ALORA'S POV
The papers sat on the counter between my hands.
I had signed them ten minutes earlier. I knew the exact time because I kept checking the clock, waiting for a reaction that never came. I wasn't shaking or crying. No rush of relief. Nothing.
I pressed my palm flat against the page, as if it could absorb the truth through my skin. This felt unreal.
"So this is it," I said aloud.
The penthouse did not answer.
I walked to the window and stared at the city below. Cars were moving. Lights shining. Life continued without asking if I was ready. And even that annoyed me more than it should have.
I turned away and got myself water to drink. The glass clinked against the counter. But my grip stayed steady.
The door opened behind me and he walked in.
Cassian's footsteps were calm this time. The familiar ones I remember. He loosened his tie as he walked in, as if nothing had changed.
"You're up early," he said.
I did not respond.
He opened the fridge. "Did you sleep?."
I laughed out loud.
"No," I said. "I cried myself to sleep after realizing my husband treats me as a temporary stop."
He stopped moving.
"Alora," he said.
"Don't," I replied. "I am not interested in whatever version of concern you rehearsed on the way in."
He closed the fridge slowly. "You're upset."
"That is a mild word," I said. "But yes—yes I am."
He stepped closer. "Last night was not meaningless."
"It was not love either," I said. "You confuse the two a little too often."
His brows pulled together. "That's unfair."
I picked up the papers and turned to face him. "This is fair."
He stared at the pages. "What is that?"
"You know," I said. "You just hoped it would never happen."
"You do not mean this."
"I mean it," I said. "I meant it the first time I printed them. I meant it every night I slept alone while you claimed exhaustion."
He reached for the papers and hesitated. "We can talk later."
"No," I said. "You do not get control over timing anymore."
"You are making a mistake." He scoffed.
I shook my head. "I stayed when it hurt. I stayed when your name filled the tabloids beside other women. I stayed when your mother reminded me of my place. So leaving is not the mistake here."
He swallowed. "So that is it."
"Yes."
He looked at me for a long moment. "You are walking away from everything."
"I am walking away from you," I said. "The rest will figure itself out."
His hand brushed mine when he took the papers. But I pulled back.
"I never wanted to hurt you," he said quietly.
"You never wanted to stop either," I replied.
Silence filled the room.
"I thought last night meant we were fixing it," he said.
"It meant goodbye," I said.
He looked as if he wanted to argue. But he didn't.
I turned and left the kitchen. He did not follow.
In the guest room, I sat on the bed and stared at my reflection. Mascara smudged under my eyes. Hair loose. No diamonds. No ring.
"Good," I told myself. "Let it show."
My phone buzzed.
Nyla: Are you awake?
Me: I signed.
Nyla: Say less. Zara is already outside.
A knock at the door followed seconds later.
Zara walked in without waiting. "Is it done?"
"Yes," I said.
She pulled me into a big bear hug. "I am proud of you."
Nyla stepped in behind her. "Now we leave before you change your mind."
"I will not," I said.
"Good," Nyla replied. "Because I wore heels."
They dressed me up quickly.
"Is it strange to celebrate a divorce," I asked.
Zara scoffed. "No, weren't celebrating a divorce, we're celebrating survival from a man who would have killed you if you didn't leave."
"Exactly, so please put on your game face and let's leave okay." Nyra added.
At the rooftop bar, the air felt cooler, with music playing and all. It felt reliving. I held a glass of champagne and listened to my friends talk over each other.
"You need a new era," Nyla said. "New name. New rules."
"I do not know who I am," I said.
"That is fine," Zara replied. "Confused people have better stories to tell."
I laughed.
But behind me I felt someone's gaze and turned.
A man stood at the far end of the bar. Tall. Well dressed. And staring at me. When our eyes met. He lifted his glass in a small gesture towards greeting.
My stomach churned and I quickly looked away.
"Hey mama what's wrong?," Zara asked.
"Uhm—it's nothing," I said. "I'm just a little tired."
"Don't worry, after now, we've booked you to a full spa day at that new Korean spa house." Nyra said, holding my hand.
Zara also held my hand. "You'll be fine, okay my love."
"Mhmm." I answered and drank my champagne quietly. But the feeling of unease stayed.
MEANWHILE….
Cassian's office was dark when he arrived.
Celeste's voice was loud through the silence on speaker. "She signed what?!"
"Yes," he said.
"You allowed it," Celeste snapped. "Without a fight."
"She chose to leave."
Celeste laughed. "Oh she will regret it."
His assistant cleared her throat. "Sir. There is another issue."
Cassian looked up. "What."
"She accessed her trust and the shares you delayed transferring."
"That is impossible," he said.
"It is done," the assistant replied. "She is leaving with assets."
Silence followed.
"She planned this," Celeste said slowly.
But Cassian said nothing.