Chapter 2
I got in the car just as Ryan answered a call.
The sugar–coated flirting on the other end made my skin crawl, so I cracked the window for some air.
The dead of winter wind slashed across my cheek like a blade.
But I couldn’t feel a thing.
Maybe it was the same with how I felt about Ryan.
My disappointment had traveled so far, it had finally arrived at hopelessness.
After some sweet–talking, Ryan finally hung up and turned to me.
There was a rare softness in his gaze–but it wasn’t meant for me.
“Why were you slower than usual today?”
“This one tougher to handle?”
He sounded like a CEO checking in on an employee’s progress.
Making sure I’d efficiently handled his girlfriend.
I lowered my head and replied quietly, “Not really.”
“Just tired. It’s been a long year.”
Ryan chuckled and reached over to pat my head like he was being affectionate.
“You’ve got some time off now.”
“Take a break.”
“I’ll take you to the Maldives for New Year’s.”
New Year’s? We don’t even know what we are to each other anymore.
A vacation together just doesn’t make sense.
I pulled away from his hand, took out the divorce papers I’d already prepared, and handed them to him.
Ryan looked confused.
After all, he was usually the one pushing for divorce, and I was the one who used to cry over the paperwork.
But his surprise didn’t last long–the phone rang again.
He Got His Dream Raby Just Not With Me
11 1%
Chapter 2
I turned my head away instinctively, not wanting to hear it.
But to my shock, Ryan silenced the call, started the car, and drove us to the event.
Before the midnight fireworks, where someone would declare their love,
We had one last stop–a family dinner with the Mitchells.
Ryan had never brought anyone else to an event this formal.
He knew exactly what every woman in his life was worth.
And he knew I was the most obedient one.
Obedient enough to remarry him after eight divorces.
But this time was different.
I looped my arm through his and glanced at the plane ticket on my phone.
Ryan, this is the end of the road for us.
I confirmed my departure time and slipped my phone back into my purse.
What I didn’t notice was Ryan had seen the screen too. He smiled.
“You’re that excited to go to the Maldives with me?”
He pulled me in tighter, voice low and teasing.
What a joke.
To him, I really was just a caged songbird.
I said nothing, just walked toward the banquet hall.
Inside, the Mitchells‘ family dinner was in full swing, a who’s who of high society.
Amid the clinking of glasses, Ryan ignored everyone else’s toasts,
Focused only on picking the scallions out of my bowl, one by one.
He did it with such care.
Like he wasn’t the man who had just finalized our ninth divorce.
Like he wasn’t about to dedicate the entire city’s fireworks to someone else.
He really was the perfect actor.
Fooling naive girls with his charm.
12 31
ut His Dream Bakove
Chapter 2
Feeding me false promises of forever.
I remembered the first time we divorced.
He told me I was the only one he loved, that the others meant nothing.
And I believed him.
How stupid.
I didn’t want to relive the past. I needed air.
But just as I stood up, Ryan held my hand down.
“Stay and drink with everyone. I need to step out for a bit.”
Something in his eyes made my stomach tighten.
He used to shield me at events like this.
No one ever pressured me to drink when he was around.
He knew I hated alcohol.
But now, glass after glass of liquor was shoved my way.
I laughed bitterly and downed the first one.
I don’t even know how much I drank that night.
I just remember stumbling outside, trying to find Ryan to take me home.
But he was nowhere to be found.
The winter wind whipped through me like ice.
I wrapped my coat tighter and sank to the curb, trembling.
Cars flew by, but none stopped for me.
I called Ryan over and over,
Until my whole body felt frozen.
And then-
Boom.
The sky lit up with fireworks.
A giant, glittering declaration of love painted across the night.
12 31
He Got His Dream Baby Just Not With Me
16
Chapter 2
People walking by murmured in awe, wondering who the lucky girl was this time.
Then they saw me-
Drunk, disheveled, huddled on the sidewalk.
They gasped and quickly walked away.
I let out a hollow laugh and looked up at the fireworks.
Each brilliant burst felt like a death sentence for our marriage.
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