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My mouth opened and closed, like a dying fish. Because I’d forgotten for a second just how far gone Ari and I had become, and now there was a divorce attorney standing at my door.
She cleared her throat, and I realized I’d been standing there, staring at her…
"Ms. Tenney," I said, my voice all of a sudden shaky from the tears. "Please, come in."
She nodded, entering my home with a briefcase in hand. Her gaze swept across the room, and I wondered if she could sense the shattered dreams hanging in the air.
I gestured toward the living room, where we both took a seat. The silence was palpable, broken only by the distant sounds of the city outside.
"Thank you for coming," I finally managed to say, my voice still trembling. Even though I wasn’t thankful at all.
I wasn’t ready for this.
Not even close.
The lawyer regarded me with a sympathetic expression. "I know this is an incredibly difficult time for you. Divorce is never easy.”
I stared at her, my eyes welling up with fresh tears. Difficult was the understatement of the century, especially when…I didn’t want it.
But I should want it, right?
She gave a gentle, understanding nod when I didn’t say anything. “It's important to remember that you're not alone in this. I'm here to guide you through the process and ensure that your rights and interests are protected."
She pulled out a folder and began to arrange documents neatly on the coffee table in front of us.
"Mr. Lancaster has offered to give you whatever you want," Ashley began, her tone measured. "At the very least, he wants to provide you with ten million dollars as a settlement."
I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, and I could hardly process what I was hearing. My voice came out in a shocked squeak. "Ten million dollars?"
Ashley nodded, her gaze steady on me. "That's correct."
My head was spinning. The idea of accepting any money felt disgusting. Money couldn't mend the broken pieces of my heart.
"I...I don't want any of it," I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ashley nodded again, her professionalism unwavering. "Very well. We can proceed with the divorce without any financial settlement. Now, let me explain the legal process and the ins and outs of divorce."
As she delved into the complexities of what lay ahead, I tried to focus on her words, but my mind kept drifting back to Ari.
“Here are these documents to go through,” she said, pointing out certain sections I was supposed to pay attention to.
I stared at the documents in shock, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar name on the divorce papers. "This isn't the right name," I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. "My maiden name is Blake Shepfield."
She furrowed her brow, flipping through the paperwork before producing another set of documents. She showed me a legal declaration that the Shepfields' adoption had been declared null and void. "Mr. Lancaster said he took care of this?" she inquired, her tone laced with confusion.
I could hardly process what I was hearing. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Ari had somehow managed to undo my adoption by the Shepfields. It was an incredible legal feat, and my mind reeled at the implications of it all.
As the lawyer continued to speak, her words became a distant murmur in my ears. I couldn't help but tune her out, my thoughts consumed with memories of Ari and our relationship.
“Give me your pain.”
“Tell me where it hurts.”
“I love you.”
“I see you, sunshine. I’ll ace every test.”
"I'll make you happy," he said. "It might take a while, but someday I'll make you happy for the rest of your life."
