After the nurses left, Claudine slowly opened her bloodshot eyes.
The pain behind them was bone-deep—devouring, endless. It wasn’t the kind of pain that made you cry. No tears would come. No sounds escaped her throat. It felt like invisible hands were choking her, keeping everything locked inside.
The man she had once trusted the most… the man she had loved with all her heart… had been the one to shove her into the bottomless abyss.
She couldn’t wait any longer.
The next day, dragging her weak body, she went to the airport. She had rebooked her ticket the night before. Her suitcase rattled quietly behind her as she read the message from her lawyer:
[The divorce agreement has been drafted according to your wishes and it will be delivered to your husband’s company tomorrow.]
She replied with a single word.
[Thanks.]
She took out her phone card and snapped it in half. She then removed her diamond ring from her left hand and tossed it into the trash bin.
She glanced at the bruises and needle marks on her arm. Before boarding, she gave one last look at the city.
She knew she’d never come back.
***
Back at the hospital, Elliot hadn’t slept a wink.
He stayed by Maeve’s side all night, only relaxing slightly when she finally woke up.
“Elliot, I’m fine... Claudine didn’t mean it. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed her like that,” Maeve murmured tearfully, her voice weak and trembling.
“Maeve, this isn’t your fault. I’ll take care of everything,” Elliot said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
After comforting Maeve, Elliot went to check on Claudine.
But when he entered her room, it was empty.
“Where is the patient here?” he asked, irritation in his voice.
“She checked herself out early this morning,” the nurse replied.
A sense of unease washed over Elliot. He pulled out his phone and called the butler.
“Tell Claudine this isn’t over. Tell her we’re going to the courthouse tomorrow. We’re getting divorced!”
The butler’s voice was filled with confusion. “Sir? I thought Madam was still in the hospital?”
Then, realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
“Forget it,” he snapped. “If she comes back, let her know running away won’t work on me. If she doesn't want a divorce, she’d better come back and apologize to Maeve.”
He hung up.
A moment later, his assistant came rushing in, looking flustered.
“Sir! Mrs. Graves just had divorce papers delivered to your office!”
