face. She raised her hand, flagging down a yellow cab that was speeding down Park Avenue. The tires
ress of the penthouse. Her voice was raspy, the aftermath
Neon lights from storefronts and streetlamps blurred past her in streaks of red and yellow. She forced her brain to w
Chandler paid the fare and stepped out. The doorman, a kind old
ainful smile. "Good evening, Thomas." She walked past him q
glittering skyline. Chandler did not turn on the main chandelier. She flipped a single switch on the wall, illuminating a dim sconce
awer of a built-in cabinet. She dragged out a battered black suitcase she had owned since college. She threw it open on the floor and began
was taken on a beach in Malibu, right after they secretly married. Avery was actually smiling at her. Chandler's hand hovered over the frame. Her chest tightened, a sharp a
it out. An email from Mark. The subject l
nse legal jargon rapidly. She scrolled straight to the division of assets. Party A (Chandler Gentry) waives all rights to spousal
printer. The machine hummed to life. She hit print on her phone. A few seconds later,
y's desk. She flipped to the last page. Without a single hesitation, she presse
pad on the front d
skey and the cold night air with him. He loosened his tie, looking exhausted and irritated. He stop
fa. "Really, Chandler?" he sneered, his voice echoing in the large sp
e walked up to the marble coffee table and slapped the two signed copies of the divorce ag
red back at him. His pupils contracted violently. The arrogant smirk wiped off his face
rched her eyes, looking for the bluff, looking for
ressively. When he read the clause about her taking absolutely nothing, a harsh, mocking laugh ripped from his throa
a dark shadow over her. "Listen to me very carefully," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "If you walk out that door
ous gaze with pure contempt. "I already have nothing in this cage, A
the muscles jumped under his skin. The veins in his forehead bulged. He reache
nature across the bottom of both pages. He pressed down so hard the sharp metal nib tore right through the thick p
he spat, his voice trembling slightly with rage. "My lawyers will file it w
torn signature. She folded the document carefully, treating it like a winni
s ground against the hardwood floor, making a dull, heavy sound. Every step
lifted her left hand. Her fingers gripped the heavy, flawless three-carat d
y on the console table. The metal band hit
ke a physical blow to the back of the knees. He flinched, taki
, stepped into the hallway, and let the door click shut behind h
ears finally spilled over her eyelashes, burning her cold cheeks. She lifted the back of her hand and
led out her phone, opened the Uber app, and requested a ride.
Avery's name. She hit Block Caller. She opened Instagram. She blo
into the trunk, her muscles burning from the effort. She climbed int
?" the driver asked, looking at
ets of Manhattan roll by. Her chest still ached, her stomach was empty, but bene
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