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My brother stepped into the room, his brows furrowed with concern. “Who were you talking to just now?” he asked, his voice low but probing.
I shook my head, brushing the question aside. “No one important,” I said quickly, avoiding his gaze. “I need to get going. I have a meeting with my lawyer.”
“Astrid…” His tone softened, but there was still that edge of worry in it. “Let me drive you. You’ve been-”
“I don’t need a ride,” I interrupted, pulling on my coat. My voice had sounded firmer than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. I hated being fussed over. “I‘ ll call a cab.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t push further. He just stood there, watching me as I gathered my things. I could feel his eyes watching me for a moment.
“Are you sure you‘ re okay?” he finally
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Seriked, his voice quieter now.
paused at the door, my hand resting on to the handle. “I’m fine, Seth,” I said, but conceren I didn’t believe the words.
?” hea
fore he could press me further, I stepped ut into the hallway, letting the door close shing hind me. The truth was, I didn’t want
ant to see me hurtt.
eed to
hen I arrived at the lawyer’s office, my my law mach dropped. The sleek, gold–lettered tened by the entrance made my heart race. It y in it. s the same law firm Ash used. Of all the ms in the city, why did it have to be this
e?
* 1 interm
had esitated at the door, my fingers brushing coulder the handle as my mind raced and for a er.” ef moment, I considered turning around.
1 finding another lawyer, but no I thedit Idn’t afford to waste more time. I thereaded this over with as soon as possible.
- gs. Is. I
a more receptionist greeted me warmly, her
ile professional. I nodded stiffly, stating
okay ok
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asked, his voice quieter now.
I paused at the door, my hand resting on the handle. “I’m fine, Seth,” I said, but even I didn’t believe the words.
Before he could press me further, I stepped out into the hallway, letting the door close behind me. The truth was, I didn’t want him to see me hurtt.
When I arrived at the lawyer’s office, my stomach dropped. The sleek, gold–lettered sign by the entrance made my heart race. It was the same law firm Ash used. Of all the firms in the city, why did it have to be this
one?
I hesitated at the door, my fingers brushing over the handle as my mind raced and for a brief moment, I considered turning around and finding another lawyer, but no I couldn’t afford to waste more time. I needed this over with as soon as possible.
The receptionist greeted me warmly, her smile professional. I nodded stiffly, stating
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my name before being followed her to the meeting room.
Once inside, I explained my situation to the lawyer a sharp, beautiful no–nonsense woman named Claire. She leaned forward, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose, as I laid out the details.
“We could expedite the process,” she said, her voice calm yet precise, “if you both agree to a mutual divorce. That would cut down the timeline significantly. Otherwise, contested divorces can drag on for months,
even years.”
A mutual divorce. The words tasted bitter. Would Ash agree to that? Would he even care enough to?
“And you‘ re still firm on your decision not to seek alimony?” Claire asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded me.
I nodded without hesitation. “I don‘ t want his money. I just want out.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she
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scribbled something down on her notepad. “Very well. I’ll prepare the necessary documents. Be prepared, though–if he decides to contest this, it could become… messy.”
Messy. The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.
“That’s fine,” I said softly. “I’ll handle it.”
But as I left the office, a knot of anxiety twisted in my chest. I barely had a moment to have a deep before I bumped into someone hard.
I looked up, a knot in my stomach twistsded. Ash.
His dark eyes narrowed as he grabbed my arm, pulling me aside to a quiet corner. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice low but tense.
For a moment, I just stared at him, Suprised by the coincidence of running into him here, of all places. His presence was suffocating.
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“What are you doing here, Astrid?” he said again, his grip tightening slightly.
I swallowed, my throat dry. “I-” The words caught in my throat. Should I just tell him? That I was here to finalize the divorce
papers? I…
Before I could respond, a voice interrupted
Us.
“Ash!” A calm voice called out.
We both turned. It was Kate. She stood a few feet away.
I watched his entire expression change. when he looked at her. His hand dropped from my arm, and his expression softened in a way it never did for me. My heart sank.
He shoved me to the side, possibly trying to hide my presence from Kate, and then he turned towards her. I laughed at myself inwardly as I watched them.
“Kate,” he said, his tone almost… tender. Without sparing me another glance, he
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“What are you doing here, Astrid?” he said again, his grip tightening slightly.
I swallowed, my throat dry. “I-” The words caught in my throat. Should I just tell him? That I was here to finalize the divorce
papers? I….
Before I could respond, a voice interrupted
- us.
“Ash!” A calm voice called out.
We both turned. It was Kate. She stood a few feet away.
I watched his entire expression change when he looked at her. His hand dropped from my arm, and his expression softened in a way it never did for me. My heart sank.
He shoved me to the side, possibly trying to hide my presence from Kate, and then he turned towards her. I laughed at myself inwardly as I watched them.
“Kate,” he said, his tone almost… tender. Without sparing me another glance, he
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moved toward her, his focus entirely on her
now.
I stood there, frozen for a moment, watching as he leaned in close, speaking to her in a hushed voice. It was like I had
disappeared, like I didn’t exist.
Disappointment washed over me in a familiar wave, and I turned away. What had I expected? That he‘ d care? That he‘ d realize what he was about to lose?
That was pathetic.
I clenched my fists, forcing the lump in my throat down as I walked away. I shouldn’t have expected anything from him. Not
anymore.
And yet, the ache in my chest told me that part of me still had.
That night, the storm raged outside, its howling winds rattling the windows as if trying to break through. I lay in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep, the events of the day playing on a loop in my mind.
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I barely noticed the sound of hurried footsteps approaching until my bedroom door burst open.
“Astrid!” Seth’s voice was frantic, his face pale as he stood in the doorway, dripping from the storm.
I sat up immediately, my pulse quickening. “What is it?”
