I was sitting on the bench in the back garden, letting the afternoon breeze cool my skin when the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
"What are you doing out here alone?" Archie’s voice was light, almost as though nothing had ever happened between us.
I shrugged, keeping my gaze fixed ahead. "Just needed some fresh air."
He nodded slowly before settling beside me, cradling a tiny baby wrapped snugly in a blue blanket.
"I hope you don’t mind me bringing him along," he said, offering a small smile. "He’s still too little to be left on his own."
I turned my head slightly, feigning curiosity as I regarded the sleeping infant. "Whose baby is this?" My tone was deliberately flat.
Archie hesitated before finally answering, "An acquaintance’s… He couldn’t take care of him, so I was considering adopting him."
I glanced at him then, arching a brow. "Adopt him?"
He nodded, his expression growing serious. "Yes, Wendy. His name is Zac. I know losing our baby was devastating for you. I felt it too." His voice softened, as though he were carefully choosing his words. "But maybe this is a second chance for us. We could raise him together—as our own child."
I looked at the baby, then back at him. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes," Archie said with quiet conviction. "He needs a family, Wendy. And I think we could be good parents to him."
I suppressed the cold smile that threatened to form on my lips. Did he really think I wouldn’t see through this? That I would blindly accept a child—his child—without questioning its origins? How stupid did he think I was?
I let out a soft sigh, pretending to waver. "I don’t know, Archie… Adopting a child is a big decision. I need time to think."
His expression softened, as though he truly believed I was considering it. "I understand. I don’t want to pressure you," he said gently. "But I do think this could be a new beginning for us."
A new beginning.
I lowered my gaze, masking the chill in my heart behind a thoughtful façade. If he thought I would fall for his game, he was sorely mistaken.
Sunday
The towering glass façade of Ravenwood Law reflected the golden hues of the late afternoon sun as
I stood before it, my resolve solidified. Today, I was filing for divorce from Archie Knight.
I stared at the entrance, my breath steady yet weighted. For too many years, I had allowed myself to be a fool, trapped in a marriage that had been nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion. But no more. If Archie had chosen his path with Claire, then I would carve out my own.
With purposeful steps, I entered the building, my heels clicking against the polished floor of the near-empty lobby. The receptionist directed me upstairs, leading me to an office at the end of a long, cool-toned corridor. The air-conditioning was crisp, but it did nothing to quell the fire in my chest.
I took a seat in a sleek leather chair, my hands clasped in my lap, fingers curled into fists. It wasn’t long before the door opened, and a man stepped inside, a file in hand.
"Good afternoon, Mrs Knight," came his deep, measured voice.
I turned towards him—and felt the ground shift beneath me.
Leon Aldrich.
For a moment, the world around me blurred. I knew him. Not just as a lawyer. He was someone from my past. Someone from a time before my life had become entangled with Archie Knight.
His gaze flickered with recognition, but it was brief—quickly replaced with the cool professionalism he had always exuded. He pulled out a chair across from me, placing the file on the desk before him.
"It’s been a long time," he said, his tone quieter now. "I never expected you to walk into my office as a client."
I swallowed, willing my emotions into submission. "I didn’t expect to see you here either."
Leon studied me for a moment, as though searching for something beneath the mask I wore. "So, you want to file for divorce from Archie?"
I straightened my spine. "Yes. I can’t continue in this marriage any longer."
His expression remained unreadable. "Are there specific terms you want to include in the settlement? Asset division? Custody arrangements?"
I exhaled slowly. "I don’t want anything from Archie. I just want to walk away."
Leon frowned. "No claim on the estate? Wendy, you do realise who your husband is. You know he won’t let this end quietly."
I met his gaze, unwavering. "I’m ready for whatever comes."
He studied me for a beat before allowing a small, knowing smile to ghost across his lips. "You haven’t changed. Still as stubborn as ever."
A humourless chuckle escaped me. "And you’re still the same. Always able to see straight through me."
Leon’s gaze lingered a moment longer before he sighed, leaning back slightly. "Very well. I’ll handle everything."
He picked up a pen, flipping through the documents in front of him with the same precision I remembered from years ago. His sharp eyes scanned the legal text—the papers that would officially sever my ties to Archie Knight.
"Tell me everything I need to know, Wendy," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The more I know, the better I can protect you."
I bit my lip, hesitating before speaking. "I want this over as quickly as possible, Leon. I don’t care about the money, the properties—any of it. I just want to be free."
His eyes darkened slightly. "Are you sure? You’ve given years of your life to this marriage. Don’t let him dictate how it ends."
I shook my head. "There’s nothing to fight for, Leon. It was all an illusion."
He let out a slow breath, closing the file momentarily.
"Alright. But you do realise Archie won’t let this go easily. He’ll either try to hold onto you—or make your life hell for trying to leave."
I had no doubt about that. Archie never relinquished control willingly.
"I’m prepared," I said firmly. "No matter what he does, I won’t change my mind."
Leon studied me once more before nodding. "Then we’ll begin immediately."
He slid a document across the desk, placing a pen beside it. "Sign here. This is the formal petition for divorce."
I took the pen, my fingers trembling ever so slightly. Not out of fear or hesitation, but because this was it—the moment I was finally taking control of my own life.
With a deep breath, I signed my name.
Leon took the paper back, glancing at my signature before meeting my eyes. "You’ve just taken the first step, Wendy."
I nodded. "I know."
Something flickered in his gaze—an unreadable emotion he quickly concealed. I ignored it, focusing instead on the weight lifting from my chest.
"Is there anything else you want me to arrange?" Leon asked, his voice quieter now, as though sensing the storm still brewing within me.
I met his eyes, my resolve hardening. "Yes," I murmured. "I want a new identity. I don’t want Archie to ever find Wendy Clark again."
Leon’s brows lifted slightly, but he masked his surprise well. And then, after a brief pause, he nodded. A silent promise that my request would be granted.
A slow, knowing smile played at his lips. "Welcome to your new beginning, Wendy."
I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding.
Yes. This was a new beginning.
And I would never look back again.
