Chapter 3

"You want to divorce me?"

Callum's voice drops.

"Yes." I meet his eyes. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you?"

He looks away.

He'd proposed it himself, at the start.

Three years.

After three years, we'd separate.

I could walk away with half his assets — the Whitmore family's acknowledgment of what my parents had sacrificed for them.

Three years was also enough time to make it look dignified.

I refused.

Took it to his parents.

That day, Callum got torn apart in front of everyone.

I'd stood there with my arms crossed, watching, pleased with myself.

He'd looked back at me then — expressionless. No grief. No anger.

Now that I'm finally offering to let him go, that look has only gotten colder.

"What are you actually trying to do?"

"Callum. I mean it. You write the terms.

"Sign it, and I walk out with nothing. Whatever you want."

Callum's brow creases.

Then — a slow, bitter curve of his lips.

"Madeleine. Stop it."

He stands, picks up the basin, and carries it out.

That night, he doesn't come to our room.

Same as always.

He'd never come to me unless I cornered him into it.

Good. I didn't want to share a bed with someone who was going to destroy me.

I didn't sleep.

Callum could let go — fine. But the comments said Leo would stop calling me Mom?

The next morning, still half-asleep, I found Leo already waiting in the doorway.

My rule. Every morning, say good morning to both parents.

Who says my son is going to belong to someone else? Look at him — standing right there, perfectly on schedule.

But when breakfast hit the table, he opened his mouth:

"Did you find out about aunt Ellie?"

I blinked.

"If you're going to divorce Daddy, why do you have to make Ellie look bad?"

Who was Ellie.

How had I made him look bad.

The comments lost their minds:

[Leo's defending our female lead!]

[He's right — filing for divorce now makes it look like Ellie broke up the family. Like she's the other woman!]

[She's so calculated. God, I want to reach through the screen.]

[She can't fool Callum or Leo though — they've already called her out!]

[Go for it, Leo! She only cares about her pride — her own kid is her only weak spot!]

I stared at him:

"You knew about this?"

"Dad told me everything. Dad said you're manipulative."

My fist tightened.

So that was why Callum had been so hostile last night.

I looked at Leo carefully. "If your dad and I actually divorced — who would you go with?"

[Does she even have to ask? Leo's already calling the female lead Mommy at the office. She's so behind.]

I went cold.

Leo's eyes fixed on mine. "You… you're sure about the divorce? No taking it back?"

[Ha! Leo's already planning his new life.]

[She did this to herself.]

My own son… really didn't want me?

I ignored the pain in my back and sat up straight.

"Leo."

I reached for his hand. He stepped back.

I tried for his sleeve. He pulled free.

I've had high expectations for him, it's true.

But every book, every activity, every choice — I thought through carefully. For him.

I'm someone who never sat still for crafts in my life, and yet I became a passable bracelet-maker just for this child.

I reached for his wrist.

The woven bracelet there.

Not one I'd made.

"Don't touch that!"

Leo yanked his arm back like I'd contaminated something, retreating to the doorway.

[Ha! Leo's protecting it — Ellie made that for him!]

"Leo…"

I stared at him.

He scrunched his nose. "Mom said it's precious."

Then he turned and ran.

The comments dissolved into laughter:

[Those two are so in love with the female lead it's embarrassing.]

[Ellie braided Leo's bracelet. Callum told him not to ruin it. Madeleine's crafts? Leo can't even be bothered to wear them.]

[Love and indifference really are that obvious. Good. Let her hurt. It means our female lead wins.]

I curled my fingers into my palm.

Swallowed everything down.

Fine.

Fine, Madeleine Shaw. You brought this on yourself.

I picked up my phone.

"Usual place. Nobody better be missing."