The Hundredth Divorce

The Brooch

Amelia's POV

I don't know how I got to the bar so quickly.

One moment, I was standing outside with my phone in my hand, staring at the picture of Isabella wearing my mother's brooch.

The next, I was already standing in front of the bar.

My heart was beating so hard that I could hear it in my ears. That brooch was the last thing my mother had given me. I had kept it inside my jewelry box for years.

I barely even wore it because I was afraid of losing it, and somehow, Isabella was wearing it.

I reached for the door, but before I could push it open, I heard voices from inside.

Laughter. They were Alexander's friends.

Hearing their voices I stopped.

"How long do you think she'll last this time?"

Someone laughed.

"Three days."

"Three days? You're being generous."

Another voice chuckled.

"That woman won't last three days without Alexander. She'll be back here begging before tomorrow."

I closed my eyes, anf of course, they were talking about me.

"She has nowhere else to go anyway," another man said. "A cripple like her who can't even hold things properly. What else can she do besides cling to Alexander?"

Their laughter followed, and m fingers tightened around the door handle.

A cripple, that was what they called me now. I had heard the word before, but somehow it hurt differently this time.

Maybe because the person laughing inside was Alexander, I knew his voice.

"Honestly, I've been sick of living with her."

My heart sank, but I remained outside, listening.

"I can't even stand looking at that hand anymore."

There was more laughter, then Alexander imitated the slight trembling of my hand.

At this point, something inside me broke.

I stared down at my fingers and saw them still trembling.

But they were not trembling because I was weak. No, they had been like this since the night of the fire. The night I went back to save that same ungrateful Alex.

That was the night the ceiling collapsed, the very same night my mother died, and somehow, this was what he chose to remember.

My trembling hand, not the fire. Not even the fact that I had gone back for him, or the fact that I almost died saving him... Just my hand.

I couodnt endure it anymore so, I pushed the door open.

As soon as the door went open the laughter stopped and everyone turned toward me.

Alexander was sitting on the sofa with Isabella beside him. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and she was wearing my mother's brooch.

My eyes immediately landed on it. Aexander, seeing me, he smiled.

"You're really here."

One of his friends laughed.

"That was fast."

Another added, "You really can't let him go, can you?"

I ignored them, I ai just walked straight toward Isabella.

"Where did you get that?"

She looked down at the brooch.

"This?"

She touched it with a smile.

"I found it in your jewelry box."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

She looked at Alexander.

"He gave it to me."

I turned toward him.

"You gave her my mother's brooch?"

Alexander shrugged.

"Why are you making such a big deal about it?"

"That's mine."

"It's just a brooch."

I stared at him.

"That belonged to my mother."

He laughed.

"Your mother has been dead for years, Amelia. It's just a cheap brooch."

Cheap.

I couldn't believe he had just called it cheap.

He leaned back against the sofa.

"If Isabella likes it, let her have it. I'll buy you something more expensive."

My eyes burned.

"I don't want something more expensive."

Isabella leaned against his chest.

"It's really just a brooch, Amelia. I didn't know it meant so much to you."

She said it with that innocent expression, tahe same expression she always used whenever she wanted everyone to think she was the victim.

Then she smiled.

"Okay, I'll return it."

She looked around the table and picked up a glass filled with strong alcohol.

"But you have to drink this first."

I stared at her.

One of Alexander's friends laughed.

"Isn't she allergic to alcohol?"

Another man shrugged.

"She would die for Alexander. What's one drink?"

Everyone started laughing.

I looked at Alexander as he took the glass from Isabella and he walked toward me.

"Drink it."

I shook my head.

"You know I can't."

He held the glass closer.

"Then stop making a scene over a stupid brooch."

I stared at him.

This was the man I had loved for seven years, the man I had defended, te man I had begged to stay, the same man I had nearly died for.

And now he was standing in front of me, forcing me to drink alcohol because of a piece of jewelry that belonged to my mother.

I should have hated him, but strangely, I didn't, I just felt stupid.

He grabbed my jaw and poured the drink into my mouth, causing me to cough violently.

The burning liquid went down my throat and my eyes watered as I pushed him away.

"Alexander!"

I stumbled backward.

Before I could steady myself, Isabella walked toward me.

"Why are you doing this?"

She gave me a sad look.

"It's almost like I'm bullying you."

Then she pushed me, this time my bad hand couldn't support my weight, so I fell hard against the floor.

She then looked at the brooch, then slowly removed it from her dress.

"Fine. You can have it."

She dropped it on the floor, the small piece of jewelry landed beside me.

I immediately reached for it, but before my fingers could touch it, Alexander stepped forward, he landed his shoe on the brooch.

I froze as he looked down at me.

"If you're going to ruin everyone's night over something so stupid, then nobody gets it."

I stared at his shoe.

"Move."

He didn't.

"Alexander, move your foot."

He smiled.

Then he pressed down, causing the brooch ti kake a crac sound, though the sound was small, but to me, it sounded like something much bigger had shattered.

I stared at the broken pieces scattered across the floor.

My mother's brooch, gone.

I reached for the pieces with trembling fingers, and with tears finally rolling down my cheeks.

I gathered them into my palm, careful not to cut myself.

For seven years, I had thought I knew this man, I thought beneath his anger, there was still love, I even thought if I loved him enough, one day he would finally understand me.

But looking at him now, I realized I had been fooling myself, he never loved me the way I loved him. Maybe he never even did.

I slowly stood up with my hand still trembling and with breaking heart.

But for the first time, I didn't care.

I looked at Isabella, then at Alexander.

"I hope you both remember this moment."

Alexander's smile disappeared.

I held the broken pieces of the brooch tightly.

"I will never forgive either of you."

I turned around, still not begging.