Chapter 4

The dining room goes still.

I drop the signed divorce papers right on the table between us.

"Let's get this done."

Asher freezes for a second. His eyes drop to the signature line. He doesn't move.

I know exactly what he's thinking.

The old me would've ripped that paper in half with shaking hands. Cried. Screamed, "Asher, you don't get to just decide we're done!" Made him chase me around the house for hours before anything got signed.

He looks up at me, that same lazy drawl in his voice.

"What's the rush, baby? I told you, we'll handle it after Chloe's first trimester."

"I can't wait that long," I say. "Two o'clock. Courthouse. Are you coming or not?"

His eyelid twitches.

"Scarlett." He pushes the papers back toward the middle of the table. "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?"

"Better sign before you wake up too," I shoot back. "Otherwise you'll change your mind and tear it up again."

The silence stretches.

Then Chloe comes drifting down the staircase like a ghost in a silk robe.

"Sis, please don't be upset. I just— I don't want my baby labeled illegitimate, that's all." Her voice cracks beautifully. "The divorce can wait until after the first trimester, really!"

Her eyes are already brimming.

She looks more torn up about my marriage than I do.

Asher glances at her. That tragic little face. That trembling lip. That soft "don't be upset"— it lands on his ego like a slap.

When did Asher Vance ever get rushed into a divorce?

"You think I won't sign?" He laughs once, sharp, and grabs the pen.

Tyler jumps up. "Ash, hold on—"

"Shut up." Asher doesn't even look at him.

He scrawls his name and slams the pen down.

That signature smirk crawls right back onto his mouth.

"There. You all witnessed it." He nods at his entourage. "After the baby's born, we remarry. Everyone heard me."

Then he leans down to my ear, voice dropping into something almost tender.

"You're the woman I dragged back from death itself, Scarlett. None of those girls out there hold a candle to you."

"This kid? He'll be ours to raise. Only you get to be his mother. Got it?"

I let out a soft laugh.

So this is what he calls love.

I don't say a word.

I just grab the suitcase I packed last night and walk out the front door.

Behind me, Chloe's voice floats out, soft as cotton:

"Ash… she's not really leaving for good, is she?"

Asher doesn't answer.

Originally his plan was clean and tidy. Divorce on paper, but I keep my room. My closet. My place at the dining table. The illusion of a wife, parked in the corner like a vase.

Me actually leaving? Wasn't in the script.

But it doesn't matter. Not to him.

"You little troublemaker," he murmurs to Chloe, brushing her hair back. "Bet you're loving this, huh?"

"That's not fair!" Chloe pouts. "You always tease me. I'd never break up someone's marriage on purpose— my conscience won't let me."

She rests her hand on her belly, eyes shining.

"It's all for the baby."