Chapter 3

I looked at him coldly. "No need for an LV bag. If comforting me is such a burden, don't force yourself. I came back to give you the divorce papers, not to beg for gifts."

Diana's eyes widened in disbelief. "Mrs. Cooper, were you serious about the divorce yesterday? Just because of that coffee?"

Her calculating look was unmistakable.

But Jared couldn't see it.

He picked up the papers, his face darkening. "All this over a coffee? You never told me what you like, so I just picked something. Is this really worth divorcing over?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I turned to Diana. "You usually drink iced decaf, right?"

She nodded, then shrank behind Jared as if struck by a realization, tugging at his shirt with an innocent look. "Mrs. Cooper, the professor only ordered what I usually get because he's bought it for me a few times. Please don't be mad at me."

Jared stepped in front of her, shielding her, and spoke to me with exasperation. "Stop making a fuss over nothing. If you have time to be jealous and overthink, why not find something productive to do? We can't have kids anyway, and I don't have the energy to coddle your princess tantrums. Take a page from Diana. She's always in the lab early, buried in books. She's only a first-year grad student, but her skills rival third-years. If you had that kind of drive, you wouldn't be obsessing over my every move. It'd be better for you too."

I looked up at him. His eyes were full of exhaustion and impatience.

Who did I quit my job for?

Back then, Jared and I were tied for top of our class. He was the one who wanted a child. When the doctor said my polycystic ovaries needed rest, he insisted I leave my million-dollar-a-year job to stay home and prepare for pregnancy.

Now, in front of others, he mocked me for not having kids and lacking ambition?

I was so angry I clapped sarcastically and sneered. "Jared, why don't you just admit you're smitten with Diana? Why bother tearing me down so indirectly?"

He raised his hand high, his face terrifyingly grim.

The slap never came.

I tilted my face up, staring at him defiantly, a smirk on my lips. "What? Not going to hit me after all?"

Diana threw her arms around him from behind, shouting anxiously. "Professor! Don't be so impulsive over me!"

He grabbed her hands, not pushing her away, and looked at me with disappointment. "Kathy, how did you become like this?"

Who was the one who changed?

I couldn't be bothered to argue anymore.

I set the house keys on the table with a scornful smile. "Sign the divorce papers and send them to Claire when you're done. She's handling everything. Keep the keys for your star student. Whatever you two do here is none of my business anymore. Just make sure to pay me half the house's current value."

He stared at me intently. "You're serious?"

I didn't answer.

"You'll regret this." He signed his name with a flourish, tossed the pen and papers onto the table, and looked at me coldly. "No need to mail anything. Take them now."

I bent down to pick up the papers, my fingers trembling uncontrollably.

Seven years of marriage ended in shambles.

I couldn't say a word.

I took one last look at the home that used to be warm.

The city's most expensive mattress, bought because of my bad back, had someone else sleeping on it since last night.

Claire called just then. "What time's your flight tomorrow? I'll drive you."

I turned to leave, answering her. "Noon, to Crestwood."

Jared reached out and grabbed my arm, asking out of habit. "How many days are you staying?"

I looked at him deeply, didn't answer, and yanked my arm free before walking away.

Did it matter how long?

I was done with him for good.