He Saved His "Work Wife", I Saved Myself

Chapter 3

The police department held an internal celebration.

Laughter filled the hallway. People from the unit cycled through the break room, holding paper cups and pastries. Someone clapped Arthur on the shoulder as they passed, loudly proclaiming the golden partners had done it again.

I hugged a thick stack of commendation forms and skirted around the crowd.

That morning, Arthur had left a bouquet of white daisies on my desk. The card had three words on it: Don't be mad.

This was his habit. A little trinket to patch things up, then he'd wait for me to move on by myself.

I left the flowers untouched. I didn't reply to his messages.

I was done with all of it.

The break room door wasn't shut all the way.

Elena's voice slipped through the gap. "Chloe's been ignoring you for days. Aren't you worried she's actually mad this time?"

"Where's she gonna go?" Arthur laughed. "Three days, tops. She'll cool off on her own."

A coffee mug clinked against the marble counter.

"She's been stuck behind a desk too long. Got too used to the safe life. She gets a scratch and acts like she's been mortally wounded."

Elena laughed along. "I bet you she'll be home tonight making you soup."

"Fine. If she is, you owe me coffee."

The gurgle of the espresso machine filled the room.

I stood outside the door, feeling sick.

I shoved the door open. It slammed against the wall with a dull bang.

Both of them turned.

Arthur's expression shifted. "What are you doing here? It's crowded out there. Watch your arm."

I walked up to him. "Arthur, I want a divorce."

The break room went silent.

Arthur's face darkened. "Chloe, don't pull this kind of stunt."

He slammed his mug down on the counter and stepped closer. "You're not a student anymore. Grow up."

I rolled my eyes and walked out.

"Chloe!" Arthur shouted after me.

My colleagues in the hallway watched me hurry through the crowd. A few started to speak, then saw my face and stayed quiet.

I was walking too fast. The wound on my left arm throbbed with every step.

Back in the archives room, I sat at my desk and cross-checked the forms one by one, then sealed them in an envelope for the admin office.