Chapter 1

For the eighth time, Andrew asked me for a divorce.

The reason was simple. A lifestyle magazine published a small piece about the surprise anniversary trip he had planned for me. His childhood best friend, Gabby, saw it. She threw a fit, threatening to go to the press with some fabricated scandal that would destroy his run for mayor.

I felt nothing. Just a deep, familiar exhaustion.

"Okay, Andrew."

We sat in our lawyer' s office, a place so familiar it felt like a second home. The paralegal, a young woman named Chloe, saw us and gave a tired smile.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lester. Good to see you. Should I schedule the reconciliation filing for next month?"

Andrew laughed awkwardly, a politician' s habit. "You know how it is, Chloe."

I looked at her, my voice quiet but firm.

"There won' t be a next time."

Chloe' s smile vanished. She looked from me to Andrew, who was already shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the air conditioner humming. Andrew finally broke the silence, his voice a low, placating murmur meant only for me.

"Maddy, come on. We' ve been through this. It' s just to calm Gabby down. You know how she gets. Once the campaign is in full swing, I' ll fix it. I promise."

I didn' t look at him. I had heard that promise seven times before. It was as empty as the space in my chest.

Our lawyer, Mr. Davison, came in. He looked more like a tired referee than a legal professional. He slid the papers across the mahogany desk.

"The usual terms, Andrew, Madisyn? No changes?"

"No changes," I said, picking up the pen.

Andrew put on a show of defending me, a weak, performative act for the lawyer' s benefit. "Maddy has been so understanding through all this. She' s a saint, really."

His words felt like ash in my mouth. I signed my name, my hand steady. Madisyn Johns. Not Madisyn Lester. It was a small act of rebellion.

I slid the papers over to him. He hesitated, his eyes pleading with me. But then his phone buzzed. A text from Gabby, no doubt. His face hardened. He signed his name with a quick, angry flourish.

It was done. Again.