Chapter 1I Can’t Handle His Love

The sixteenth time I went to bail Nathan out of jail.

This time, I brought the divorce papers with me.

Sophia was sobbing, her story tumbling out between breaths. “Clara, please don’t be mad. Some guys were harassing me at the club again, and Nate was just trying to protect me.”

Nathan looked at me, his voice a soft, placating murmur. “Clara, can we please just talk about this at home? Don’t make a scene here.”

Everyone stared at the bitter smile on the wife’s face. No one expected me to slap my husband across his.

“Fine,” I said, my voice clear and cold. “You two can go home and get married.”

“Just sign the divorce papers and leave me alone.”

* * *

A bitter night wind whipped through my hair. I looked down at the evening gown and heels I had so carefully chosen for the occasion, and a wave of self-loathing washed over me.

I’d lost count of how many times Nathan and I had fought over Sophia.

Ever since his ex-girlfriend had returned to the country, my emotions had been a runaway train.

Even today, on my twenty-sixth birthday.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Nathan, telling me not to be angry, that he remembered my birthday and had a gift for me.

Once, those words would have filled me with joy.

That’s how it always was. He’d offer a gift, a small gesture of affection, and I would forget all my hurt and grievances, my love for him rekindled.

But not this time.

I scrolled through our chat history and saw the sixteenth apology for something involving Sophia.

And in that moment, something inside me settled. The anger was gone. The hurt, the sadness—they had vanished too.

All that was left was the tired certainty of knowing the ending before the story even begins.

See? I knew what he was going to say.

Every apology was because of her.

The strange thing was, this time, it didn't hurt at all.

I bought myself a hot chocolate.

And I walked home alone.

For me, I guess love can die in an instant.