You Broke Me First

Chapter 7

Kaycee was halfway through her morning coffee when her phone rang.

She glanced at the unfamiliar number.

For a moment, she considered ignoring it.

But something told her to answer.

"Hello?"

"Kaycee."

Her expression immediately turned blank.

Ethan.

She leaned back against the couch.

"What do you want?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Apparently, he hadn't expected her to sound so indifferent.

"We need to talk."

Kaycee picked up her coffee.

"We already did."

"About the divorce."

She paused.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup.

Finally.

"Have you signed the papers?"

"No."

"Then we have nothing to talk about."

"Kaycee."

Something in his voice made her pause.

"Meet me at the estate."

She frowned.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because we need to discuss this properly."

Kaycee let out a quiet laugh.

"Discuss what, Ethan?"

"Our marriage."

The amusement disappeared from her face.

"Our marriage ended five years ago."

"You don't get to decide that alone."

Kaycee sat upright.

"And you didn't get to decide I was guilty alone, yet you did."

Silence.

She knew she had struck a nerve.

Good.

Ethan finally spoke again.

"Just come to the estate."

Kaycee stared out of the window.

The Morales estate was the last place she wanted to return to.

Every corner carried a memory.

Some beautiful.

Most painful.

"I don't see the point."

"Please."

The word surprised her.

Ethan Morales rarely said please.

Especially to her.

Kaycee remained silent.

"I'll be waiting," he continued. "Come at seven."

Then the call ended.

Kaycee slowly lowered her phone.

He hadn't even given her the chance to refuse.

A familiar habit.

Always deciding things for her.

She stared at the screen for a long moment before placing the phone on the table.

She wasn't going.

At least, that was what she told herself.

At exactly seven in the evening, Kaycee stood outside the Morales estate.

She looked up at the familiar building.

Nothing had changed.

The same tall gates.

The same carefully trimmed gardens.

The same house that had once felt like home.

Kaycee took a slow breath.

She wasn't here because Ethan had asked her to come.

She was here because she wanted answers.

Not about the past.

She had stopped searching for those.

But about the future.

She was done allowing Ethan to control the direction of her life.

Tonight, she would make that clear.

A maid opened the door.

"Mrs. Morales—"

"Kaycee is fine."

The maid quickly nodded.

"Mr. Morales is waiting for you."

Of course he was.

Kaycee followed her through the familiar halls.

Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor.

Every step reminded her of the woman she used to be.

The woman who had walked through these halls believing she belonged here.

She didn't.

Not anymore.

The maid stopped outside Ethan's study.

Kaycee knocked once before opening the door.

Ethan stood beside the window.

His back was turned toward her.

"You came."

Kaycee closed the door.

"Don't sound so surprised. You asked me to."

He turned around.

For a moment, his eyes remained fixed on her.

Kaycee wore a simple black dress, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.

She looked different.

Not because of what she wore.

But because of the confidence in her eyes.

There was no hesitation.

No longing.

Nothing.

Ethan gestured toward the couch.

"Sit."

Kaycee didn't move.

"I prefer standing."

His jaw tightened slightly.

But he didn't argue.

"Fine."

The room fell silent.

Kaycee crossed her arms.

"You called me here to talk about the divorce. Talk."

Ethan stared at her.

"I don't want one."

Her expression didn't change.

"Then you'll have to get used to disappointment."

"Kaycee—"

"No, Ethan."

She raised a hand.

"Don't waste my time."

His eyes narrowed.

"You really hate me that much?"

Kaycee thought about the question.

Then she shook her head.

"No."

That surprised him.

"I don't hate you."

Ethan's expression shifted slightly.

Kaycee continued.

"Hatred requires too much emotion."

The words landed heavily between them.

"I simply don't care anymore."

For the first time, Ethan looked genuinely affected.

Kaycee noticed.

But she didn't feel satisfaction.

She had imagined this moment for years.

Imagined watching him regret everything.

Yet now that she was standing before him, she felt nothing but exhaustion.

Ethan took a step toward her.

"Five years is a long time."

"Yes."

"People change."

Kaycee smiled faintly.

"Exactly."

"I've changed too."

"Good for you."

Ethan's jaw clenched.

Kaycee glanced at the clock.

"Is that all?"

His expression darkened.

"No."

She looked back at him.

"Then say what you called me here to say."

Ethan was quiet for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"Come back."

Kaycee blinked.

"What?"

"Move back into the estate."

For the first time that evening, Kaycee looked genuinely confused.

Then she laughed.

A quiet, disbelieving laugh.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"Ethan, I came back to ask for a divorce."

"And I'm asking you to give us another chance."

Kaycee stared at him.

Then her expression slowly became cold.

"There is no us."

She turned toward the door.

"Kaycee, wait."

She stopped but didn't turn around.

"I'll think about the divorce."

Kaycee glanced over her shoulder.

"You have until my lawyer contacts you."

Then she opened the door.

But before leaving, she looked back at him one last time.

"Five years ago, I begged you to listen to me."

Ethan remained silent.

"You refused."

Her eyes held his.

"So don't expect me to listen to you now."

Then she walked away.

Leaving Ethan alone inside the study.

For the first time in years, the Morales estate felt unbearably quiet.

And Ethan finally understood—

Kaycee wasn't returning home.

She was saying goodbye.