Avery's POV
“Alright, alright, stop crying. I know I’ve been neglecting you lately, that’s why your emotions have been so extreme. It’s all over now. Once I take Darlene back home for the funeral, we’ll go on with our marriage, okay?”
My sobs froze mid-breath.
So that was it. His sudden tenderness wasn’t because he finally understood me. It was just because of this. So foolish of me to believe that he actually cared about my hurt and realized his mistakes.
Despite that, I didn’t argue and simply replied, “Okay.”
Stanley let go of me, his eyes widening with surprise and delight.
“That’s my good wife,” he said proudly, pulling me close again, showering me with kisses.
His hands wandered quickly, sliding up my legs, his heavy breathing brushing against my ear. He rolled me beneath him and pressed his lips against mine.
Yet, I turned my face away. “Not today.”
The man above me deflated instantly. He climbed off, pulled on his pants, and headed for the door.
“I’ll take a shower. You should go to sleep.”
That night, I didn’t sleep a wink.
Even through the wall, I could hear Darlene’s voice, sharp, shrill, and impossible to ignore.
By morning, the house was empty. I knew Stanley had taken her back to the countryside for the funeral.
Quickly, I packed my things and left the keys and wedding ring on the coffee table.
With the click of the closing door, Stanley and I were now truly over.
At exactly one o’clock in the afternoon, I arrived at the county clerk's office.
Shortly, a sleek black Maybach stopped neatly in front of me, and a man in a dark gray suit stepped out.
“Let’s go. This won’t take more than ten minutes.”
I nodded and started walking toward the entrance.
“Careful!”
Before I knew it, I was pulled into Linden Haynes’s arms as a flowerpot shattered on the ground right where I had been standing.
My heart raced wildly as I looked up at him.
“You’re still the same as when you were a kid, never watching where you’re going,” he teased.
After letting go, he took my hand and guided me into the building.
Within minutes, we had the marriage license in hand.
Linden had an urgent meeting to attend, so he just asked his driver to take me back to his place.
I sat in the car, staring at the piece of paper in my hand, a strange sense of unreality washing over me.
“How is he? This is the man I chose for you. He won’t steer you wrong,” my father said proudly over the phone.
Ever since I decided I didn’t want Stanley, he had been busy finding me a suitable match. He had worked with Stanley many times in business and once thought highly of him.
“He’s much better than Stanley,” I admitted.
But my gaze was fixated on Darlene’s latest post online with a caption, [Thank you for being here. Losing Mom doesn’t hurt quite as much with you by my side.]
The photo attached to it was of a peaceful landscape.
I knew she was talking about Stanley. And the fact that he had “liked” it cut deeper than I cared to admit.
He had never once liked any of my posts. Even on the day my own mother died, he had been too busy with classes to comfort me.
Now I realized the vow he made to my mom that day was nothing more than empty words meant to reassure me and my mom.
Smiling bitterly, I gave Darlene’s post a “like.”
Third Person's POV
Meanwhile, in the elevator, Stanley pulled out his phone, but froze when he saw Avery's name among the likes.
“You liked your post using my account?” he asked Darlene, startled.
Her cheeks flushed as she stammered, unable to give a clear answer.
Stanley stared at the screen, panic flickering in his eyes.
And then, a new notification popped up.
It was Avery's post with a caption, [Turns out getting a marriage license isn’t so hard after all.]
The picture Avery posted was of her marriage license.
[Who did you marry?]
Stanley messaged her. But she just glanced at it and then immediately blocked him.
[Stop messing around. Marriage isn’t something you can joke about!] He typed and sent, but the message came back with a red exclamation mark.
Stunned, he stood frozen outside the apartment.
