tickets back to my parents' city.

Halfway through packing my suitcase, I stopped. I opened my laptop and typed out four words: Marital Settlement and Dissolution Agreement.

The apartment stays with me. The car stays with me. I get sole physical custody.

He pays $1,500 a month in child support until Noah turns eighteen.

The next morning, Lucas didn't show up.

I assumed he had crashed at the office—or in someone else's bed. I didn't care anymore.

To make sure he signed the papers without dragging it out, I decided to take Noah straight to his firm.

I ordered an Uber, loaded the folded stroller into the trunk, and got in with Noah strapped into his carrier.

The driver, a warm-hearted middle-aged woman, glanced back and smiled. "Handling a baby all on your own? You're doing amazing, mama."

I forced a weak smile and said nothing.

When the car pulled up to his sleek downtown office building, I looked up at the glass tower.

Back when we were dating, he brought me here once, proudly pointing at the upper floors: "One day, I'm going to run this place."

Now, that memory felt like a faded, pathetic photograph.

I pushed the stroller out of the elevator onto his firm's floor.

Behind the front desk sat a young woman with her head down, sorting through mail.

I stepped forward. Just as I opened my mouth, my eyes landed on her lanyard.

Vanessa.

Clear as day.

My breath hitched for a second.

So this was her.

Vanessa looked up. She was young, her skin flawless, with cute little dimples when she smiled.

"Good morning! How can I help you?"

Her voice was sugary sweet.

"I'm here to see Lucas."

Hearing his name come out of my mouth felt strangely foreign.

"And you are...?" She hesitated, trying to place me.

"I'm his wife," I said calmly. "I'm here to serve him our divorce papers."

The pen in Vanessa's hand slipped.

The smile on her face froze completely. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

"He's... married?" she whispered under her breath.

She genuinely looked stunned. Maybe she really didn't know.

"Please let him know I'm waiting," I added.

"R-Right away. Just a moment, please."

She stumbled as she stood up, nearly tripping over her desk chair before rushing down the hallway.

I waited by the reception desk, glancing down at Noah. He was happily gnawing on his little fist, drooling all over his onesie.

A minute later, footsteps clicked against the hardwood floor.

Lucas walked out, with Vanessa trailing close behind.

His hand was casually resting on Vanessa's shoulder, his head tilted down as he whispered something to her. Vanessa's cheeks were flushed pink.

"...I'll take you to that sushi place you wanted to try after work—"

He stopped dead in his tracks. He saw me.

His hand dropped from Vanessa's shoulder instantly.

"Chloe? What are you doing here?"

I looked at Vanessa, then shifted my gaze to him.

"I need you to sign something."

"Sign what?"

"A divorce agreement."

Vanessa's head snapped toward me, her eyes wide, before she looked down again in panic.

Lucas's face darkened. "Can you not make a scene here?"

"I'm not making a scene. I'm here to get your signature. Once you sign, I'm gone."