One signature. That's all it took to end her marriage.
The pen still lay on the little table. Daniel closed the folder with a snap that sounded too sharp, too final in the hospital room's quiet. Lola just sat there, hands still and empty on her lap. She looked numb.
Daniel checked the last page, barely glanced at her name-decisive, no hint of doubt. He tucked the papers into his leather folder and fixed his jacket. Business done.
Outside, the storm kept hammering at the windows. Rain pounded hard, wind made the whole building sigh. But inside, everything felt still.
Three years. And now, just a line of ink. Gone.
Vanessa shifted in the bed behind Daniel. Her voice drifted across the room, gentle but clear. "Well, that was quicker than I expected."
Lola slowly looked up. Vanessa gave her a soft, almost sympathetic smile. If you didn't know better, you'd almost believe it. But there was nothing gentle about the satisfaction in her eyes.
"You did the right thing," she said, all sugar and calm. Her hand drifted over her stomach-the baby, always the baby. "For everyone."
Everyone. Lola almost laughed out loud.
Daniel just checked his watch. He moved with that quiet, careful calm, like he was wrapping up a meeting. "We should go soon," he said, barely above a whisper.
Vanessa nodded, her hand stroking her stomach again. "Yeah. The doctor said I shouldn't stay up too late. The baby needs rest."
That word stung every time. Lola's chest tightened, but she held silent. She had nothing left to say.
Daniel finally looked at her. His face stayed blank. "You should go back to your room and rest," he said. Polite, almost gentle, if you didn't know him. But Lola heard the real message. You're not my problem anymore.
She stood up, legs shaky. The room spun for a second. She held onto the table, steadying herself. Daniel watched, but didn't move-didn't help, didn't even flinch. Three years ago, he would've jumped up. Now? He just stared. Total stranger.
Lola fixed her gown, messy hair, the exhaustion of a whole day in the ER still clinging to her. She glanced once at the bed. Vanessa watched her-a kind of curious, almost pitying look, like she was watching someone who'd just lost everything.
"Take care," Vanessa said softly. The words sounded caring, but there it was-a tiny smirk, impossible to miss.
Lola stared back. Then she just turned away. No point in fighting or begging. The door was waiting.
The hallway outside was colder than she remembered, too quiet. Lights buzzed above her, flinging sickly white shadows everywhere. Somewhere down the hall, a nurse chatted quietly, a cart rattled past-life just kept going, like her marriage hadn't just dissolved.
Every step felt heavy. The doctors told her to stay. Rest, take it easy-just for tonight. That had made sense when she still had somewhere to go.
She walked to the hospital's front, the doors sliding open with a hushed whirr. The storm hit like a slap. Rain came down in thick, cold sheets. The city beyond the glass looked blurry and distant.
She stepped out. In seconds, her gown clung cold and wet to her. She just stood there, letting the rain soak her through. Cars rolled by on the swamped street. Headlights cut through the evening, but it all felt miles away.
Lola hugged herself, shivering. But nothing outside touched the chill in her chest. Nowhere to go-her apartment, the money, even the car-Daniel's, all of it. She'd trusted him. She'd leaned on him. She had nothing.
She let out a dry, bitter laugh. Once, she was the darling of the Carter family. Now she couldn't even call a taxi.
She heard the doors behind her slide open again. She didn't look back-she recognized Daniel's footsteps, slow and careful on the wet ground. Vanessa's voice followed, a soft warning-"Careful, Daniel, the ground's slippery."
Lola just watched the rain, the water gathering in the gutter. Behind her, Daniel's car beeped. Vanessa walked out, and Daniel opened her door with smooth, practiced gestures. Vanessa smiled and slipped inside. He shut the door for her, walked to his side. For a second, he stopped. Lola could feel his eyes on her.
The rain pounded harder. The moment stretched. Maybe he'd say something. Maybe he'd... but no. The car door opened, closed, and the engine started.
Lola turned around, staring after the car as it rolled away. Headlights glowed, tires splashed through puddles, and the taillights burned red in the rain.
She watched the car reach the intersection. For a moment, it slowed. Her heart wanted to hope, just for a second.
The car never stopped. It disappeared down the flooded street.
