Chapter 3
751 Words
The next day, Celia felt her strength had mostly returned. She pushed through the lingering weakness and headed home.
From the study, she dug out the divorce agreement Hudson had given her three years ago and signed her name without a trace of hesitation.
Three years ago, right after they'd picked up their marriage certificate, Hudson had handed her this divorce contract.
She'd been completely stunned, staring at him with nothing but disbelief.
Hudson had smiled softly, stroked her hair, and said gently, "Celia, I'm giving you this because my job is dangerous. If I ever lose my life in the line of duty, I don't want you stuck with the widow label, unable to move on.
"No matter what happens down the road, I just want you to be okay."
Never in her wildest dreams did Celia imagine that three years later, she'd be the one voluntarily signing those papers.
She went to the Clerk's Office alone and submitted the fully signed divorce agreement.
After verifying all the documents, the clerk addressed her in a formal, matter-of-fact tone.
"Ms. Shaw, per Harborview municipal law, your marriage to Mr. Payne will be officially dissolved in seven days.
"Either party may return to the office to revoke the divorce application before the seven-day period expires."
"Alright, I understand. Thank you."
Celia replied politely, grabbed her bag, and walked out.
In seven days, she and Hudson would be done. No more ties between them.
*****
Once home, she rested the entire afternoon before slowly starting to sort through her belongings.
At nine-thirty that night, Hudson came through the door.
He searched the house anxiously and finally found her in the bedroom.
"Celia, why did you leave the hospital so soon? You should've stayed a few more days to recover."
"I'm fine."
Celia answered with a blank, flat expression, then lowered her head and kept packing.
Hudson let out a helpless sigh. He walked slowly toward her and tried to pull her into his arms.
The second his fingers brushed her shoulder, Celia flinched away in sheer terror.
"Get away! Don't touch me!"
Hudson's hand froze in midair. His entire face seized up.
The undisguised revulsion in Celia's eyes hit him like a fist around the heart—a dull, aching squeeze.
"Celia... are you still angry with me?"
His voice came out hoarse. He tried to reach for her again, but she jerked backward, dodging his touch completely.
Celia stared at him, her eyes ice-cold. "Hudson, that night plays on a loop in my head like a nightmare that won't end. Stay away from me."
She just wanted to spend her last seven days in this city in peace.
Hudson's face paled. Deep guilt flooded his dark eyes.
"I was wrong about everything that night. I never should've used you as bait. I swear I'll never do anything like that again, okay?
"Celia, please—just forgive me this once. I'll make it up to you. I'll treat you twice as well from now on, I promise."
Before Celia could answer, a muffled buzz came from Hudson's pocket.
His brows knitted tight. He stood silent for a moment, then answered the call.
Standing just a short distance away, Celia could hear Chelsea's voice clear as day through the phone.
"Hudson, I accidentally deleted the victim's case files. I don't know what to do."
"Don't panic. I'll head back to the precinct right now."
He hung up and looked at his wife, helpless. "Celia, this case is urgent. I have to go back to the precinct. Call me if you need anything at all."
With that, he rushed off. Again.
Celia had lost count of how many times Hudson had left her behind to clean up Chelsea's careless mistakes.
She understood the demands of his job. But she could never make peace with the fact that his heart already belonged to someone else.
Maybe Hudson himself didn't even realize he'd fallen for Chelsea long ago.
Whenever he talked about her, his eyes always softened with fondness. He always went out of his way to think of every little thing for her.
He'd been afraid Chelsea would get hurt on the bait mission, so he'd sacrificed Celia instead.
Celia gently touched her still-aching abdomen. Her eyelids drooped, heavy with sorrow.
'They say a child only chooses to come into this world when their parents truly love each other.
'Our baby must have felt his father held no love for me. So he chose to leave.'
- Writer
