Chapter 4The Unveiling

"Are you going somewhere?"

My palms started to sweat. I was terrified he'd figure it out. "I just realized how much ugly stuff we have," I said, trying to sound casual. "It's too much to throw out bit by bit, so I figured I'd pack it all in a suitcase and donate it to Goodwill."

The excuse was flimsy.

Landon was still thinking when his phone rang. That damned, inconvenient phone.

I saw the flicker of panic in his eyes. I knew exactly who it was.

He hung up and, just like that, he had to leave again. As he was walking out, he paused and looked back at me, a strange look on his face. Was it… reluctance?

I reached out and took the necklace from him, forcing the most understanding smile I could.

"If you have to go, go. Don't worry about me. I get it. I'm not mad."

The old me would have thrown a fit, begging him not to go. But now, I just didn't care.

This was the me he always wanted, right?

He stepped forward and placed a kiss on my forehead. "If I knew a wedding would make you this obedient, I would've done it years ago. I'll make it up to you when I get back."

If I knew loving you would be this painful, I thought, I would have never met you.

He pressed a black card into my hand. "Throw out everything you don't want. Buy new stuff."

The things I don't want. Yes. It's time to throw them out.

The moment the door closed, I ran to the bathroom and scrubbed my forehead until it was raw, trying to get the feel of him off me.

The next week was quiet. And full. I hired a lawyer, drafted the divorce agreement, cleared out the apartment, and transferred all my work files.

Seven years of love was like a brand on my skin. Tearing it off was going to hurt, but it was better than the constant, burning pain of keeping it.

Landon didn't come home for days.

His "best friend" Mia was in the hospital. She'd had a severe allergic reaction.

The spicy Thai food I'd ordered that night was loaded with peanut sauce.

Mia was deathly allergic to peanuts.

It wasn't hard to figure out. Landon ate my takeout, then went and kissed Mia, putting her in the ICU.

And just like that, he was back to being ice-cold toward me.

I called him once, just to ask when he'd be home so I could give him the divorce papers.

He just yelled at me. "Grace, can you just leave me alone for one second? Mia is in the hospital because of you! I didn't know you were this petty and jealous. We're just friends! I married you, we had the wedding, what more do you want? For me to be chained to you 24/7? Can't you just be generous and be nice to Mia for once?"

Generous? How generous? Generous enough to hand my husband over to another woman? I couldn't before. But now, I could.

I could hear a weak female voice in the background, telling him not to be angry, that it wasn't my fault.

"Grace, Mia is literally in a hospital bed because of you, and she's still defending you! Can you just be a decent human being and leave her alone?" He sounded disgusted with me.

If you hadn't eaten my dinner and then gone to kiss her, she wouldn't be in the hospital. Who, exactly, is refusing to let go of whom?

But I just apologized. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll come to the hospital tomorrow and apologize to Mia."

An apology wouldn't kill me.

After all, I didn't care anymore. And soon, none of this would be my problem.