11
I disappeared from the world for half a month.
Aunt Hazel said Declan was going crazy searching for me.
The first thing I did after leaving the hospital was bring divorce papers to him.
Declan was silent for a moment, then laughed coldly.
Glancing at the papers, he tossed them on the coffee table, slowly saying, “Before we divorce, is there anything else we need to discuss?”
I smiled calmly and replied, “There was, but not anymore. I got rid of the child, so rest easy, you have nothing to worry about”
Declan’s pupils trembled, and he froze briefly.
He lowered his head and suddenly laughed, “Nora, did you disappear for half a month just to do this? I was afraid you’d be sad, so I searched nationwide for an expert to fix the jade. And this is how you repay me?”
He pulled me onto the couch, pinning me beneath him, fiercely asking, “Why do you treat me like this? How dare you! How could you!”
I suppose I used to be too obedient.
Everyone thought I was madly in love with Declan, including himself.
I looked up at his face, gently touching his brows and eyes, calmly telling him, “Declan, the person I love has never been you. The way you throw tantrums is really unattractive. You look less and less like him.”
Finding a stand–in was comforting at first.
But over time, I realized his smile wasn’t his, his frown wasn’t his, and even his hug wasn’t as warm.
I got tired of it.
Declan knew who I was talking about.
His tears suddenly fell, splashing onto my cheeks.
It’s true, you live long enough, you’ll see anything.
The mighty Declan, who didn’t even cry when Nora left, was crying for me today. It’s amusing and disgusting.
I wiped the water from my face with distaste and told him, “Don’t feel wronged. Our relationship started as a transaction, right? You used me as a tool to act out of spite, and I used you as a stand–in for fun. We’re even…
Before I could finish, Declan interrupted me.
<
His eyes suddenly reddened, and in that instant, he looked like a lost puppy.
He said, “Nora, you have no right to say we’re even. Do you know, when I gave Nora a ring, I wasn’t happy at all? I tried so hard to love her like I used to, but my mind was full of you. When you disappeared, I would wake up in a panic in the middle of the night. Nora, you made me fall for you, and then you say we’re even? To hell with even!”
He said this while gripping my face like a fierce wolf, threatening me, “Want a divorce? Dream on.”
Nora, who had been eavesdropping in the room, pushed the door open and walked out, standing disoriented in the middle of the living room. She choked up, asking softly, “Declan, what are you saying?”
