Chasing After You

Chapter 2 - A Divorce

“A divorce?”

April snickered but Julian whispered for her to leave them for a while.

Claire stared at him in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes she didn't even bother to look at April as she walked past her with a sinister smirk.

Julian’s betrayal had hurt her even more.

“You cheat on me with my best friend and then ask for a divorce? Julian, have you lost your mind?!”

Julian chuckles.

“Maybe I did after I found out you cheated on me first with Ronan”

Ronan has been nothing but Claire's friend since College. She never has feelings for him.

“Ronan?! I would never betray you like that. Whatever you think you’ve seen, it’s not what you think. I’m not cheating on you!”

Julian shook his head, his expression hardening.

“I can’t ignore what I’ve seen Claire. You've been keeping it a secret with that bastard! When you know how much I hate him! Why did you do it huh? Because he comes from a wealthy family and I don't?!”

Claire stood up, her voice trembling with desperation. She couldn't take all the accusations Julian was throwing at her.

“I didn't cheat on you Julian! You’re my husband, the person I love most in this world! I wouldn't dare do that. Why can't you believe me?.”

Julian wasn’t listening. He turned away from her, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“I can’t do this anymore Claire”

Julian said, his voice hollow and void of emotions.

“Let's put an end to this”

Claire's heart pounded in her chest. Julian didn't look like the man she had fallen madly in love with. He was cold and acted like she meant nothing to him.

Claire was already aware that she had loved him more than he did to her and her family never approved of him because he wasn't rich but she had gone against them and married him anyways out of the love she felt but now any little love he had for her has vanished completely.

“Julian, Please” she pleaded, reaching out to him

“I’ve already made up my mind,” he said, his tone resolute.

“I want a divorce.”

The word hung in the air between them, heavy and irrevocable. Claire felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her.

Claire took a deep breath, the words washing over her like a tide. She had already cried her eyes out before coming. If Julian wanted to divorce her so bad, then there was no need of her to shamelessly cling on to him.

It was clear in his eyes that he had given up on their marriage for a while now and there was nothing she could do about it.

“If you believe that divorce is what you need, then I won't stand in your way”

Julian looked at her, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation, any c***k in her resolve. But Claire stood strong her heart aching but her mind clear.

She had decided to believe that Julian was making up her infidelity just so he can be with his new lover, April.

For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their decision hanging between them.

“You don't need to bother yourself I'll send you the divorce papers”

Claire swallowed but held back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes.

“Goodbye”

Claire didn't wait for Julian's response as she turned her back against him and walked out of his office leaving Julian with mixed feelings.

…

Claire had felt sick for the past few days up until the day they were to sign the divorce papers so she decided to visit the hospital before going to sign the papers.

“Mrs Claire Black”

“Yes?”

Claire felt a bit of sadness realizing she wouldn't be bearing the surname Black anymore.

The doctor looked at Claire with a bright smile.

“Congratulations you're pregnant”

Claire's heart sank in her chest and her dim smile was slowly replaced with a frown.

She was pregnant for Julian just when they were getting divorced.

Why did the universe have to punish her?

…..

Claire's reached for the pen, her hand shaking slightly as she picked it up. She looked down at the papers, the lines waiting for their signatures, and felt the finality of it all.

This was it—the end of everything they had built together, everything they had once dreamed of.

With a deep, steadying breath, she signed her name, the ink flowing smoothly across the page.

As she finished, she set the pen down gently, as if it were made of glass, her heart heavy with the weight of what she had just done.

Julian watched her, his chest tightening with every passing second. He called for the divorce but wondered why he was feeling this way.

He knew it was his turn now, but his hand refused to move. The pen felt like a lead weight in front of him, a symbol of the commitment he was breaking.

But he also knew that this was the only way forward—for both of them.With a shaky exhale, Juliqn picked up the pen and signed his name next to hers.

As the ink dried on the page, a profound silence fell over the room, a silence that spoke of the end of their marriage and the beginning of an unknown future.When he finished, Julian set the pen down, his hand trembling slightly.

He looked at Claire but he didn't know what he was searching for in her eyes. Pain, Regret? She cheated on him but why was he feeling this sense of guilt for ending their marriage. He shouldn’t be feeling this way.

There were no words left to say, no last-minute confessions or pleas to stay. It was done. The papers were signed, and their marriage was over.

Claire unconsciously places a hand on her stomach. Now it was her and her baby. She wouldn't tell Julian about the news she had got.

It would only be a burden to him when he wanted nothing to do for her and Claire had thought to herself she wasn't going to desperately cling on to him to be the father of her child.

They sat in silence for a moment longer, letting the weight of their decision settle over them. Then, without another word, Claire stood and quietly left the room. She was more worried about breaking down in front of him.

As the door clicked shut behind Claire, Julian lets out a long, ragged breath, the finality of the moment sinking in.

They had signed the papers and with it ,they had closed the chapter of their life together.

Once Claire was outside she was greeted with the view of April waiting by the door dressed in something you couldn't even call clothes but what caught Claire's eyes was the little bump she had.

“I hope you're happy April”

Claire spoke in calm tone.

“More than ever”

April replied with a smirk.