Chapter 15
1145 Words
Isabella
I didn’t know how long I sat there staring at the word divorce on my screen, but I knew it was long enough for the room to grow quieter, and long enough for the anger in my chest to cool into something colder.
Something final.
The bedroom door suddenly opened behind me without warning, and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was William.
His presence filled the room instantly, familiar and heavy. I used to love his presence, but now, I absolutely loathed it.
For a moment, he said nothing. I could feel his gaze on my back, probably noticing the tension in my shoulders, the packed documents beside me, the silence hanging between us, then finally, he said.
“What was that downstairs?” His voice was controlled, but barely.
I slowly locked my phone and placed it beside me before turning slightly to look at him.
William stood near the door, his jaw tight, frustration darkening his expression.
“You spoke to my mother inappropriately.” he continued, while I stared at him quietly for a second.
Then I asked, “How exactly should I have spoken to her?”
“You shouldn't have spoken to her like that.” He frowned immediately, clearly not expecting me to answer back. “She’s still my mother, Bella.”
“And?” My voice remained calm. “Does that suddenly make everything she says acceptable?”
“You're misunderstanding, taking it the wrong way too.” William exhaled sharply, already sounding exhausted. “She meant well.”
That made me laugh. Not loudly,just one soft, disbelieving laugh that even surprised me a little.
“Meant well?” I repeated slowly. “Do you even know what she said to me before you arrived?”
“Yes, she means well.” He stepped further into the room. “I don't know, Bella, but that shouldn't be the problem here. She’s frustrated sometimes, but she wants what’s best for us.”
Us. That word sounded emptier every single time he used it, because deep down, he didn't mean it.
I looked at him carefully then, really looked at him, at the man I had crossed territories for.
The man I had nearly died for, the man I had spent years shrinking myself for, and suddenly, I felt tired.
Not angry, nor heartbroken, just tired. It felt I'd been suppressing the feeling for years, but now, they were finally coming to light.
My gaze drifted away from him briefly before I said quietly,“Let’s get a divorce.”
Silence, complete silence echoed as William froze so suddenly it almost looked unreal..For one long second, he simply stared at me like he genuinely hadn’t understood the words that came out of my mouth.
“…What?”
“Let’s end this marriage, William.”I looked back at him calmly. “I'm tired.”
The color drained slightly from his face so fast I almost thought I imagined it.
“No.” The response came immediately, instinctively. “No, you don’t mean that.”
I didn’t answer and William took another step toward me, his expression tightening rapidly now.
“Is this because of today?” he asked quickly. “Because of Elisa?”
His tone sharpened slightly around her name, but I forced myself to shelve it as nothing.
“Bella, how many times do I need to tell you?” he continued. “Elisa and I are just friends.”
Friends. The word exhausted me now.
“It doesn't matter.” I looked down briefly at my hands before answering quietly, “I don’t care anymore.”
That seemed to hit him harder than anger would have. His brows furrowed deeply as he crossed the room completely this time.
“No, Bella.” He let out slowly. “Don’t say things like that.”
“Why?” I asked softly. “Because hearing it makes you uncomfortable?”
“That’s not what this is.” His voice dropped lower now, calmer, and more persuasive. The same tone he always used whenever he wanted me to soften. “You’re upset right now. I understand that, but divorce?”
“That's far fetched.” He shook his head like the idea itself was ridiculous. “You’re overreacting.”
Something cold flickered through me at those words.
Of course..Years of neglect, humiliation, loneliness, and somehow, I was still the emotional one.
“Am I?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. If he was truly innocent, this was the part where he would list out his achievements in our relationship, but just like always he had nothing.
Not even the identical necklaces I'd gotten for my birthday three times in a row.
“Isabella.” William sat beside me on the bed carefully, close enough for me to catch the familiar scent of his cologne.
“Look at me,” he murmured,but I didn’t. A second later, his hand closed around mine gently.
“Bella.” His voice softened further. “We can fix this.”
The warmth of his hand against mine almost made old instincts return. Almost, but then I remembered him moaning Elisa’s name behind a bathroom door.
I remembered him smiling at her in the watch boutique, I remembered Jason laughing while William stayed silent, and just like that, every trace of weakness vanished.
I pulled my hand away sharply. The movement was so immediate and forceful that William visibly froze.
Shock flashed openly across his face this time. Real shock, because I had never done that before. I'd never rejected his touch, never pulled away from him like he disgusted me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then slowly, I stood up, steadying myself with my cane.
“I’ll apply for divorce through the tribal court as soon as possible,” I said quietly. “You'll finally be free of the Luna that embarrasses you all the time.”
“What?” William stared at me like the ground beneath him had suddenly disappeared. “Isabella…”
“You can't be serious.” He stood up as well, but this time I took a step back. Not only that, I also made sure to keep my cane in front of him, stopping him from trying anything funny. “Eliza and I are just friends. She just came so we could catch up. It's been years since I saw her …”
“That's fine.” I cut him off. “This would give you more time to catch up don't you think? You could even take things further?”
“Isabella, you don't mean that.” He was slowly losing it, I could see it. “I'll make it up to you. We'll go out…”
“No.” I shook my head slower. “ I mean it. We're done.”
- Writer
