Chapter 3

I walked to the coffee table and picked up the divorce agreement.

"Two copies — I've already signed both. Since everyone's here, let's make it official."

Callum's expression shifted slightly, but he recovered quickly.

I was the one bringing up the divorce, in front of Sebastian and Dominic.

In his mind, I was proving how far I'd go for him.

A trace of smugness crossed his eyes.

"Jo," he said, stepping toward me, his tone soothing. "We can handle this privately, no need to—"

"Since the agreement's already out," Vivienne said suddenly, "can I ask — when are you moving out?"

The living room went quiet for a beat.

Callum frowned. Vivienne ignored him, looking only at me, her expression perfectly innocent:

"This apartment is in my name. You can't exactly stay here forever, can you?"

I went still.

The apartment. In her name.

I looked instinctively at Callum.

He avoided my gaze, his throat moving once. He said nothing.

In that moment, image after image crashed through my mind.

The day we moved in, him holding my hand, saying "this is our home."

When he bought the place, saying "I'll handle all the paperwork, don't worry about it."

Me, happily choosing curtains and sofas and the dining table…

Every piece of furniture in this apartment — I'd made trip after trip to the home goods store to pick it out.

Every corner of this place, decorated to his taste…

I'd never cared whose name was on the deed.

But I had never imagined that the home I shared with my husband would be registered under another woman's name.

I looked down at the agreement in my hands. I let out a quiet breath of laughter.

"I'll go now."

"Jo…" Callum stepped forward.

"Civil registry office. Nine o'clock tomorrow morning." I didn't look back. I grabbed my suitcase, walked to the door, changed my shoes, pulled it open — one clean motion.

The hallway lights blinked on and off.

Waiting for the elevator, I could still hear the sounds drifting through the door:

"She's even more cooperative than when I had to beg her to marry me!"

Laughter mixed with chatter, muffled behind the door like something from a stranger's life.

I stood at the elevator, listening to this story I no longer recognized.

The person in the mirror looked calmer than I expected.

It wasn't until I was in the cab that my phone buzzed.

A message from Callum:

[About the apartment — I'll explain…]

[Be good. Find somewhere to stay for now. I'll come get you in a few days.]

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then turned it face-down on my lap.

Outside the window, streetlamps retreated one by one.

Come get me in a few days.

As if I'd just stepped out to buy groceries and would be back in a moment.

I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes.

Don't bother, Callum. You don't need to come.