Taking the envelope, I feel my heart thud uncontrollably fast. "Thank you, Dex."

He nods quickly and hurries away, leaving me alone with the ominous package.

My heart pounds as I open the envelope, dread creeping over me. If Dex wants to be far away when I open it, what could possibly be inside?

Sophie unlocks the front door and holds it open while I follow her inside. “Do you want to be alone to open that?” she asks gently.

I nod, my entire body numb, as I make my way to the spare bedroom. “I think so,” I murmur.

“If you need anything, I’ll be in my room.” Sophie’s tone is sympathetic as I operate on autopilot.

Alone in the room, I stare at the envelope in my hands, feeling a wave of emotions crashing over me.

I flick on the light and close the door, my heart pounding in my ears.

Sliding my finger under the seal, I open the envelope, and my stomach twists into knots. It feels like last night's pizza and beer might make a reappearance.

Swallowing hard, I pull out the papers, and when I see 'Dissolution of Marriage' staring back at me, it's like my heart is ripped from my chest.

Tears stream down my face as I toss the papers across the room.

Griffin didn't even have the guts to deliver them himself; he sent some random guy from the office.

I collapse onto the bed, curling into a ball, the papers scattered around me.

Tomorrow, I'll drag myself out of bed and start piecing my life back together.

But today, I'm going to let myself feel the weight of everything I've lost with Griffin.

It's a mourning day—a day to grieve for the life we could've had together.

Because now, it's really, truly over.

Chapter twenty-four

Griffin

I shouldn’t have sent Cora those divorce papers. Instead, I should have told her I was a fool and begged for another chance.

It's been five agonizing days since I had an associate deliver them to her. Deep down, I know it was the right choice, but that doesn't stop thoughts of Cora from haunting me.

I keep telling myself that splitting up is for the best.

Cora deserves better than my family's constant insults and belittling. They treat her as if she's inferior just because her life isn't picture-perfect in their eyes.

I sigh heavily and push myself off the couch, surveying the empty bottles of whiskey and beer scattered on the coffee table.

They've been my companions, helping me numb the pain and get through the sleepless nights.

My father's voice echoes in my head, reminding me of my failures and how I'll never measure up.

But tonight, I can't drown out the ache in my chest or the memories of Cora's smile.

I wish I could just erase my parents from my life. It's a thought that has crossed my mind more times than I can count, but for some reason, I've never been able to cut them out fully.

The clinking of the bottles reminds me of the mess I need to clean up. I gather them up and take them to the recycling bin, hoping to clear my mind.

As the coffee starts brewing, there's a sudden knock at the door.