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My heels clapped against the hardwood as I stepped inside. The house was silent, abandoned. It was as lifeless as a vacant house, feeling almost haunted. I passed the table where I used to leave my keys and purse and entered the living area. It was an open room, the kitchen and living room one spacious area.
Liam followed behind me, in sweatpants and a t-shirt. It didn’t seem like he’d showered in days.
I opened the folder and pulled out the papers. I laid them out on the counter.
Liam didn’t look at them.
“I just need you to sign these. I’ll grab the rest of my things and be out of your hair.” I opened the drawer and found a pen before I uncapped it and set it on top of the papers. It rolled slightly until it came to a stop.
He stared at me as if I’d said nothing at all.
“Liam.” I felt like a mother berating her child.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not signing those again.”
“For what it’s worth, I hoped I would never sign these again either. But here we are…”
He released a painful sigh. “No.”
“Liam, I can get this divorce without your signature. It’ll just take a lot more time and work on my part. After everything you’ve put me through, the least you can do is make this easier for me. I’m just as devastated as you are…even more so.”
He bowed his head. “Baby—”
“Please don’t call me anymore.”
When he sighed, his nostrils flared. “Please work this out with me.” He raised his head and looked me in the eye. “Let’s move and start over. Let’s have a clean break. This was a recipe for disaster, and you know it. I was constantly competing with another guy—”
“And I was honest about that from the beginning. I didn’t hide any of that from you. That doesn’t give you…” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to harden my emotions. When I opened my eyes again, I was calm. “I’m not having this conversation again. I’ve made my decision, and you can’t change it. Please sign these papers so I can collect my things and leave.”
“Anna—”
I grabbed the papers and prepared to leave.
“Okay.” He grabbed my wrist and stopped my movements. “Fine.”
I returned the papers to the counter.
“But shouldn’t we talk about the specifics?”
“It’s the same as last time. I didn’t change anything.”
His eyes narrowed. “Anna, take the money—”
“Never.” I didn’t want anything from him, anything to make me think I needed him. “I don’t need your wealth. I already have a nice apartment and a good job. You made that money doing something I never approved of. If I take it now, it would be hypocritical. I won’t take a single euro that you had you beat someone for, that you killed someone for.” It was blood money.
He looked defeated once more, but he made was no argument.
I held the pen out to him. “Sign where I placed the X’s.”
He stared down at me for a long time before he looked at the pen in my grasp. He studied the writing implement for minutes, breathing deeply and evenly, before he took it and pressed the tip to the page—and added his signature.
I walked away so I wouldn’t have to watch him. My echoing heels couldn’t block out the scratch of the pen against the paper, and the sound of the scrawl was heavy on my ears. I turned down the hallway and headed to the bedroom, where my clothing hung in the walk-in closet. It was the last time I’d ever be there, and I couldn’t stop the tears that welled in my eyes and streaked down my cheeks.
I knew Liam loved me, but he’d still hurt me.
Maybe love didn’t mean anything… Maybe it never meant anything.
I moved in to my new apartment and hung up my clothes in the closet. I was missing furniture, so all I had was a mattress on the floor in my bedroom because I’d sold my old stuff when I’d moved back in with Liam. It was empty and lonely, having this place all to myself. I was starting over, again, and I didn’t feel motivated like I did last time.
A knock sounded on the door.
“It’s open.” After Liam signed the papers, he didn’t contact me again. Once his signature was permanently in ink, he knew there was no going back. He wouldn’t be able to convince me to take him back again. The only reason he was successful the first time because I was heartbroken over someone else.
Damien stepped inside. His t-shirt fit his thick arms in the sexiest way, his sculpted muscles visible even through the fabric. He wore black jeans, so he was dressed completely in shades of shadow. He took a look around the empty space before he looked at me. “I like it.”
