Chapter 4

Before Derek could respond, I hailed a cab and went straight home.

I started packing—ready to cut ties with Derek for good.

But I hadn’t even finished when the door slammed open.

Derek stormed in, chest heaving, and started yelling:

"What’s your problem today?!"

"You’re deliberately making me look like an idiot in front of everyone!"

Brianna followed, playing mediator:

"Ava, I hate to say this, but today was a bit much."

"Is this about me and Derek? Are you upset we’re close?"

"We’re just friends, I swear. If you can’t see that… maybe I should leave. I don’t want to come between you two."

She shuffled toward the door—obviously not leaving.

Derek grabbed her wrist, voice softening:

"Brianna, you did nothing wrong. Why would you leave?"

He turned to me, eyes icy:

"I’m so disappointed in you."

"You’ve changed. You’re not the woman I married."

"Apologize to Brianna right now, or we’re done."

I clenched my fists.

This wasn’t the first time he’d threatened divorce.

Ever since Brianna showed up, every fight ended with him using divorce as a weapon.

But back then, I still loved him enough to keep forgiving him.

I kept waiting for him to come to his senses.

Now I see how delusional I was.

He’s not worth fighting for.

Derek assumed I’d back down like always. He straightened his collar, smirking:

"I don’t want a divorce. Just apologize to Brianna..."

I cut him off mid-sentence:

"Save it. I want the divorce."

Derek’s eyes went wide. He gaped at me, speechless.

Brianna jumped in:

"Ava, you can’t mean that! Divorce isn’t something to joke about!"

I pulled out a divorce agreement and set it on the table:

"I’m dead serious."

"Sign here. Let’s make this clean."

Derek finally realized I meant it. He pointed at me, livid:

"Fine!"

"We’ll divorce! But don’t come crawling back!"

Brianna could barely hide her excitement, but still played concerned:

"Ava, think about your future. Without Derek, what will you do?"

"Derek’s a CEO now. One word from him could ruin your career."

I saw right through her game.

She was trying to break me down—make me think I owed everything to Derek."

Then I’d keep slaving away for them at the company.

Derek joined in, sneering:

"Exactly. Some people have way too high an opinion of themselves."

"Who’d want a washed-up woman like you without me?"

"Brianna wrapped up that case you couldn’t finish in days. Verdict’s coming soon, and then we’ll be rolling in client money!"

"You really think we need you?"

I laughed out loud.

Money? More like disaster’s coming.

Without my evidence, their case was full of holes. They didn’t stand a chance.

The other side had major connections. Messing with them wouldn’t just tank the deal—it’d drag the whole company down. Derek would be buried in debt for life.

And right on cue—

Derek’s phone rang before he could finish his rant.

It was the court.

He glanced at the screen and smirked at me:

"See? All wrapped up!"

"Once we win and get paid, Bri and I are taking a world tour. You’ll be stuck in your crummy apartment, seething with jealousy!"

Derek answered, already daydreaming about his victory lap.

But his face went white the second he heard the news. He gripped the phone so hard his knuckles turned white.

"What?!"

"We... lost?!"