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Prologue
How did we get here?
Alexander wondered as he stood before his wife Miranda with his hands shoved inside his pockets; he could only guess this was another tantrum to get money from him. He watched as she walked around the room, making minuscule sounds as she threw her clothes into a suitcase.
“You know what!” she screamed, bringing him out of his thoughts as she stalked toward him with her finger up and pointed at him. Alexander was amused, knowing this would be something they would laugh about eventually. His thoughts ran with all the endless possible jokes he could make in the feature. Remember the time you tried to divorce me and packed up your clothes? “You better wipe that smirk off your face, Alexander!”
“Why?” He sighed as he sat on the bed and picked up her pink lacy thong with his finger, imagining their make-up session.
“I’m leaving you! What don’t you understand? I want a divorce,” she said as she grabbed her underwear from him, throwing it into her suitcase. Alexander raised his eyebrow and hummed.
“Sure,” he shrugged as he got up, walked out of their bedroom, and headed to the kitchen.
“You think I’m playing with you, don’t you?” Miranda whispered as she followed behind him. Did he really think she was just playing with him?
Alexander kept silent for a while, trying to devise an appropriate response to not aggravate her even more. He opened the fridge, retrieving a bottle of water. Closing the fridge, he turned to face his wife and softly said, “I think you’re trying to tell me something, and I’m not listening.” He gently poked her cheek and pecked her forehead.
Miranda blew out a relieved breath. He finally understands, she thought as he pulled himself away from her. “I totally understand what you’re saying, Miranda. You’re afraid things will change with our lifestyle because my shoulder is healing much slower than it should have. You don’t have to worry about a thing; we can still live comfortably for more years.”
“No,” Miranda muttered as she stared at the ground; Alexander did not understand a thing.
“No?” he asked as he lifted her head to look into her eyes. He gave her a charming smile, his warm brown eyes staring into her striking blue orbs lovingly, his thumb gently rubbing her chin. “Which designer bag should I buy for you to turn that no into a yes?”
“I don’t need a bag, Alexander,” Miranda whispered as she moved his hand away from her face. “I just want a divorce.” Her voice broke as she eyed his reaction. Alexander dropped his hands and stared at Miranda silently. “Xander?” She whispered, tugging his shirt.
“You’re fucking with me, right?” He swallowed hard as he anticipated her answer. “Miranda?” His voice broke as he shifted closer to her.
“You just—” She brought her hands up to her chest, her fingers gently gripping the vintage emerald diamond ring and pulling it off. “—don’t make me happy anymore,” she whispered, placing the ring on the marble countertop.
Alexander stared at the ring on the island and shook his head, pointing to the ring. “I… I—” he stuttered as he put his hands on his face, failing to understand. “Miranda, I bought that ring for you. I put that ring on your finger. It’s yours!”
“I don’t want it anymore. I don’t want what it comes with anymore,” Miranda cried as she stepped away from Alexander. “I don’t want you; I want a divorce.”
Their last conversation played repeatedly in Alexander's head as he sat before Miranda in the private conference room. Their lawyers swiftly issued the respective legal documents to the other party. Alexander clenched his jaw as he stared at the papers.
“If you’re all ready, we may begin.” Alexander's lawyer cleared his throat as he leaned against the table, scanning through the documents from Miranda’s lawyer. “Do you have any questions?”
“Just before we finalize the divorce. I know these questions have been asked plenty of times before. Still, for legal purposes, we must ask again.” Alexander rolled his eyes, knowing the same questions were about to come. His shoulder ached as he leaned back in the chair, eyeing Miranda.
She looks great while I’m dying, Alexander thought exaggeratedly as he took in her appearance. Dressed in a white suit, her hair styled in curls, she sat confidently before him. Miranda was always one to dress up on any occasion, which was one reason he loved her. Her heel clicked against the wooden floor; she just wanted the divorce finalized so she could finally be free from Alexander’s intense gaze.
Looking away from Alexander, she stared at the paintings on the wall and thought they looked ugly. Alexander would have hung better paintings than that, she thought to herself. She could still feel his cold gaze on the side of her face, looking at the black pendant that hung from the ceiling with a gold-coated interior. Miranda sighed and looked at Alexander’s lawyer.
“Do you both believe your marriage is broken irretrievably?” Miranda agreed, and Alexander sighed, looking away. He desperately wanted to say no, but he didn’t want to hurt her anymore, as much as she said he had.
“Yes,” he agreed, feeling a lump rise in his throat.
“Okay.” The lawyer ignored the tension and asked another question. “In terms of employment, are you both employed?” Alexander just wanted to walk out of the conference room. It felt suffocating to be in the same space as the woman he loved who was ready to leave him.
It just doesn’t make sense.
“Alexander is currently on leave because of his injury, and I’m unemployed,” Miranda answered as she crossed her leg over the other.
“So, Mr Harris was taking care of you financially?” Her lawyer asked, and she uncomfortably nodded.
“Yes.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Was there any form of abuse or addiction present during your marriage?” Alexander’s lawyer asked as he wrote down his notes.
