Page 2 of The Divorce

I winced when I saw the romantic dinner setting with the burned-out candles. She set it all out in our wedding colours—cream, gold, and burgundy. I’d left before she was awake this morning. The only thing she got from me was a rushed kiss on her cheek.

Our wedding date coincided with the beginning of the school term, and she was finished teaching for the summer. I'd ruined it for her rather than her break, starting on a positive note. I could count the number of times that I was late or had to cancel our plans.

I touched the burgundy napkin with intricate gold stitching around the edge. Katya always paid attention to the finest details. I glanced at the array of flowers in the bouquet and the small bag for the jewellery. When Gloria told me about them, I hadn't asked what jewellery she had chosen because I was too relieved she had bought anything, or I would have been standing here empty-handed.

We met at a fundraiser involving the local primary schools, and I didn't leave her side the entire night. She was beautiful, graceful, and charming. I instantly hated how men’s eyes lingered on her. I was as tenacious and calculated towards our courtship as my business dealings. Within two months, I had proposed, and we were married as soon as she broke up for the summer. She didn't deserve a part-time husband.

With a heavy sigh, I dropped the napkin and approached our bedroom. I had some major grovelling to do because no amount of jewellery would fix my fuck up tonight.

My heart sank when she wasn't in our bedroom. I threw everything on the bed and began to check the other rooms. I winced when I saw her in the room we had earmarked for a nursery. The room was pitch black, but for the hallway light that shone. There was enough light to see her slight body, which created a lump on the bed.

“Kat?” I whispered as I walked toward the bed.

When she didn't reply, I shrugged off my jacket and began to strip my shirt—I’d taken my tie off in the car. Once my shirt was off, I toed off my shoes and worked on my trousers. I never left my clothes on the floor but needed to get to my wife. My eyes stayed on her sleeping form, and once I was down to my boxers, I placed my phone on the bedside table.

I eased onto the bed like a ninja in the night until I could feel Katya’s warmth. She was curled into a little ball, and when I tried to put my arm around her, she jerked away from my touch.

“Get out,” she said roughly, and I turned to switch the lamp on.

I almost wish I hadn’t. Her blonde hair half covered her face, but it didn't hide her red, swollen eyes. They immediately filled with tears when she looked at me. I swallowed, remembering the tears of happiness and love on our wedding day. We had both been elated.

“Baby, I’m so sorry.Pleasetell me what I can do to fix this. I’m willing to do anything,” I implored, pained by the devastating sorrow in her usually bright blue eyes.

“You can grant me a no-fault divorce,” she said.

I looked at her in horror and shock.

Divorce? What the fuck was a no-fault divorce? How long had she been thinking about divorcing me?

“I’m going to stay with Eliza for a while. I only stayed tonight to tell you to your face that I want a divorce, and I will be in touch with a solicitor tomorrow. I don't want anything. I want out,” she said with a finality that shocked me to my core.

“Katya,” I began when my faculties caught up with my brain freeze.

“No, enough is enough,” Katya snapped at me in a tone she had never used before. “Get out of my room, Seth.”

I swallowed back the urge to hold her in my arms and beg her not to leave me. Instead, I picked up my phone and walked out of the room. She needed some time, but I would try again in the morning.

I messaged Saul and told him what had happened. He phoned me immediately, and I rushed downstairs to talk to him. My parents were going to be furious. They loved Kat.

I had to save my marriage. There was no way I could lose Katya.

Chapter 2

Katya

The door shut softly behind him, and I pushed my face into the pillow to stop him from hearing the sobs that racked through my body. I didn't think that I had any left in me, but I did it. I put my foot down because it would never end if I didn't. The more I gave, the more he took. After six years of giving, it left me heartbroken and empty.

I blindly reached for the box of tissues and ripped several out. His lacklustre response severed my heart. The fact that I’d made his favourite dish for dinner and dressed for the occasion, hoping for quality time with him, caused my anger to push past the hurt. For hours, I sat in a daze before deciding my subsequent actions.

I dried my tears for the millionth time and blew my nose. I winced at the touch. My nostrils were raw from blowing my nose. I pulled my phone out from beneath my pillow to text Eliza.

Me:I did it. I told him that I wanted a divorce.

Eliza:What was his response?

Me:I think he was in shock, but I refused to speak to him and kicked him out of the bedroom.

Eliza:I don't blame you, babe. I’m sorry you're going through this. I’m here for you. Anything you need, it’s yours.

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