Chapter 4
All hell broke loose.
The card game ended abruptly as the guests made hasty exits, designer purses clutched tightly as they muttered awkward goodbyes.
In the living room, Mrs. Gray seated us on the cream leather sofa, eyeing Emma
warily.
“You want a divorce?” she asked, her voice perfectly controlled but her knuckles white around her teacup.
Emma knew there was no hiding it now and nodded resignedly. “Yes. It’s no fun
anymore.”
Mrs. Gray frowned at her daughter.
30%
“Weren’t you the one who begged to be with Ryan? Didn’t you say you couldn’t live
without him? What’s this all about now?”
I couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty too as I sat there staring at my manicure.
After all, I had also pursued Nathan relentlessly.
Who knew he’d be so… celibate?
Sometimes I wish I were a man, then I could be with my best friend instead.
“Mom, you can’t force love.” Emma sighed miserably. “Ryan doesn’t love me. He never touches me, barely looks at me, and when he does speak to me, it’s just to
insult me.”
“I’m staying in New York. Every hot guy in Manhattan is better than that jerk Ryan.” As she finished speaking, the grand entrance doors swung open, and a tall, imposing figure appeared.
My brother Ryan arrived looking disheveled, his usually immaculate Armani suit and silk tie in disarray, his expression anxious. His hair—normally perfectly styled —was a mess, like he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. “Emma.” He approached her, his voice strained. “You want a divorce?”
“We’ve been fine. Why divorce now?”
The family group chat had alerted everyone, and they all rushed over like this was some kind of emergency summit.
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2:00 PM Fri 11 Apr
04
Seeing Nathan striding in, his white doctor’s coat still on, I pressed my lips
together tightly.
30%
His demeanor was cool as always. He walked to my side, and I subtly moved away,
pressing myself against the arm of the sofa.
“Not feeling well?” Noticing my discomfort, he leaned in to ask, his cologne triggering unwanted butterflies in my stomach.
I remained silent. It’s seeing you that makes me feel unwell.
The atmosphere grew tense enough to cut with a knife.
Ryan’s brow furrowed as he tried to embrace Emma, but she pushed him away, her
hands flat against his chest.
“Save it. I’ve made up my mind,” she glared at him hatefully. “You can spend the rest of your life with your precious cases, Mr. Sarcastic Lawyer.”
With that, she grabbed the papers from her purse and tried to pull me away with
her.
Nathan quickly caught hold of my wrist, his grip firm but gentle. His voice was deep and serious:
“Emma, marriage isn’t a game.”
“And don’t drag Alex into your mess.”
Emma looked at her brother with disbelief:
“Why are you lecturing me? You’re about to get divorced too.”
With that bombshell, all eyes in the room turned to me.
5
