Chapter 2 The Divorce She Never Thought She'd Want

Melissa blinked against the rain barely able to make out David's face through the downpour.

Why was he here? Shouldn't he be with Helena enjoying and partying in their little reunion?

She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat "Why do you care?" with her voice hoarse, fragile, and she hated it that way.

Running a hand through his damp hair David sighed "Get inside before you get sick"

Something inside her snapped "Get inside?" she repeated with a bitter laugh escaping her lips "David, you just humiliated me in front of half the city and now you're worried about my health?"

His jaw tightened "You're overreacting Mel"

Melissa scoffed "Oh, I'm overreacting? Watching my husband play the doting lover to another woman on our anniversary isn't enough to warrant a reaction?"

David exhaled sharply with his patience thinning "This isn't the place for this"

"No, it isn't" she agreed "And that's why I'm done" she added

She met his gaze with a steady voice despite the chaos inside her "I want a divorce"

For the first time that night David got shocked with the surprise displayed in his eyes "What did you just say?"

"You heard me" Melissa lifted her chin "I want out" she said boldly

A tense silence stretched between them with the rain filling the void where words should have been.

David took a step closer "Is this about money? Are you doing this to negotiate a bigger settlement?"

A sharp pain cut through her chest but she forced herself to smile "Oh, David. You really think everything is about money, don't you?"

He didn't answer.

Suddenly exhausted Melissa let out a shaky breath "I'll have my lawyer send over the papers." She walked past him reaching for the door handle but his hand shot out gripping her wrist.

"You're not serious" he said with a voice but there was something dangerous beneath it; something almost desperate.

She looked up at him and she hesitated for a split second but then remembered the way he smiled at Melissa. The way he never looked at her that way. "I am" she responded, but David tightened his grip "You're my wife."

She pulled her arm free "Not for much longer" she said as she stepped inside slamming the door behind her.

With the rain still falling around, David stood outside staring at the closed door and for the first time, he felt something he couldn't name.

For the first time, Melissa didn't care too.

**********************************

Melissa sat in her bedroom with hands curled around a mug of tea that had long gone cold. She had made up her mind but her heart was still hammering in her chest "Divorce? It was the only way?"

A sharp knock on the door sent a jolt through her but she hesitated because she already knew who it was.

She opened the door just enough to see David standing there and his suit still damp from the rain with unreadable expression "We need to talk" he said with a quieter voice although firm.

She crossed her arms "We don't, actually".

David exhaled through his nose clearly restraining himself "You don't get to make this kind of decision in the heat of the moment"

Melissa tilted her head "I don't? Funny, because I made this decision the moment I realized I was just your placeholder"

"You're not a placeholder." He said as his jaw dropped in awe.

"Then what am I, David?" she quickly responded but got no answer.

Melissa's stomach ached because he didn't respond. Of course he didn't because the answer was too ugly even for him.

"I'll sign whatever you want" she said finally "Just let me go" she added.

David's fingers curled into fists at his sides and then in a lower voice than she had ever heard him use, he asked "Is there someone else?"

Melissa blinked and then laughed before slamming the door in his face.