C04
It had been Chase who made the first move.
With deep emotion, he had promised me. “Since it’s you, Helen, everything I have–my salary, my car, the house- belongs to you.”
At the time, those words felt like a vow, binding us together. But now, I see it differently. The material things might be mine, but his heart? His heart was like a flower, with petals plucked and scattered, given to someone else.
The realization left me feeling hollow.
Adam had always been observant. Perhaps he had pieced everything together without me saying much, as he offered, “I can take you home.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going home. I want a divorce.”
***
Later, I went to the civil affairs office to retrieve the divorce papers. I slipped them into a folder, along with the organ donation form I had signed.
Before heading back, I took a picture of the dishes I had carefully laid out on the table. Then, I sent Chase a message. [Chase, I’ll be waiting for you.]
Chase would never willingly divorce me–not without a fight. And even if he agreed, he would never let go of the child I carried. I didn’t want his property, but the child’s right to support was something I had to secure.
Chase didn’t keep me waiting for long.
He rushed home, arriving in just minutes, carrying a box of pastries–my favorite.
“Helen, I know how much you love these,” he said with a warm smile as he kissed my forehead.
He didn’t notice anything unusual about my demeanor. He assumed, as always, that I was just upset, and that his affection and small gestures would smooth things over.
It had worked in the past–after all, Chase was a master of placating me with sweet words, tender kisses and little gifts. He had always known how to lull me back into complacency.
That evening, he tried to set the mood. Closing the curtains and lighting candles, he filled the room with the air of romance and ritual. “Close your eyes,” he instructed.
When I opened them again, I saw a delicate Van Cleef & Arpels four–leaf clover necklace dangling from my neck. He must have gone through my online shopping cart again.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, keeping my tone neutral.
The candlelight danced across both our faces, casting flickering shadows that felt like ghosts of the truth I was
hiding.
“Honey, there’s something else,” Chase said. He pulled out a folder and placed a stack of papers on the table in front of me. At the top was an insurance agreement.
Placing a pen in my hand, he spoke with a heartfelt expression. “Helen, if anything ever happens to me, I want this agreement to ensure you have a smooth life.”
He was careful to show me only the page he wanted me to sign, too preoccupied to notice that I had already
swapped it out for the divorce agreement.
I took the pen, signed my name without hesitation, and handed it back to him.
“Your turn, Chase,” I said softly.
He smiled, signed his name without reading a word, and set the folder aside without a second thought. Relief
washed over me.
3:46 PM
The Heart He Stole
That night, Chase used the excuse of a work emergency to leave again. I knew exactly where he was going,
Grace’s side.
He took the folder with him, completely unaware of the papers it contained.
Four years of effort–all the time I had invested in this relationship–had finally come to this moment. The irony
wasn’t lost on me. I had once fought to win his heart, but now, I was ready to walk away.
With Chase preoccupied, I finally had some breathing room to tie up the remaining loose ends. Canceling my phone number, finalizing the divorce proceedings, and preparing for the next chapter of my life…
I clutched the signed divorce agreement in one hand and my plane ticket to Canada in the other. Then, I dialed a
number I hadn’t used before.
“Adam, can you pick me up now?”
His reply was as curt as ever. “Okay.”
Before hanging up, I added quickly, “And thank you… for letting me stay at your place.”
Adam’s tone didn’t change. “Don’t mention it. The house in Canada is just sitting there. It might as well be put to use.” I chuckled softly, amused by how serious he sounded even when being generous.
As I ended the call, my eyes scanned the apartment one last time. The space felt empty now–empty of my
presence, my memories, my love. I had erased every trace of myself from this place. A pang of sadness struck me as I imagined Chase returning tomorrow to find the apartment bare. What would his expression be when he realized I
was gone? I didn’t know. And for the first time, I didn’t care.
I wondered what Chase’s face would look like when he opened the envelope and saw the divorce papers.
Dragging my suitcase behind me, I left everything else behind. The only thing that remained in that house was the diamond ring he had given me. Even under the pale glow of the moonlight, the diamond looked dull, its brilliance snuffed out along with our relationship.
Outside, rain fell in soft, rhythmic patterns.
