Chapter 4
Daniel bent down to pick up the divorce papers. I saw a flicker of shock in his eyes before his usual arrogance returned.
“Titana, are you really using divorce to threaten me now? You’ve become so-”
“Despicable?” I cut him off coolly.
I’d already made up my mind. Whatever he thought of me didn’t matter anymore.
“This isn’t a negotiation, Daniel. It’s a notification. I want a divorce. Who you sleep with or what kind of condoms you use from now on–none of it concerns me.”
I turned to leave, but Daniel panicked.
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Ignoring the tearful Jessica, he grabbed my wrist and snarled, “Titana, you’re divorcing me? What gives you the right? You owe me- you’ll never repay it in this lifetime.”
“A woman like you deserves to be tormented by me.”
I yanked my arm away and stared at him coldly. “What exactly do I owe you? Alice’s life?”
“She was killed by a robber at the bank. The police were there. If I really had hired someone to do it, I’d be in prison. Not here, listening to years of your baseless accusations.”
“Daniel, once you’ve signed the papers, have the driver deliver them to me. I don’t want anything to do with you ever again.”
*
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I left the hotel and went home.
As I looked at the photo wall in the hallway -pictures of me and Daniel during happier times–I felt nauseated.
I called the housekeeper and told her to take every photo down and burn them.
But even after that, I still felt disgusted.
That’s when it hit me. This entire house was covered in Daniel’s presence. That’s what made my skin crawl.
I headed to the walk–in closet, packed a few clothes into a suitcase, and decided to stay at my villa in the suburbs for a while.
Just as I was heading downstairs, my phone buzzed–it was another message from
Daniel.
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“Titana, don’t think you can threaten me with divorce and I’ll cave. Dream on!”
“You want a divorce? Fine. But don’t expect me to come crawling back begging. Give it up!”
I chuckled.
Daniel clearly had no idea–I’d really made up my mind this time.
If he could see the wreckage inside my heart, he’d see nothing but a battlefield of wounds caused by him.
But he didn’t love me anymore. So he never would.
After moving into the villa, I finally had a peaceful night’s sleep–without Daniel in my
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dreams.
At first, Daniel didn’t care about my departure.
He was convinced I’d come crawling back, just like I always had after our fights.
But six months passed–and I didn’t.
That’s when panic set in.
He messaged me, claiming he’d thought it over and didn’t agree to the divorce.
What Daniel didn’t know was–I no longer wanted to play this revenge game with him.
After a morning meeting, my assistant told me someone was waiting in my office.
When I walked in, I saw Daniel.
”
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He looked older, worn out from the months apart.
His eyes were full of sorrow. “Titana, how could you be so heartless? You disappeared right after filing for divorce. Do you even know what I’ve been through?”
“We’ve been married ten years. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”
He let out a deep sigh.
“How about this–take back the divorce
and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened. Deal?”
I laughed.
“Daniel, do you even hear yourself? I told you I’m tired. I’m done. Shouldn’t you be off
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enjoying life with your mistresses instead?”
“And don’t forget–I wasn’t a bad wife to you. You said you wanted a studio, and I invested right away. But instead of working, you ended up in bed with one of the scholarship girls. Have you no shame?”
“You’re the one who cheated. If you won’t sign the divorce papers, I’ll go through the courts. And when the media gets wind of this, you won’t be walking away clean.”
I pulled out the printed photos Jessica had sent and tossed them one by one in his face.
Daniel’s face went pale. Enraged, he ripped them to shreds.
“Titana, how could you print those?! I didn’t realize you were so calculating.”
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a hundred more if I feel like it.”
“We’ve been married for ten years, Daniel. You should know what happens to people who cross me.”
I gave him a cold, silent warning.
“And if you care about your little sweetheart living safely in this city, I suggest you sign the papers. It’s what’s best for everyone.”
I naïvely thought Jessica was his precious treasure–that he’d cave if I threatened her.
But to my surprise, Daniel completely ignored her. His eyes burned with fury.
“Titana, I never knew you could be this heartless. I regret marrying you more than anything.”
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“So I cheated, and that’s it? You want a divorce over that? What about what you owe me?!”
“You killed Alice. You’re a murderer!”
Daniel screamed at me, unhinged.
“Fine. I’m a murderer. Whatever helps you sleep at night. Just sign the damn papers.”
I couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore.
Every word he spoke made me want to throw up.
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