Chapter 3
923 Words
Fariana woke up to pain.
Not the soft kind that faded with time.
The sharp, splitting kind that throbbed behind her eyes and made her whole body feel heavy.
She groaned softly, shifting under the sheets, her head pounding as memories of last night came rushing back in broken pieces.
The bar.
The drinks.
Bruce.
Her breath caught slightly.
“…great,” she muttered, pressing her palm against her forehead.
She tried to sit up—
And froze.
Because she wasn’t alone.
A shadow stood over her.
Still.
Silent.
Watching.
Fariana’s breath hitched as she slowly lifted her gaze.
Bruce.
Standing beside the bed.
Tall.
Unmoving.
His expression dark, his eyes cold—but burning with something sharper underneath.
Fury.
Controlled. Dangerous. Barely restrained.
Fariana blinked slowly. “…you again.”
Bruce didn’t answer right away.
He just looked at her.
Like she was something he was trying to erase from his mind.
“You’re awake,” he said finally.
His voice was low.
Sharp.
Fariana let out a dry laugh. “Unfortunately.”
She pushed herself up slowly, ignoring the dizziness in her head.
“Let me guess,” she said. “You didn’t come here to check if I’m okay.”
Bruce’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Fariana swung her legs off the bed, steadying herself.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“My place,” Bruce replied coldly.
She paused.
Then gave a small, tired smile. “Of course.”
“Don’t misunderstand,” he added. “You were a mess. I wasn’t about to leave you in an alley.”
“How noble of you.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“You embarrassed me.”
There it was.
Not concern.
Not worry.
Embarrassment.
Fariana looked at him properly now—and something inside her hardened.
“That’s what this is about?” she asked quietly.
“You made a scene,” Bruce continued. “Drunk. Reckless. Clinging to me in public—”
“I wasn’t clinging to you,” she cut in sharply.
“You could barely stand.”
“And whose fault is that?” she snapped back.
“Don’t,” Bruce warned.
The word was final.
Fariana stood fully now, despite the ache in her head.
“Don’t what?” she challenged. “Say the truth?”
Bruce stepped closer.
His presence filled the room.
Heavy.
Overpowering.
“Don’t twist this,” he said coldly. “You’ve always been like this. Emotional. Careless. Weak.”
That word landed hard.
But Fariana didn’t break.
Instead, she laughed.
Soft.
Bitter.
“You really believe that,” she said.
“I know it.”
She shook her head slowly.
“No,” she said. “You just need to believe it.”
Bruce’s eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means it’s easier for you to call me weak than admit you were wrong about me.”
A flicker crossed his expression.
Gone too fast.
But she saw it.
Bruce turned away slightly, then reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a folder.
And threw it onto the bed.
“Sign it,” he said.
Fariana’s gaze dropped.
Divorce papers.
She didn’t move.
Didn’t blink.
Bruce’s voice stayed cold. “I’ve already handled everything. You’ll get your settlement. More than you deserve.”
Fariana let out a quiet breath.
Then she smiled.
Not broken.
Not soft.
Sharp.
“No.”
Bruce stilled.
“What?”
“I said no,” she repeated calmly.
His eyes darkened instantly.
“You don’t get a choice.”
“I do,” she said.
Bruce stepped closer again.
His voice dropped. “Don’t test me.”
Fariana didn’t back down.
“I’m already past that point.”
Silence.
Tension snapped tight between them.
“You think this is a game?” he asked.
“No,” she replied. “I think this is a marriage. Or what’s left of it.”
Bruce’s jaw clenched.
“You’re in no position to negotiate.”
“I’m not negotiating.”
She picked up the papers slowly, flipping through them.
Cold.
Clean.
Final.
Just like him.
Then she placed them back down.
Unsigned.
“If you want a divorce,” she said quietly, “you’re going to have to earn it.”
Bruce stared at her.
Like he was seeing someone unfamiliar.
“This is a mistake,” he said.
Fariana smiled faintly.
“Maybe.”
A pause.
Then—
“But it’ll be my mistake.”
His expression tightened.
“You think this changes anything?”
“I think it changes everything,” she said.
Another step closer.
Fariana didn’t flinch.
“You don’t get to break me,” she said softly, “and then walk away like I meant nothing.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Cracking.
For a second—
Bruce didn’t respond.
But then his mask returned.
Cold again.
“You’re emotional,” he said.
Fariana laughed under her breath.
“No,” she corrected. “I’m done.”
She picked up her bag.
Walked past him.
Then paused at the door.
And looked back one last time.
No tears.
No softness.
Just certainty.
“If you want me gone,” she said quietly, “you’re going to have to face me first.”
Then she left.
And for the first time—
Bruce didn’t follow.
Just stood there.
Holding papers he thought she would sign.
Realizing she wasn’t the woman he thought he buried.
- Writer
