Chapter 6
The person who used to comfort me with so much kindness… is gone forever.
I didn’t come out of the apartment for three days straight until my friends had to drag. me out. They tried their best to console me and said Rian had moved out of our house. Judging by that, Noel seemed to mean his
words this time.
sa
“Nellie, Noel has a lot going for him,” one of them said cautiously. “He feels guilty now, so he’ll definitely go out of his way to make it up to you. Are you really not going to forgive him?”
I glanced at the scab on my hand–the mark from when he barged into my apartment with his men and caused a scene. I shook my head with a bitter smile. “If I could still forgive him after this, what would that make me? A monster?”
“Mom wouldn’t have died if it weren’t for
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them.”
They went quiet after that, letting out a heavy sigh. “Maybe divorce is for the best. I’m just worried he won’t leave you alone.”
I knew that was a real possibility. But no matter what, I was going through with the divorce.
That night, when I got back home, I spotted a familiar figure waiting near the entrance of my building. His eyes lit up as soon as he
saw me.
“Nellie! Finally! I’ve been waiting here forever.”
It was Noel.
He looked as confident and self–assured as ever like nothing that happened had touched him in the slightest.
“What are you doing here?” I asked coldly. “The lawyer sent you the divorce papers. Just sign it if you don’t have any problems. with it.”
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“You’re still mad, huh?” He reached for my hand, but I stepped back. “I already admitted I was wrong. I even had Rian move out of our house. I bought you those clothes and bags you’ve always wanted- they’re in the bedroom. Come back and check them out. If there’s anything else you want, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you.”
He actually thought he could fix this with gifts. How ridiculous.
I looked him dead in the eye. “You’re saying you’ll give me anything I want?”
He nodded eagerly. “Anything. No matter how hard it is, just ask.”
“I want a divorce,” I said without hesitation, my eyes locked on his. “I want to cut all ties. with you. I want you out of my life. Forever.”
“Nellie! Stop saying things you don’t mean!” His face twisted. “I’ve already apologized and tried to make it up to you. What more do you want? I was upset about your mom
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too, but divorcing me won’t bring her
back!”
“I know it won’t,” I said, every word sharp and deliberate. “That’s why the only thing I want now is to get as far away from you as possible! Come on, where do you get the nerve to think I’d keep smiling at you no matter what you’ve done?”
“Who do you think you are? Please, stop doing these pathetic, self–serving things that only make me sick. I’ll say it one more. time: from now on, I don’t care what you do. Just stay out of my life!”
I turned and headed for the stairs. He tried to stop me, but I shoved him off and snapped, “Get fucking lost!”
It wasn’t late, and by now a small crowd had gathered, watching the drama unfold. He had no choice but to let me go, but he yelled after me, “Nellie! I mean it–I’ll wait for you to change your
mind!”
I ignored him, went upstairs, and took a
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Chapter 6
shower. But when I peeked out the window.
later, I saw him still standing there as if camping out below my apartment might magically change my mind.
It was childish and pathetic.
The next morning, when I went downstairs. to throw out the trash, I was surprised to see him still there. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all–his once–confident demeanor replaced with exhaustion and desperation.
As soon as he spotted me, his face lit up again. “Nellie! You’re finally willing to see me!”
I didn’t even look at him. I just tossed the trash into the bin and walked back upstairs like he didn’t exist.
