Page 83 of The Accidental Wife

“I was running a little late. Is Shayla here already?” I ask my eyes scanning the area, but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Yes, she is here. She’s gone to get a coffee.” My stomach drops in disappointment. A small part of me was wishing she hadn’t shown up. I sit on the leather chairs and close my eyes. I hear the clinking of heels, and I open my eyes and see Shayla walking toward us, two cups of coffee in her hand. Ahh damn, she’s so fucking beautiful it hurts.She was in a plain black formal dress, her hair straightened and neat.

“Morning.” She greets me with a small smile. She looks tired, like she hadn’t slept much last night.She must have had a good night out, celebrating her freedom.

“Morning,” I reply with a nod. Shayla drops her gaze briefly and holds out a steaming cup of coffee to me.

“Here, I got this for you.” I push the shades down my nose and look at her, then the cup of coffee in her hand. “You don’t wake up till you’ve had your second cup of coffee.”

I smile gratefully and take the cup from her hand. “Thank you.”

“Mr Tristan and Mrs Shayla Hoult?” Shayla and I both look at one another then back at the lady calling our names. I rub my forehead, and Franc gestures for us to follow him. Shayla and I walk side by side into the courtroom. I glance at her through my shades and notice she’s chewing her bottom lip anxiously. She’s probably itching to get this over with already.

We take our places, and the judge walks in and takes his seat. Shayla and I sat opposite each other while Franc stands in the middle of the room, speaking to the judge.

“All right, this looks like a nice and easy divorce.” The judge says, flicking through the paperwork. “Grounds of divorce, cultural differences.” He closes the papers and sighs, looking at Shayla first, then at me for a moment. “The paperwork is all in order, but I am obliged to ask one last time, are you both sure you would like to go through with the divorce?”

I stare at the table hard, and Shay’s words from yesterday replay in my mind over and over again. “Yes, your honour.” I force myself to say and lift my gaze and see Shayla staring at the wall opposite.

“And you, Mrs Hoult?”

She clears her throat and nods, “Yes, your honour.” I bite the inside of my cheek, and we stare at one another.

“Very well. Seen as you both agree and there’s nothing to settle, I am granting your divorce.” I look at the judge and shake my head with a frown.

“Wait, there must have been some mistake. There is a settlement of two million.” I tell him, and the judge looks at the paper in front of him and back at me again, bewildered.

“Not according to the paper your wife has signed relinquishing any rights to a settlement, Mr Hoult.” The judge says, and I look over at Shayla, who keeps her gaze on the floor. “Has there been a mistake, Mrs Hoult?”

She shakes her head and looks at him. “No, your honour, that is correct.”

“Excellent. Then I hereby announce that you are divorced. You’re free to go.” He declares, getting up and walking off.

I walk around the table I was sitting at and catch Shayla’s arm as she tries to walk off. “What the fuck Shayla?! Why would you do that? I thought we settled this already?” Shayla looks at her arm and back at me before she pulls it out of my hold, sighing.

“Cole, I was never going to take that money. You refused to listen when I told you I didn’t want it. I don’t need it.” She explains, licking her lips. “You gave me no other choice but to go behind your back and sign the papers.” I frown and shake my head in disbelief.

“So, you did all of this for nothing. What the hell did you get out of this then, Shayla?” I question, irritated, gesturing between us, and she shrugs and stares at my tie for a long moment before she lifts her gaze to me again.

“Who said it was for nothing? I gave you my word, and I kept it. That might not mean anything to you, Cole, but to me, it means everything.” She tells me, her sincerity radiating in her green eyes. “Look, I’m sorry I had to go behind your back. I didn’t do it to hurt you or get one over on you. I honestly don’t want it Cole, I don’t. If you really want to do something, take that money, and give it to those who really need it. Be the guy who leaves his mark by making a difference in the world. However, big or small that difference may be.” I stare into her eyes, and she smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I have to go.” She whispers, and I reach out and take her hand in mine.

“Can I drive you anywhere?” I offer, but she shakes her head.

“No. I drove here, so I’m good.” She replies, looking into my eyes, and I can see them watering. She reaches up and brushes her fingers along my jaw. “You were a good fake husband.” She smiles. I wrap my fingers around her wrist as she’s about to pull it away and kiss her fingers before I press them over my heart. Shayla’s bottom lip quivers, and tears spill from her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

“Cole.” She whispers, and I press my forehead to hers, closing my eyes.

“Shayla.” I breathe, brushing my nose over hers as I used to.

“I’ve got to go.” She sighs, pulling away and looks at me one last time. “I’m glad I met you, Tristan Cole Hoult.” She whispers, walking back, and I squeeze her hand, shaking my head.

“I’m glad I met you too, Shayla Hart.” She pulls her hand back and whispers goodbye, and walks away from me for the last time. I watch as she disappears out the front entrance, and I sigh, closing my eyes, my heart slowly sinking to the pit of my stomach.“Goodbye”

I feel someone squeeze my shoulder, and I look back and see it was Franc. “That is one remarkable woman.” He says, and I nod, staring at the door, silently wishing she would come back. She didn’t. She came into my life like a whirlwind and left in the same manner.

When I went back home later that day, it felt empty and hollow as my chest did. I walk to her bedroom and look around. All traces of her are gone. I walk over to her dresser, where she left her diamond engagement ring sitting in the box. I pick it up and stare at it for a long time before I hurl it across the room and watch as it hits the wall and falls to the floor.

I was aching in places I didn’t even know was possible.

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