Chapter 3
After dinner, I walked home slowly. All those sleepless nights at work had cut me off from the world. The street life around me felt refreshing.
I stopped when I reached a familiar corner.
The garage where Blake and I started our company was gone-completely demolished.
That little dumpling shop where we’d eat every day to save a buck? Now it was some fancy bakery.
Everything changes. Even the memories I used to treasure had faded with time.
My phone rang. It was my old professor.
There was hesitation in his voice: “Ember, your application for the classified 707 project got approved yesterday.”
But I need to ask one more time-are you absolutely sure about this?”
It’s a five-year commitment minimum. Without you, your husband’s company will tank.”
Will he be okay with this?”
stepped forward, leaving that familiar street behind, my voice steady: “Professor, I’m getting divorced.”
ince the classified project was starting soon and I wanted out fast, I told him to send someone tomorrow.
wasn’t in the mood to wander around anymore, so I just grabbed a cab home.
he living room lights were on. Blake was on the couch, texting someone.
he second he saw me, his frown disappeared.
le rushed over, grabbed my hand, and demanded: “Why didn’t you wait for me at the restaurant? I showed up and you were gone-do you know how mbarrassing that was?!”
stared at him, surprised he’d actually gone.
ut seeing him act all righteous and offended? I almost laughed.
Lade sense though. He was used to me waiting around for him.
pulled my hand away from Blake’s grip. “I was done eating. Why would I stick around?”
Maybe realizing he was actually in the wrong, he swallowed his irritation and handed me a gift box.
Got this specially for you today. Go ahead, open it.”
Not surprising. After standing me up twice, he had to throw me a bone.
That was Blake’s thing-mess up, then toss me some small gesture afterward.
And I used to sit there anxiously hoping for more, maybe just a little extra time together.
I took the box and tossed it on the couch.
“How thoughtful.”
My tone was flat and polite.
His smile froze. First time he’d actually noticed I was going through the motions.
Panic flickered in his eyes as he reached for my hand again.
That’s when Lila’s voice drifted down from upstairs:
“Blake, maybe I should just go home. I don’t want Ember getting the wrong idea when she comes back.”
She appeared at the top of the stairs, and when she saw me, the smugness in her eyes vanished. She covered her mouth, putting on this whole shocked
act.
Blake rushed to explain: “Lila hurt her ankle yesterday, so I took her for a follow-up today. That’s why I was late.”
‘She can barely walk right now, so I told her to crash in the guest room tonight.”
He stared at me intensely, like he was bracing for me to blow up.
nodded, completely unbothered: “Fine. I’ll grab a hotel room then. I’m not staying under the same roof as her.”
Blake just stood there, stunned. This wasn’t the reaction he was expecting.
If you really don’t want Lila staying here, I can take her-”
efore he could finish, Lila tumbled down the stairs and started sobbing, clutching her foot.
lake freaked out and rushed to carry her back upstairs, massaging her ankle.
When I came back downstairs with my suitcase, Blake appeared in the living room again.
lis lips were pressed tight as he grabbed my hand, refusing to let go. The guilt in his eyes kept growing deeper.
inally, with Lila calling for him upstairs, he said: “Tomorrow. I’ll go with you to see your mom. We’ll talk everything out in front of her.”
stared at him blankly and walked out.
alk? He could talk to my lawyer.
he second Lila showed up in our house, I was done discussing anything with him-even the divorce.
