The Arranged Wife He Never Wanted - Until She left

Chapter Three: The Courthouse Faceoff

Maya POV

The next day, I showed up at the courthouse at 8:30 in the morning, even though we'd agreed to meet at nine.

I'd arrived early on purpose. Not only that, but I'd also made sure to put on heavy makeup and wear my favorite outfit, a deep red halter dress that I'd bought years ago but never had the courage to wear. I pulled my long hair up into a high ponytail, and the morning sunlight made my skin glow where my neck and back were exposed.

With my elegant posture and cool, composed expression, I probably looked pretty striking from a distance. Almost angelic, if I'm being honest with myself.

Unfortunately, I'd caught a cold the night before from standing outside in the freezing air gathering my things. My body felt like it was on fire, and I was so weak I could barely stand up straight. But I wasn't about to let Adrian see me looking pathetic. Not today.

At exactly nine o'clock, a silver Bugatti Veyron pulled into the courthouse parking lot. A moment later, Adrian stepped out of the car, and I was greeted by that same ice-cold expression I'd become so familiar with over the years.

His eyes met mine for just a split second, and something flickered there, surprise, maybe? But it was quickly replaced by something that looked almost like contempt.

"Well, aren't you excited?" Adrian said with a scoff as he walked right past me, heading straight toward the department that handled divorce cases.

I stood there staring after his tall figure, my mind racing with bitter thoughts.

'What's HIS deal? Aren't YOU the one who's excited? You're practically sprinting to the counter!'

But I kept my mouth shut and followed him inside.

The whole procedure went incredibly smoothly. All we had to do was sign a few papers, which took less than ten minutes total.

"According to the new law, there's a one-month grace period for all divorces," the courthouse staff member explained as he handed us our application forms. "If either of you changes your mind and wishes to call off the divorce, you can bring the required documents back before the thirty days are up."

The man had worked at the courthouse for years and had witnessed countless tears, screaming matches, and dramatic fights during divorce proceedings. This was the first time he'd ever come across such a calm, collected individual. They'd barely said two words to each other.

He honestly couldn't understand why this couple was divorcing. They seemed perfect for each other, and they were both ridiculously good-looking. It seemed like such a waste.

I took the papers from him and skimmed through the clauses quickly. Then I mumbled sarcastically under my breath, "There's a grace period for divorce, but not for marriage? If this law applied to marriages too, I…"

"Oh?" Adrian's expression darkened immediately. With a cold smirk, he cut me off. "Are you saying you wouldn't have married me if there was a grace period for marriage?"

"Nope!" I lifted an eyebrow at him, my voice dripping with fake cheerfulness. "I got fifty million dollars out of you. Fifty million! The average woman wouldn't even dream of making this much money in their entire lifetime. I guess you could say I struck gold!"

Adrian looked visibly upset by my response. He tugged at his tie in frustration, like he was trying to loosen something that was choking him.

The Maya he'd known before had always been so quiet and agreeable, like she didn't even have her own opinions about anything. But the closer we got to finalizing this divorce, the sharper and more spiteful her words became. It was like she'd been holding back for four years and was finally letting it all out.

He didn't like it. He didn't like this version of me at all.

But what could he say? He was the one who'd asked for the divorce in the first place.

Just as we were about to go our separate ways, a soft voice came from behind us. "Adrian, are you done yet?"

I turned around, only to see it was Briar.

Briar was wearing a white sundress, and her expression was filled with sadness and vulnerability. She looked like a delicate dandelion that would crumble apart at the slightest breeze. There wasn't a single trace of that arrogance left on her face, nothing like the cruel, smug woman I'd encountered the night before.

And then I noticed something else; there was a slight bump on her belly.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the car? What are you doing out here?"

"It's cold outside. This baby is important to our family. We can't afford to have you get sick while you're pregnant."

Adrian's voice was cold and distant, but there was an edge of concern in it that I'd never heard directed at me. Not once in four years.

Seeing the two of them standing there together like that, I couldn't help but feel completely betrayed. Deep down in my chest, something twisted painfully, and I felt angry in a way I hadn't allowed myself to feel before.

"Don't you think you owe me an explanation, Adrian?" I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

Adrian stared back at me with no expression on his face at all. Cold. Blank. Empty.

"I don't owe you anything."

His words hit me like a slap across the face. I stood there for a moment, stunned, feeling that familiar ache spreading through my chest again. But this time, underneath the hurt, there was anger. Real, burning anger.

"Right," I said quietly, my voice shaking just a little. "Of course you don't."

I turned away from them both, my hands clenched into fists at my sides, and walked toward the courthouse exit without looking back.

Behind me, I could hear Briar's soft voice saying something to Adrian, probably playing the sweet, concerned girlfriend. The woman carrying his child. The woman he actually wanted.

And me? I was just the obstacle that had finally been removed.

I pushed through the courthouse doors and stepped out into the bright morning sunlight. My fever was getting worse. I could feel the heat radiating off my skin, and my head was pounding. But I kept walking, one foot in front of the other, refusing to let them see me break down.

Four years. Four years of trying to be enough for a man who had been waiting for someone else the entire time. Four years of sleeping alone while he was probably with her. And now she was pregnant with his baby, while I was walking away with nothing but a divorce settlement and a broken heart.

I pulled out my phone with trembling hands and called for a cab. While I waited, I let myself feel everything I'd been holding back, the anger, the betrayal, the humiliation, the grief for the time I'd wasted loving someone who had never loved me back.

When the cab arrived, I climbed in and gave the driver my new address. As we pulled away from the courthouse, I didn't look back. I was done looking back.

Adrian Blake could have his perfect life with Briar and their baby. I was going to figure out how to build a life of my own, one that didn't revolve around trying to earn love from someone who would never give it.