Chapter 2 Episode 2

Chapter Two: The Argument & Divorce Papers

I pushed the doors open and stepped into the cold night. The air hit my face, sharp and unforgiving, but it was nothing compared to the pain twisting inside me. My heels clicked against the pavement as I walked fast, my chest rising and falling in deep, shaky breaths.

"Bianca!" Johnny's voice rang out behind me, strong, commanding.

I didn't stop.

His footsteps grew louder, faster. In seconds, he grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "Where the hell are you going?"

I yanked my arm free, turning to him with burning eyes. "Away from you."

His jaw tightened. "Don't make a scene."

I let out a cold laugh. "A scene? Oh, you don't want a scene? Maybe you should've thought about that before you let her kiss you in front of the whole world."

Johnny sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're overreacting."

My hands clenched into fists. Overreacting? My heart was breaking, and he stood there like none of it mattered. Like I didn't matter.

"You humiliated me, Johnny," I whispered, voice shaking. "You left me standing there, like I was nothing. Like I didn't exist."

His face remained blank. "It wasn't a big deal."

I stared at him, my stomach twisting. He really didn't care. He wasn't sorry.

I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "Take me home."

Johnny hesitated, then sighed. "Fine."

The drive was suffocating.

The only sound was the hum of the engine. I stared out the window, my mind racing, my hands clenched on my lap. The pain inside me swelled, hot and unbearable.

I turned to him, my voice low but sharp. "Do you love her?"

Johnny's hands tightened on the wheel. He didn't answer.

My chest ached. "Say something."

His jaw tensed. "What do you want me to say, Bianca?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "The truth."

Silence.

I felt my heart crack.

I let out a bitter laugh. "You know what? Forget it. I already know."

Johnny sighed. "Bianca, don't start."

"Don't start?" I snapped, my voice rising. "You kissed another woman right in front of me, Johnny! How am I supposed to act? Just smile and pretend it didn't happen?"

"I didn't kiss her," he shot back. "She kissed me."

I scoffed. "And you didn't push her away."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. "It wasn't like that."

I turned to him, my eyes burning. "Then tell me, what was it like?"

More silence.

That was all the answer I needed.

I let out a breath, my body shaking. "You never wanted this marriage, did you?"

Johnny exhaled, eyes still on the road. "You know the answer to that."

My throat tightened. "I tried, Johnny. I tried to be a good wife. I gave you everything. I stood by you, even when you treated me like I was invisible. I thought-" My voice broke, but I forced myself to continue. "I thought maybe one day, you'd see me. That maybe one day, you'd love me."

His expression didn't change. Cold. Distant.

"I never asked for this marriage, Bianca," he said flatly.

I felt the world tilt beneath me.

The words cut deeper than any knife.

My breath came out shaky. "So it's my fault?"

He didn't respond.

I blinked back the burning in my eyes. "You blame me for everything, don't you?"

Johnny's voice was sharp, clipped. "If it weren't for that night, I'd be with Tracy right now."

My heart stopped.

I stared at him, my body frozen. "What?"

He let out a harsh breath, gripping the wheel. "I was supposed to be with her. You ruined that."

The air left my lungs.

I couldn't breathe.

The pain in my chest exploded.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "I ruined your life?"

Johnny didn't look at me. "You know the truth, Bianca."

I let out a hollow laugh, my hands shaking. "I spent five years apologizing. Five years trying to make it up to you. But nothing was ever enough, was it?"

Johnny pulled into the driveway and parked the car.

The silence was deafening.

Slowly, he turned to me, his face unreadable. "If you can't handle the way things are, then maybe it's time we end this."

I froze.

I stared at him.

"What?" My voice came out barely above a whisper.

Johnny reached into the glove compartment, pulled out a thick stack of papers, and tossed them onto my lap.

Divorce papers.

My fingers trembled as I picked them up. My heart pounded so hard it hurt.

I looked at the words. The cold, final words.

I waited for the pain, for the heartbreak.

But it didn't come.

Instead, I felt light.

Like I had been carrying a weight for too long, and now, it was being lifted.

I swallowed, blinking back the stinging in my eyes. Slowly, I turned to Johnny.

"If I sign this, Leo stays with me."

Johnny's brows furrowed. "Leo is fine where he is."

I shook my head. "No. He's my son. And I won't let you take him from me."

Johnny studied me, his blue eyes cold and sharp.

I met his gaze, refusing to look away.

For the first time in years, I wasn't afraid of him.

For the first time, I wasn't pleading.

I was done begging for his love.

I was done fighting for something that never existed.

Johnny let out a slow breath, rubbing his temple. "We'll talk about it later."

I nodded. "Fine."

I opened the car door and stepped out, my legs steady, my heart stronger.

Johnny didn't stop me.

He didn't call me back.

I walked into the house, divorce papers in hand, ready to let him go.