The Divorce Papers
648 Words
Three days passed.
Three long days.
Three painful days.
Isabella hadn't returned to the apartment.
She stayed at one of her father's luxury penthouses overlooking the city.
Every morning she woke up hoping the pain would lessen.
It didn't.
Because no matter how much Ethan hurt her...
She still loved him.
And that was the hardest part.
Love didn't disappear overnight.
It lingered.
Even after betrayal.
Even after heartbreak.
Even after disappointment.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
Richard entered.
His expression immediately softened when he saw her.
"Have you eaten?"
Isabella smiled.
"Yes."
He didn't believe her.
Not for a second.
"You barely touched breakfast."
"Dad."
"You used to eat more."
She laughed.
Some things never changed.
No matter how old she became, Richard would always worry.
He sat beside her.
"Ethan has been trying to contact you."
Her smile vanished.
Of course he had.
Dozens of missed calls.
Messages.
Voicemails.
Flowers.
Gifts.
Apologies.
She ignored all of them.
Not because she hated him.
Because she wasn't ready.
Richard watched her carefully.
"Do you want to see him?"
Silence.
Long silence.
Finally
"I don't know."
And that was the truth.
Meanwhile, Ethan looked terrible.
Dark circles beneath his eyes.
Unshaven.
Exhausted.
The past three days had been torture.
Every call went unanswered.
Every message
.
He deserved it.
He knew that.
Still, the silence was killing him.
The office door opened.
Vanessa entered.
Again.
Ethan immediately looked annoyed.
"What now?"
Vanessa frowned.
"We need to talk."
"No."
"Ethan."
"I'm busy."
She stepped closer.
"You can't seriously be chasing Isabella."
The statement ignited something dangerous.
Ethan stood abruptly.
"What did you just say?"
Vanessa blinked.
His reaction startled her.
"Everyone knows she's gone."
"Enough."
His voice was cold.
Very cold.
For the first time, Vanessa saw genuine anger.
"I love my wife."
The words stunned her.
Because he had never said them before.
Not once.
Not in recent months.
Yet now he sounded certain.
Absolutely certain.
Unfortunately, realization had arrived too late.
Vanessa's face hardened.
"If she loved you, she would've stayed."
Ethan's expression darkened.
"No."
He looked away.
"I gave her reasons to leave."
The truth finally settled inside him.
This wasn't about money.
It wasn't about status.
It wasn't about her identity.
It was about how he treated her.
And he had failed.
Completely.
That afternoon, Isabella received an envelope.
A familiar envelope.
From Ethan.
Her hands trembled slightly.
For several moments she simply stared at it.
Then she opened it.
Inside were papers.
Official papers.
Legal papers.
Her heart stopped.
Divorce papers.
The very same papers Ethan had prepared weeks ago.
The same papers he had intended to give her before learning the truth.
A letter accompanied them.
With shaking hands, she unfolded it.
And began reading.
"Isabella,"
"These papers were prepared before the gala."
"Before I remembered who I used to be."
"Before I remembered the woman I fell in love with."
"I deserve to lose you."
"I deserve your anger."
"But I don't want to trap you in a marriage that only brings pain."
"If you sign these papers, I will let you go."
"If there is even the smallest chance you still want us, I'll spend the rest of my life earning your forgiveness."
"No more excuses."
"No more pride."
"No more Vanessa."
"Just me trying to become the man you deserved from the beginning."
"Ethan."
Tears blurred Isabella's vision.
The room became silent.
Heavy.
Painful.
Because for the first time in months, Ethan was being honest.
Completely honest.
Yet the damage had already been done.
She lowered the letter slowly.
The divorce papers remained in front of her.
A choice.
An ending.
Or perhaps a new beginning.
At that exact moment, neither she nor Ethan knew which path she would choose.
But one thing was certain.
The next decision Isabella Kingston made would change both of their lives forever.
- Writer
