Chapter 1
Claude Preston filed for divorce from Aaliyah Rhodes 99 times.
Each time, he would sit back and wait-watching her desperate attempts to win him back during the mandatory cooling-off period. He’d remain cold and distant until she finally managed to appease him, and only then would he graciously allow her to withdraw the application.
On the 99 filing, as Aaliyah stood to leave the courthouse, the clerk behind the counter called out with curiosity: “So, when should we expect you back to cancel
this one?”
She looked up at Claude’s cold, retreating figure ahead of her and made herself a promise-
Not this time.
.
When the waiting period expired, she and Claude Preston would be officially divorced-forever.
The wind outside the courthouse was biting cold. As Aaliyah stepped out, she watched Claude slide into his black Mercedes without so much as a backward lance-not even bothering to look her way.
she walked slowly along the sidewalk, her heart feeling like it had been torn open, cold air rushing through the gaping wound.
Screech-”
The screech of brakes suddenly pierced the air behind her.
Before she could react, something slammed into her, sending her sprawling to the pavement. Pain shot through her knees, and her palms scraped raw against
he concrete.
Looking up, Aaliyah saw several of Claude’s buddies jumping out of their car.
Oh shit, we hit Mrs. Preston!”
Don’t call her that,” someone else nudged him. “They’re divorced now-Claude hasn’t agreed to withdraw the papers yet.”
Aaliyah tried to push herself up, but her knees gave out. Through her disheveled hair, she could see the Mercedes’ rear window roll down halfway, Claude’s harp profile barely visible in the shadows.
Claude,” one of his friends jogged over to the car, “should we take her to the hospital first, or head straight to the party?”
Time seemed to freeze.
Aaliyah stared at that window, her heart pounding so hard it hurt.
The party.” Claude’s voice drifted through the glass, cold as ice.
[wo simple words, but they cut through her like a blade.
The Mercedes pulled away, exhaust fumes hitting her face.
She gritted her teeth and slowly dragged herself to her feet, limping toward home.
Each step sent shooting pain through her knee, but it was nothing compared to the bleeding hole in her heart.
Back home, still limping, the first thing Aaliyah did was pack.
She pulled out all the evidence of her love for him over the years.
Jewelry he’d carelessly tossed her way, a lighter she’d secretly kept after he’d used it, 999 paper stars she’d folded for him…
One by one, everything went into the trash.
Until she found a manila envelope buried in the back of her drawer.
This wasn’t the first time she’d seen it, but her hands still trembled as she opened it again.
Love letters.
Love letters Claude had written to her.
You brought me breakfast again today, but you don’t know I’ve been awake since 5 AM just to watch you tiptoeing around, leaving that lunch box by my door.”]
Your handwriting in those love letters is terrible, but I’ve kept every one. I’ll bring it up and tease you on our 50th anniversary.”]
[“That red dress you wore today looked amazing on you, but I didn’t want anyone else seeing you in it.”]
“It’s been three years since you started chasing me. I almost couldn’t stop myself from saying yes today. But I thought, just a little longer-let me enjoy being pursued by you just a little more.”]
Every word was a knife to her heart.
If she hadn’t stumbled across these letters a few days ago, she never would have believed that Claude-who had been so cold to her all these years-had actually loved her too.
The first time she saw Claude was at freshman orientation.
Standing at the podium as student representative, he was like something out of a dream-distant and beautiful as starlight.
One look, and she fell completely, hopelessly in love.
Plenty of girls chased after Claude, but Aaliyah was the most persistent.
She brought him breakfast every day, even though he never ate it. She memorized his entire schedule, orchestrating “chance” encounters. She even climbed the campus fence to buy medicine when he got injured during a basketball game-and ended up breaking her wrist in the fall.
Four years. 1,460 days. She followed him with unwavering devotion until she finally reached her star.
Even after they got together, he still remained cold and distant, never returning her affection.
And even though she was the one who proposed, she was still grateful he said yes.
But three years into their marriage, he started filing for divorce 99 times.
The first time was because her cooking was too salty-he said she “couldn’t even handle something that simple.”
The second time was because she wore a dress he didn’t like.
The ninety-eighth time was because he’d limited her to ten texts a day, and she accidentally sent one extra “good night.”
Every single time, she would pathetically beg him not to leave her.
The 99 time, she knelt in his study all night before he grudgingly agreed to withdraw the papers.
And that night, she accidentally discovered the manila envelope locked in his safe-
illed with love letters Claude had written to her, starting from her very first year of chasing him.
le’d loved her all along.
All those divorce filings were just so he could watch her break down and desperately beg him to stay.
le fed off her love while treating her heart like his plaything.
The next day, Claude filed for divorce for the 100 time because she’d eaten a cookie in his car and dropped crumbs.
Aaliyah stared at this man she’d loved for seven years, and suddenly he felt like a stranger.
This time, she was done playing his game. She wouldn’t satisfy him with her tears and pleas any more.
They were over! For good!
She wiped her eyes roughly and went back to packing.
But halfway through, she realized something was missing-her mother’s keepsake.
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99 Divorce Camee: The Final Round Coes M Wes
An old silver necklace, the only thing her mom had left her.
Aaliyah tore through the entire closet, even checked under the bed, but the necklace had vanished.
She sank to the floor, her fingers unconsciously gripping her clothes. Besides her, only Claude had access to the study.
Remembering the party location she’d overheard at the courthouse, she bit her lip, grabbed her coat, and headed out.
Outside the private room at the club, she could hear laughter through the heavy door.
“I bet five days! Aaliyah won’t last five days before she comes crawling back, begging Claude to remarry her!”
“It is too long! Everyone knows Aaliyah can’t survive without Claude. I say three days.”
I bet it’ll only take a day! Didn’t she beg Claude not to divorce her that same night last time?
What about you, Claude?”
The room fell quiet. Claude sat in the center, long fingers wrapped around his whiskey glass, expression unreadable.
ust as he was about to speak, Aaliyah burst through the door.
he said, each word crystal clear-
I bet forever!”
