Married My Ex-husband’s Father

4

Morana’s POV

After I managed to gather myself together, I went back to the Volkov house and I walked inside.

Helen was the first person I saw. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed me.

“Where have you been?” She asked, folding her arms as though I had inconvenienced her.

I looked at her for a moment wondering if she’s hiding concern or at least curiosity (there was none) before answering. “I had an accident.”

“You missed Lena’s birthday,” she replied, her tone carrying more irritation than concern.

“I know.” I said even as something went completely numb inside me.

Before she could continue, Tory stepped through the doorway behind me and handed me the folder. This is the second time she’s ever stepped into the mansion and she promised it would be the last.

For someone as bubbly and Tory to hate you, I should have seen the red flags. She didn’t even acknowledge Helen past a curt nod.

“Everything is in here,” she said firmly, watching my face with concern. “Your petition is ready to file. The settlement agreement is included and once Julian signs his portion, I’ll take care of the filing.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you sure?” She caught my wrist before I could walk away.

I wanted to say no. I wanted to admit that I was terrified and I still love him. That some foolish part of me was hoping Julian would stop me before it was too late. Instead, I gave her a small nod.

“I’m sure.”

“Then go.” She studied my face for a second then released me.

__~__

I climbed the stairs with the folder pressed against my chest, trying to gather myself before I reached the study. I spent the entire drive telling myself that I was only going there to get Julian’s signature but that wasn’t entirely true.

I wanted to see him. I wanted to look at my husband one more time and convince myself that everything I had seen between him and Bianca has been a misunderstanding. Maybe Julian would see the divorce papers and finally understand that I was serious and stop me. I hated myself for thinking it, especially after everything that had happened but the possibility was still there refusing to die.

If he read those papers and told me he didn’t want a divorce, I knew I would probably fall into his arms and forgive him before he even finished explaining himself. I pushed the study door open and stopped.

Julian and Bianca were standing close enough that my breath caught in my throat. Like my heart was trying to stop.

His hand was resting against the edge of the desk beside her and Bianca’s face was tilted toward his. They weren’t touching but there was barely any space between them and from the way Julian immediately stepped back when he saw me, I knew I didn’t imagine what I walked in on.

His expression was strange almost embarrassed, as though he had been caught doing something he didn’t intende for me to see. Bianca on the other hand recovered almost instantly. She smoothed a hand over her hair and looked at me with an expression so soft and concerned that for a second, I almost hated her for being able to look so innocent.

“Morana,” she said gently, moving toward me with a worried crease between her brows. “You really shouldn’t be walking around so much after an accident. Look at you. You’re still pale.”

I looked at her hand when she reached toward my arm then quietly moved away before she could touch me.

“I’m fine.” I said through gritted teeth.

“You don’t have to pretend with me. I know you’re upset. Julian told me you’ve been under a lot of stress lately.” She gave me a small sympathetic smile.

Helen appeared at the doorway behind me, her gaze immediately narrowing when she saw the folder in my hands.

“What are you doing here now? You disappeared yesterday and missed Lena’s birthday and now you’re coming back as though nothing happened.” She raised a brow, her Botox filled face not cooperating.

“I had an accident,” I reminded her, my voice lower than I want it to be

“Yes, yes, we know. You keep repeating it like you’ve lost a limb. You are standing here, aren’t you?” She waved her hand dismissively.

My fingers tightened around the folder. I didn’t lost a limb but I don’t know which would have been better. My baby or a limb.

Bianca glanced at Helen and then at me, her expression turning even more sympathetic. I know the game she is playing and I hate that they cannot see it. Bianca is not as innocent as I thought she was in this game.

“Helen, don’t be harsh with her. She’s clearly still shaken.” The kindness in her voice somehow made it worse.

Helen rolled her eyes. “She is always shaken by something. Honestly, Morana, you are such a nagging woman. Everything becomes a problem with you.”

I lowered my eyes because they were already beginning to sting. Julian finally looked at me. His attention seemed divided, his gaze moving from the folder to Bianca and then back to me as though he has something else occupying his mind entirely.

“What do you need?” He asked.

I took a breath then answered. “I need you to sign something.”

“What is this?”He frowned when I placed the folder on the desk.

“Some documents Tory prepared.”

“For what?” His eyes moved lazily over the first page but he didn’t seem interested enough to actually read it. Still preoccupied.

I hesitated because this was it. I could tell him. I could say the word divorce and watch his face change. I could tell him that I was done and I cannot do this anymore and I have finally decided to leave him. But the thought of saying it made my heart ache. So I swallowed the word.

“Just some paperwork. She said you needed to sign the marked pages.”

“Then sign them, Julian. We have enough to deal with today.” Helen made an impatient sound behind me.

“You should sign them. Morana is very particular about paperwork. If she says they’re fine, they’re probably fine.” Bianca stepped closer to him, glancing at the papers before giving me another soft smile.

I looked at her. She knew exactly how to make me feel like an outsider in my own marriage.

Julian picked up the folder but before he could properly look through it, Bianca whispered to him. He turned his head toward her and whatever she said pulled his attention away from the papers again. He gave a small, distracted laugh and my chest tightened at the sound because I couldn’t remember the last time he laughed like that with me. His eyes went all gooey and soft like it did back in our first year of marriage.

“Julian” I called out softly.

“Where do I sign?” He looked back at me blinking away the haze. His eyes went blank again.

“There.” I pointed to the marked pages.

He glanced at the signature lines and picked up the pen. He didn’t read the pages carefully. He barely looked at them at all. His mind was clearly somewhere else. Probably caught up in whatever was happening between him and Bianca before I walked in. Thhat is why he didn’t notice how badly my hands were shaking as I stood across from him.

He signed the first page and my heart sank to my shoes. I stared at his handwriting and that familiar way he formed his name. Suddenly I can’t breathe properly.

That was sceen years of my life sitting beneath the tip of his pen. He signed the last page and closed the folder.

“There.”

“Thank you.” I whispered.