Chapter 6%
C
Wiley’s POVE
Inside the box lay a divorce agreement–and an old, worn–out journal.
I felt like all the blood my body was rushing backward. My hands shook as I picked up the papers.”
And right there on the last page, under [Party B] was Aveline’s name in bold characters.
‘Aveline loves me like crazy. Why the hell is she suddenly filing for a divorce now?!‘
I set the divorce papers aside and picked up the journal underneath.
Every page was packed with detailed notes–years‘ worth of expenses for treating my depression. Every page was packed with neat handwriting, except for the last one, which remained blank.
A folded note slipped out from between the pages..
Black ink on plain white paper read:
[Wiley, I know you’re rich. All these years with me, you’re only pretending to be poor. And you were never depressed. So do the right thing and pay me back $100,800.]
The journal slipped from my hands and hit the floor with a loud thud. My eyes filled with regret.
The next second, I crouched down, clutching my head in agony.
I admitted it. ‘After seven years with Aveline, I’ve long since fallen for her–hard because of her overwhelming love for me.‘”
Every time I saw her and our son exhausted, trying to make ends meet for my treatment, it crushed me.
But just when I’d finally gathered the courage to come clean, Severine came back.
She told me the father of her child had died. She said she couldn’t raise her kid alone without giving him a complete family. Severine–my first love, the one that got away.”
And faced with the chance to finally be with her, I lost my head.
I postponed my confession, just to spend more time with my old flame.”
Now, only now, did I realize how stupid I’d been.}
I’d hurt the ones who loved me most–for someone who never loved me at all.
I wanted to disappear out of shame.}
But once I calmed down, I handed the landlord a wad of cash and bought the entire apartment building.
This was where my memories with Aveline lived. I couldn’t bear to let it go.
Then, I left.
I had one goal–find my wife and our son!
7:45 PM
