Chapter 3

"You—!"

Lucas exhaled sharply, glancing around nervously. Several coworkers were already poking their heads out of cubicles to watch the drama unfold.

"We're talking somewhere else."

He turned and strode toward the elevator without looking back.

I wheeled the stroller behind him. As I passed Vanessa, she lifted her eyes and gave me a guilty, searching look.

We ended up at the quiet coffee shop on the ground floor.

He ordered a black Americano. I asked for a cup of tap water.

Noah sat quietly in my lap, playing with his tiny fingers.

"The agreement is in the folder. Read it over. If there are no issues, sign it."

I slid the paperwork across the table.

He didn't even look at it. He shoved it right back.

"Chloe, can you stop acting like a child?"

"A child?" I scoffed. "You're parading an intern around the office, promising her dinner dates, and telling her she's too skinny to hold. And I'm the one acting like a child?"

"There's nothing between us!"

"Nothing? Your hand was literally on her shoulder two minutes ago!"

His eyes flickered with shame.

"Lucas, you fell out of love with me. That happens," I said softly, kissing the top of Noah's head. "What disgusts me is that you despise me behind closed doors while playing the devoted family man in public."

He stayed silent.

"Sign it. It's better for both of us." I held out a pen.

He took the pen, but his fingers remained still.

"If we get divorced, how are you going to raise him by yourself?"

"Hasn't that been my reality since the day he was born?"

He flinched.

"The house and the car..."

"They stay with me."

"Are you insane?"

"You cheated. I'm filing. I set the terms," I stated firmly. "If you disagree, we can take this to court. I'm sure a judge would love to hear all about your workplace romance."

His face paled, then flushed with anger.

"Also, $1,500 a month in child support until he's eighteen."

"Fifteen hundred?!"

"You make enough to cover it easily."

Lucas gripped the pen so tightly his knuckles turned white.

We sat in dead silence for nearly twenty minutes. He finally flipped through the pages, his brow furrowed deep.

"You can have the car, but the apartment—"

"The apartment is mine."

"It's a marital asset!"

"So was your fidelity. Did you keep your end of the contract?"

He had no comeback.

Right then, the glass door of the café swung open.

Vanessa stood at the entrance holding a paper takeout bag. Seeing us, she hesitated for a second before walking over.

"Lucas... I brought you an iced coffee. I thought you might need it for your afternoon meeting..."

She approached the table, and her eyes instantly locked onto the document spread out between us.

Her voice trembled. "You're... actually getting a divorce?"

"Vanessa, go back upstairs," Lucas snapped, his tone sharp.

But she didn't leave.

Instead, she stepped closer to his side, her eyes welling with tears.

"Lucas, I know I shouldn't be here, but I can't help it."

Her voice was barely a whisper. She looked at me with pleading eyes.

"I really love him, Chloe. Please... just divorce him."

"Let us be together. Please?"

I leaned back against my chair, watching the pathetic spectacle.

Did she honestly think I was the one clinging to him?

"If you want him, take him," I said evenly.

"I already drew up the papers. He's the one refusing to sign. If you can convince him to put pen to paper, I'll gladly thank you."