Chapter 4

Lanaya was startled by me, scrambling to her feet and dragging the cowardly Owen, who had been hiding since the beginning, away with her.

I let my hand drop weakly, curling up on the couch and falling into a deep, oblivious sleep.

The next morning, I contacted my lawyer and had divorce papers drawn up to send to Lanaya.

After receiving them, she called me incessantly.

I hung up on each call, blacklisting the number I had once set as a special ringtone.

I thought this would be the end of things with Lanaya.

But then a coworker called to tell me she had shown up at my workplace looking for me.

I cursed under my breath and rushed back to the office.

There I saw Lanaya standing in the lobby, grabbing anyone who passed by to ask if they knew me.

My colleagues behind her were giving me knowing looks.

But I wasn't in the mood for jokes.

I strode over to Lanaya's side and, before she could speak, dragged her outside.

Exasperated, I demanded, "What do you want?"

Lanaya tilted her chin defiantly and asked, "Donavan, what's the meaning of these divorce papers you sent?"

For some reason, though I had loved her deeply before, once I made up my mind about the divorce, I completely lost patience with Lanaya.

I simply answered her calmly, "Exactly what they say."Lanaya still refused to believe I would divorce her, even at this point.

Upon hearing my response, she burst into laughter, doubling over.

"Donavan, I don't mean to belittle you, but just look at yourself. Who else would marry you if I left?"

"If you're jealous because I'm too close with Owen, I can simply stop bringing him around you."

"As for divorce?"

She spoke condescendingly, as if granting me a favor.

But I wasn't Lanaya's pet dog, much less her lapdog.

So I cut her off mid-sentence, coldly telling her, "The divorce is serious."

"I've indeed been busy with work these years, neglecting to spend time with you. So I don't blame you for cheating."

"But you shouldn't have been all lovey-dovey with Owen right in front of me after I found out, and you definitely shouldn't have sold my motorcycle."

Since we got married, Lanaya started making rules, forbidding me from doing this and that.

The motorcycle was the only activity I managed to negotiate after coaxing her for half a year.

Yet she sold it without a moment's hesitation.

"Lanaya, I know your heart isn't with me anymore, and that's fine."

"But I thought that if I treated you sincerely and cared for you deeply, eventually I'd be able to warm your heart."

"Looking back now, I was thinking too simplistically. You can't force love where there is none."

"As for our assets, since you've already bought a house for Owen, I won't ask for the house. Just give me half the money in cash."

I rambled on, talking about the things I'd finally come to understand over these past few days, as well as the property division I'd already thought through.

Lanaya was dumbfounded after hearing all this.

She reached out and grasped my hand, her tone incredulous.

"Donavan, do you really want to divorce me?"