The Good Girl Isn't Coming Back

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT

ELENA'S POV

"Is it true?"

The moment I stepped into the living room, the question flew out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

Mattias looked up from the couch, but the calm expression on his face only fueled my anger.

"You actually signed the divorce papers?" I demanded. "Mattias... why?"

He frowned, looking more confused than guilty.

"I didn't know they were divorce papers," he answered.

I let out a bitter laugh.

"You expect me to believe that?"

Everything that had happened today... everything I had heard... it all felt like some ridiculous joke.

Summer?

The same Summer who obeyed every word this family said?

The same woman who spent five years chasing after my brother?

She filed for divorce?

No.

That wasn't possible.

Summer had never talked about leaving. No matter how badly she was treated, she always came back. She apologized even when she wasn't wrong.

So why now?

"What happened?" I asked quietly.

Mattias leaned back as if none of this mattered.

"You're worrying too much."

He actually smiled.

"The Summer I know always comes back begging. She's only acting out because she saw Nora. Give her a few days. She'll calm down."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Begging?"

My voice rose.

"What about the papers you just signed? Was that also part of her acting?"

For the first time, the confidence on his face wavered.

Without another word, Mattias stood abruptly and hurried upstairs.

Something wasn't right.

I followed him.

He entered his bedroom and pulled a file from the drawer beside the bed.

He sat down, opened it, and froze.

Printed across the first page in bold letters were the words:

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

The color drained from his face.

His eyes widened.

"No..."

His lips parted.

"I actually signed it."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I... I didn't even look at the papers."

Silence filled the room.

I clenched my fists.

"After everything you've done to her..."

I shook my head in disbelief.

"She actually had the courage to divorce you."

A strange feeling settled inside me.

Not sympathy.

Shock.

Because Summer had never once chosen herself.

Not until now.

Mattias rubbed his forehead impatiently before tossing the file onto the bed.

"She's only a housewife, Elena."

His tone was dismissive.

"It's not a big loss."

He scoffed.

"Besides, she contributed nothing. She could barely even afford her own needs without me."

I stared at my brother.

Had he truly convinced himself of that?

Had he forgotten who Summer used to be before she married him?

He continued confidently.

"The Blackwood family would never accept someone with no status."

"They'll throw her out."

"And when they do..."

A smirk appeared on his face.

"She'll come crawling back."

His confidence irritated me.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe he wasn't.

But something felt different this time.

Summer's eyes...

The way she had looked at him today...

There wasn't any love left.

Only disappointment.

"You're right," I finally said.

"But you can't just ignore this."

He looked at me.

"If she really leaves..."

I narrowed my eyes.

"...then do something."

"Because if you don't..."

I turned toward the door.

"...I will."

Without waiting for his answer, I walked away.

For the first time...

I wasn't afraid that Summer would leave.

I was afraid...

She never intended to come back.