Evelin's POV
Grey's face twisted up. "Divorce? Are you serious? Just because my mom wouldn't let you bring your parents' ashes inside?"
He spoke like this was some trivial argument, nothing worth worrying about.
A frozen knot formed in my stomach. I was finished hoping for anything from this man.
"It's not only that," I said. "There's Grace as well. Let's finish this so you can be with her."
"I already told you, Grace's just a friend. Don't blow this out of proportion," he barked, obviously irritated.
I almost burst out laughing. 'Just a friend?' Everyone was aware he was cheating, yet he clung to that pathetic lie like it was his salvation.
"I'm exhausted, Grey. I'm through attempting to rescue this marriage," I said.
When someone's heart had given up, there was no turning back. And mine? Completely done with him.
His face changed, a flash of fear crossing his features, as if he sensed me truly pulling away this time.
"If you're worried about us, what if we had a baby?" he blurted out suddenly.
"What?" My mouth fell open. Years of marriage, and he'd never even touched me.
In the beginning, he'd made excuses - buried in work, wanted to "take things slow." I hadn't pressured him.
Eventually, it became our routine - sharing a bedroom, but nothing more.
"We've been married for years. It's time we considered having a baby," Grey said, moving closer to kiss my cheek.
My stomach twisted with a cocktail of shock and hurt.
I'd once dreamed of starting a family with him.
But he'd always said, "I'm not ready yet, babe. Can we hold off?"
So I'd waited. I believed he simply wasn't prepared for fatherhood.
The reality was, his heart belonged to Grace - his "lost love."
All my affection, all my attempts to win him over? Completely worthless.
And now, just as I was about to leave, he was dangling a baby in front of me.
I pushed him away, scrubbing my cheek where his mouth had touched. "Grey, that's sick."
His expression hardened. "Evelin, I swore I'd never hurt you when we married. I'm going to ignore what you just said. If you're not ready for a baby, we can postpone it."
"No point," I said, my voice frozen solid. "I'm never having a child with you."
He started to protest, but his phone rang. When he picked up, I heard Grace's voice coming through.
"Yeah, I'm on my way," Grey said, his tone gentle and loving for her.
He faced me. "I have to go. Calm down, alright? We'll discuss this when I get back."
And with that, he vanished, leaving me alone in our massive, hollow villa.
From the window, I watched his car speed away.
Racing to Grace's side, like always.
He doesn't understand, does he? Every time he abandons me for her, he's already cheated on me, I thought bitterly.
Long ago, I'd fallen completely for him. Trusted his promise to stay faithful. Married him because of it.
Now, the piece of me that loved him was gone. This marriage? Finished.
To my amazement, before I could even begin drafting divorce papers, my mother-in-law, Dalia, called demanding a meeting.
"I'll pay you thirty million to divorce my son," Dalia declared, her voice cutting like steel.
"Deal," I replied immediately, without hesitation.
Dalia stared, taken aback. "You're really okay with leaving him?"
"30 million? I'll sign right now." I was already determined to go, so why not leave with money that could transform lives?
That cash could put children back in classrooms, give sick people hope.
Dalia pushed a document toward me - a divorce agreement, already bearing Grey's signature.
I examined the name. Definitely his handwriting. "He asked you to bring this to me?"
"Don't worry about the specifics," Dalia said, guilt flickering in her eyes. "I know he wants this over. Just sign."
My eyes sharpened. So Grey had no clue about this. Dalia had used some scheme to get his signature, but it didn't matter.
I picked up a pen and scrawled my name.
"There's still some legal stuff to handle," Dalia said, her voice stern. "It'll take time before the divorce is finalized. So you'd better stay quiet around Grey, understand? Don't say a word."
I lifted an eyebrow. 'So Dalia wants me to keep the divorce secret from him?'
"Fine," I said.
"And, well, 30 million's too generous," Dalia retreated.
"For someone like you - an orphan - six million's more than enough."
I grinned coldly. "If we go through regular divorce proceedings, I'd get half of Grey's wealth. You think a hundred million's excessive? How about I take 500 million instead?"
Dalia nearly gasped, then clenched her jaw. "Alright. 30 million. No changing your mind."
My smile was pure frost. 'Change my mind? I can't wait to escape this hell.'
That afternoon, I went shopping with my best friend, Selina Dion, picking up a few items.
When I broke the divorce news, Selina practically started celebrating. "Finally! The tabloids are loaded with stories about Grey and Grace's secret affair. He's cheating, she's the mistress, and they pretend everything's normal."
I shrugged. "Once we're divorced, they can do whatever they want. I'm gone."
"When will you take your parents' ashes home?" Selina asked.
"Soon," I said. "After the divorce is official, I'll bring Mom and Dad back to our hometown."
By evening, Selina pulled me to an upscale restaurant.
We'd just been seated when voices and laughter floated over from the neighboring table, mentioning a name I recognized all too well.
"Grey, when are you and Grace getting married? You have to invite us to the wedding!"
"I bet we'll be celebrating at their reception soon. Evelin's a nobody - some girl from a nothing school. If Grey hadn't helped her out, she'd be finished. And she still thinks she deserves to be Mrs. Ford?"
"Grace's the real thing. Elite university graduate, gorgeous, first female pilot at Apex Airline. That's absolutely incredible!"
The group at the next table was loud, unaware that I was sitting right behind the divider.
Selina's grip on her chopsticks tightened, ready to break them. She began to rise, but I caught her arm. "They're discussing me. I'll take care of it."
I stood up, walked around the screen, and confronted the table. "How about I buy everyone drinks to celebrate that wedding right now?"
Every face at the table turned toward me, staring.
Grey's expression went rigid, his eyebrows drawing together.