Beneath the scars

Chapter 5

The moment Asia stepped into her bedroom, she closed the door quietly behind her and leaned against it for a few seconds.

She simply felt tired.

Tired of expecting things from people who had no intention of giving them.

Downstairs, Kelvin was probably continuing his day as though nothing had happened. Jane was probably still hovering around him, acting like she belonged wherever he was.

A few weeks ago, the sight would have left a knot in Asia's chest but today, she felt nothing.

Slowly, she pushed herself away from the door and walked toward her wardrobe.

Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the house dressed neatly and carrying a leather folder tucked beneath one arm.

The folder contained copies of documents her father had once insisted she keep.

At the time, she hadn't understood why.

Now she was grateful he had.

The driver dropped her off outside a quiet restaurant overlooking one of Flinton City's private gardens.

Rachel was already there.

The moment she spotted Asia approaching, she stood up from her chair.

"Finally."

Rachel crossed her arms dramatically.

"I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind."

Asia pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

"I almost did."

Rachel immediately narrowed her eyes.

"You're lying."

A small smile touched Asia's lips.

"Maybe."

For a while, they talked about ordinary things.

Rachel's latest argument with Sebastian her husband,over who spent more money during the previous month.

It was normal conversation.The kind Asia hadn't realized she needed.

Then Rachel suddenly placed her coffee cup down and looked at asia carefully.

"Okay."

Asia raised an eyebrow.

"Okay what?"

"Stop pretending."

Rachel pointed directly at her.

"Something happened."

Asia didn't answer immediately.

Rachel knew her too well.

"You don't look sad," Rachel continued. "You don't even look angry. Honestly, that's what's bothering me."

A soft laugh escaped Asia.

"Everyone keeps expecting me to be angry."

"Because you should be."

Rachel leaned forward.

"Asia, you got shot. You lost your baby. Your husband didn't visit you once."

The words hung heavily between them.

Neither woman spoke for several seconds.

“Well being angry wouldn’t change any of this,so I’m done being angry.”

Then Asia quietly added,

"I want a divorce."

Rachel froze.

The expression on her face was almost comical.

For the first time since they had met, Rachel Flynn looked genuinely speechless.

"What?"

Asia repeated herself calmly.

"I want a divorce."

The silence that followed lasted several moments.

Rachel stared at her as though she had suddenly started speaking another language.

"Kelvin Fletcher?"

Asia nodded.

"Your Kelvin Fletcher?"

Another nod.

"You want a divorce from kelvin?"

Asia reached for her coffee.

"Yeah."

Rachel sat back in her chair.

For a full minute, she simply stared.Then she let out a long breath.

"Wow."

Asia couldn't help smiling.

"That's all you have to say?"

"No."

Rachel shook her head.

"I have a lot more to say, but most of it would get me kicked out of this restaurant."

That earned a genuine laugh from Asia.Rachel's expression softened.

Without hesitation, she reached across the table and squeezed Asia's hand.

"If this is what you want, I'm with you."

The simple words settled warmly inside Asia's chest.

For the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn't carrying everything alone.

An hour later, they arrived at Sebastian's law office.

Unlike Rachel, her husband Sebastian didn't react immediately.He listened carefully while Asia explained everything.

The growing realization that her marriage had been over long before she admitted it.

Only after hearing everything did he open the folder she had brought.For nearly twenty minutes, he reviewed the documents in silence.

Occasionally making notes.

Occasionally frowning.

The longer he read, the more serious his expression became.Finally, he closed the file.

"This is more complicated than I expected."

Asia straightened.

"How bad?"

Sebastian folded his hands on the desk.

"Bad enough that you need to be careful."

Rachel immediately sat up.

"What does that mean?"

"It means Kelvin currently has more influence over the Richmore holdings than he should."

Asia's brows knitted together.

"Because of my father?"

Sebastian nodded.

"Your father trusted him a bit too much to hand over so much.”A bitter feeling settled in her stomach.

Sebastian opened several documents and slid them across the desk.

"There are loopholes."

Asia lowered her gaze to the papers.

"What happens If I file for divorce now?"

"You can."

His answer came immediately.

"But I wouldn't recommend it."

Rachel frowned.

"Why?"

Sebastian tapped one of the documents.

"Because if she files now, she loses leverage."

The room fell silent.

"Right now," Sebastian continued, "you need a link into the company to get a higher share than he does.”

A slow understanding began forming inside Asia's mind.

"You're saying I should wait."

"I'm saying you should prepare."

Sebastian leaned back in his chair.

"For the first time, you have the advantage of being underestimated."

Neither Rachel nor Asia interrupted.

"If you want your father's company back, we need evidence. We need records. We need time and most importantly we need a very strong hold on those shares.”

Then his expression softened slightly.

"And we need patience."

The next hour passed discussing strategies and legal Documents they needed to obtain.

By the time they finished, Asia felt something she hadn't felt in weeks.

Purpose.

Before they left, Sebastian opened one of his drawers and pulled out a sealed envelope.

He placed it on the desk between them.

Asia stared at it.

"What is it?"

"A draft."

Her gaze remained fixed on the envelope.

Sebastian's voice remained calm.

"Divorce papers."

Neither Rachel nor Asia spoke.The words carried an unexpected weight.

For years, marriage had been something permanent in her mind.Something she fought for and Now she was staring at the beginning of its end.

"You don't have to use them," Sebastian said.

"Not yet."

Slowly, Asia picked up the envelope.Her fingers tightened around it and then she nodded.

"I understand."

By the time she returned home, evening had already settled over the city.

The house was quiet.

Without a word, she carried the envelope upstairs and placed it inside the drawer of her bedside table.Then she closed it.

Later that night, she joined the family for dinner.

To her surprise, Kelvin was already seated at the table.

He glanced up briefly when she entered.

"Where did you go today?"

The question was casual.The same way someone might ask about the weather.

Asia pulled out her chair.

"Out."

For some reason, Kelvin looked at her for a second longer than usual.Then he returned his attention to his meal.

The rest of dinner passed quietly.When it ended, Asia excused herself and returned upstairs.

The moment she entered her room, she kicked off her shoes and sat on the edge of the bed.

The silence felt comfortable.

For once.

Her eyes drifted toward the bedside drawer.Toward the envelope hidden inside.

“A new beginning.”she calmly let out.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

The sound broke through the quiet room.With a frown on her face,she picked it up.

An unknown number.

A single text message.

Asia opened it.

The color drained from her face almost immediately.

The message contained only one sentence.

“I know who shot you.”

Her pulse quickened as she immediately put down the phone.

Asia stole a glance at the screen from the bedside desk she had placed it.A cold feeling slowly crawled down her spine.

Outside her window, thunder rumbled in the distance.

And for the first time since leaving the hospital, she had the terrifying feeling that the nightmare wasn't over.

It was only beginning.