I'd barely reached the doorway when I heard laughter from inside.
“Evelyn, I treated you like a joke back then. My ex and I drove a car into you. And you still love me? You're even divorcing that pushover husband of yours for me!”
I froze. Looked up. Saw what was happening inside.
Evelyn's expression stayed gentle the whole time. She spooned porridge to his lips without a word.
Winston seemed to get bored. He leaned in and kissed her.
She didn't pull away. She tried to deepen it.
But the next second he dodged back, mouth curling with contempt：“God, Evelyn. You're pathetic.”
She grabbed his shoulders and pressed her mouth to his.
Wet sounds filled the hospital room.
When she finally let go, her voice was breathless：“Yeah. I'm pathetic. Pathetic enough to fall for you. Pathetic enough to love you year after year after year.”
Year after year?
Since when does someone that shameless know how to love?
I pulled my lips into something that might pass for a smile and turned to leave.
That's when Winston spotted me.
He hooked an arm around Evelyn：“What about that pushover husband of yours? Don't you love him? The guy's been carrying a torch for you for ten years, after all.”
Evelyn's voice came out low and rough：“You said it yourself. A pushover. He's just a rebound for someone as rotten as me. You and I, though—we're made for each other.”
Winston laughed out loud and tipped his chin toward the door：“Well, look at that. Your rebound's standing right outside.”
Evelyn stiffened and turned to face me.
My nails dug into my palm. I forced a smile：“Just came to ask when you'd be available to sign the divorce papers.”
“If you have any conditions, just say the word.”
Evelyn handed the documents to me.
I flipped to the last page, signed my name, and smiled as I held them out to her：“It's fine. It's not like you could cheat me out of anything.”
Evelyn stared at the smile on the man across from her and felt an inexplicable sting.
But wasn't this exactly what she wanted?
Divorce. Then tie herself to that piece of garbage Winston for good.
She shook her head and looked down, ready to sign her name, when her phone rang.
She murmured an apology and stood to take the call.
Whatever was said on the other end changed her face completely, and she started for the door.
I grabbed the documents and blocked her path. “One signature. It'll take a few seconds.”
Evelyn's head snapped up, dark eyes locking onto mine.
I kept smiling. Kept the papers where they were.
She took the pen and scrawled her name in one sharp, impatient stroke.
“I've already contacted the records office. It'll be at least seven days before the divorce certificate comes through.”
Seven days.
I counted silently against the date of the wedding with the other woman.
Enough.
Back home, I mailed everything to Manhattan.
By the time I finished, it was already night.
I was about to turn in when the police called.
“Hello, is this Ms. Henson's husband? Your wife has been reported for false imprisonment and assault. We need you to come to the station.”
I didn't want to go, but the divorce wasn't final yet.
Fine. One last time.
When I got to the station, Evelyn's face was dark. Sitting next to her, grinning like this was all a game, was Winston.
An officer approached me the moment I walked in：“Do you know this gentleman? He claims Ms. Henson held him against his will, that he tried to escape and she dragged him back, and that she attempted to assault him in the car.”
Before I could speak, Evelyn cut in：“He's my fiancé. There was no imprisonment and no assault. We're in a legitimate relationship.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a yellowed piece of paper, carefully preserved despite its age.
Written on it, unmistakably, was a pledge Winston had given her the year they first got together.
