Lilian's heels clicked on the pavement as she stepped out of her car and walked towards the large mansion. She walked cautiously, feeling her heartbeat. It was done. Finally. The divorce decree sat in her handbag, heavy with the weight of everything it symbolized. Two days ago, she and Chris had stood before the City Hall clerk, signing away their union. Chris, as expected, had arrived late, a reflection of the same reluctance he’d carried through their marriage.

The mansion loomed before her—a place that once held her dreams but now felt foreign, its walls echoing memories she’d rather forget. She wasn’t here for nostalgia. She was here to deliver a copy of the decree to him and to gather the last of her belongings.

Inside, the house was eerily quiet except for the faint murmur of voices. She followed the sound, her steps hesitant. The voices grew clearer as she neared the kitchen, but their words froze her in place.

“I still don’t understand why you agreed to this,” came the gruff voice of Chris’s father, each word dripping with sadness. “Why’d you throw it all away?”

Lilian leaned against the wall, her breath hitching. Her hand instinctively covered her chest as if to shield herself from the weight of his disappointment.

Chris’s reply came, soft and muted—so unlike the cold, clipped tone he’d reserved for her during their marriage. “You know why, Dad. It just didn’t work out for either of us.”

The casual dismissal sent a sharp pain through her chest.

“Didn’t work out?” his father pressed, his tone incredulous. “That doesn’t give you the right to fool around with another woman. I raised you better than that. Don’t you love Lilian?”

Lilian’s breath caught. The inquiry made Chris's jaw tighten, and she could almost envision his furrowed brow. Though her mind urged her to leave, her heart was pounding. A small, irrational part of her wished to listen to his reply, though she ought to have walked away.

Chris made a hesitant sound as he cleared his throat. “Dad…”

Lilian shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the truth she already knew. Chris had never loved her. Not when they exchanged vows, not through the nights she cried herself to sleep, and certainly not now. Even though he was in love with another, he had taken her in as a substitute and convenience.

"Has anyone ever told you that it is rude to eavesdrop on others?" His harsh, taunting tone left her astonished, shattering the silence.

Lilian’s eyes snapped open to find Chris leaning casually against the kitchen counter. His penetrating gray eyes pinned her in place, brimming with irritation.

Caught, she straightened and stepped into the kitchen. “Hello,” she greeted Chris’s father, forcing a smile.

"Lily," he said affectionately, using the nickname only he called her. Approaching her, he embraced her, his touch providing a momentary reprieve from the tightness in her chest. "How are you doing?" It’s been a while.”

“I’m managing,” she replied softly, stepping back.

But the atmosphere shifted when Chris’s cold gaze fell on her. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, glancing at his watch as if she were wasting his time.

“I came to bring the divorce decree,” Lilian said evenly, pulling herself together. “And to pick up the rest of my things.”

Chris’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression hardening. "You declared that you would never come back to this house again."

His voice filled with venom caused her heart to beat faster, yet she stood her ground and didn't retreat. “I thought it’d be simpler to hand this over in person.”

Chris’s father looked between them, sensing the rising tension. “No fighting,” he said sternly before excusing himself and leaving them alone.

The moment the door closed, Chris quickly became angry. He banged his fist against the counter, creating a reverberating sound that filled the room. His gray eyes burned with anger.

“You couldn’t send the damn papers to my office?” he growled. “No, you had to come here and embarrass me in front of my father.”

Lilian winced at the poison, laced in his words, but she refused to give in. Chris, I didn't come here to embarrass you. I just wanted to end this chapter and move on.”

“Move on?” His laugh was bitter. “Is this your way of punishing me? Turning my family against me because I couldn’t love you?” His voice rose, each word slicing through her resolve. “Damn you, Lilian. I hate you!”

His words hit like a physical blow. Lilian tightened her hold on the decree and tried to stay calm; her vision began to blur.

“I—”

"Don't," he cut in, his voice trembling with rage. Just don't.

Before she could respond, her phone rang with a harsh tone, interrupting the tension. She removed it from her purse when Aunt Diana's name appeared on the screen.

"Hello?" she whispered with a trembling voice.

“Get to the hospital now!” Diana’s panicked voice came through. “Your uncle’s been shot!”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Lilian stunned.

Chris’s tone softened slightly, though his irritation remained. "What is it?"

Refusing to meet his gaze, she quickly returned her phone to her bag. "Uncle George has been shot."

Without waiting for an answer, an unreadable expression briefly appeared on Chris's face. With each stride she made, she distanced herself more from her past existence and headed toward the unknown future.

She felt a storm of emotions within her as she reached her car. Pain, anger, fear. Yet beneath it all was a flicker of resolve. Chris might have shattered her heart, but he no longer held the pieces. This was her chance to rebuild—and she would.