Chapter 8 Scarlett's POV The manila envelope arrives on a Tuesday morning , delivered by a courier . My hands shake as I sign for it , knowing exactly what's inside . The divorce papers . I stare at the envelope for a long moment before tearing it open . " That jerk ," Chloe mutters , peering over my shoulder . " He couldn't even call you first ? Just signed it and sent it back like some business deal ? " I flip through the pages , scanning the legal language . It's all there - the division of assets , custody arrangements , everything that reduces three years of marriage to bullet points and signatures . My marriage is officially over . I'm now a divorcee . " Actually , this is perfect ," I say , surprising myself with how calm I sound . " He made it easy for me . " " Easy ? " Chloe raises an eyebrow . " Scarlett , he abandoned you . On a highway . While you were pregnant . And now he's divorcing you without even trying to work things out . " " Exactly . " I fold the papers and set them aside . " He's showing me exactly who he is . No more confusion , no more hoping he'll change . It's done . " Something shifts in my chest . Relief , maybe . Or loss . " You know what ? " I grab my laptop from the coffee table . " I'm tired of letting other people control my life . I'm going to do something for myself . " " What are you talking about ? " " Remember that baking school in Nashville I mentioned ? The one my baking tutor attended ? " I open the laptop and navigate to the website . " I've been thinking about it more and more . " Chloe's eyes widen . " You're serious ? " " Dead serious . " I click through the program details , my heart starting to race with excitement . " Look at this - six months of intensive training . French pastries , artisan breads , business management . Everything I need to start my own bakery . " " Now that's what I'm talking about ! " Chloe scoots closer , reading over my shoulder . " You 1/5 < Chapter 8 make kickass pastries . Some French chefs better be ready to go out of business . " I laugh , the first real laugh I've had in days . " You're exaggerating . " " I'm stating a fact . " She grins . " You have a gift , habibti . And soon , you'll realize it . " More Rewards > I scroll down to the enrollment section . The program starts in three weeks . Three weeks to completely change my life . " I'm going to do it , " I say , clicking on the application . " I already filled this out last night . I just need to submit it and pay the tuition . " My fingers fly over the keyboard , filling in the final details . When I get to the payment section , I pull out my credit card , hands shaking slightly . This is it . This is my new beginning . I enter my card information and hit submit . The screen flashes red . PAYMENT DECLINED I frown and try again . Same result . " That's weird ," I mutter , trying a different card . " Maybe there's an issue with the website . " But the second card is declined too . And the third . My phone buzzes with a text from Dad : Your credit cards have been frozen until you come home and stop this nonsense . We need to talk . The laptop screen blurs as tears fill my eyes . " You've got to be kidding me . " " What's wrong ? " Chloe asks , concern creeping into her voice . I show her the text . " He blocked my cards . " " He wouldn't ! " " They did , and he can since the accounts are in his name . " I laugh bitterly . " God , I'm so stupid . I never thought they'd actually- " My phone rings . Dad's name flashes on the screen . " Don't answer it , " Chloe hisses . But I'm already sliding to accept the call . " Hello . " 2/5 < Chapter 8 " Scarlett , thank God . Where are you ? " " I'm at my friend's . " More Rewards > " We need you to come home . Now . This divorce nonsense has got to stop . Running away isn't going to solve anything . " " Running away ? " I stand up , pacing to the window . " I'm not running away . I'm moving forward . " " By abandoning your family ? " " What family ? " The words come out sharper than I intended . " You mean the family that cut me off ? The family that gave away my inheritance , my husband , my entire life to someone else ? " " Virginia is our daughter- " " And I'm not . " The truth sits heavy between us . " I never was . I was just a replacement until the real one came back . " Silence stretches across the line . " That's not true ," he says finally , but his voice lacks conviction . And good thing for me my heart has grown numb . Because hearing more of their excuses might've just broken me . " Scar , come home . We'll talk about this at home . " " No. " I close my eyes , summoning strength I didn't know I had . " I'm done being controlled . By you , by Mom , by Jasper . I'm done . " " Scarlett- " I hang up and immediately turn off my phone . " That was badass , " Chloe says with a grin . " But now what ? You can't pay for school without money . " I slump back down on the couch , the weight of reality crushing my brief moment of freedom . " I don't know . Maybe I could get a loan ? Or find a job and save up ? " " How long would that take ? " " Years , probably . " I bury my face in my hands . " By then , I'll have a newborn to take care of . I'll never get another chance . " " Hey . " Chloe's voice is gentle . " Look at me . " 3/5 < Chapter 8 I lift my head , trying not to cry again . " You're not doing this alone ," she says . " I'm going to pay for it . " " Chloe , no- " " Yes . " She pulls out her phone . " I have the money , and you're going to that school . " " I can't ask you to do that . It's fifteen thousand dollars . " More Rewards > " You're not asking . I'm offering . " She starts typing on her phone . " And before you argue , remember when I wanted to quit my job and start my marketing firm ? You lent me twenty thousand dollars without even thinking about it . " " That was different- " " How ? You believed in me when no one else did . You made my dream possible . " She looks up from her phone . " Now it's my turn ." Tears spill down my cheeks , but they're not sad tears . They're grateful tears . Relief tears . " I'll pay you back ," I whisper . " Every penny . " " I know you will . But not because you have to - because you're going to be amazing at this . " She shows me her phone screen . " I just transferred the money to your personal account . The one they can't touch . " I check my banking app and see the deposit . Fifteen thousand dollars . " Thank you , " I breathe . " I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you . " " Now , now , let's not go down that road , because if we do , I promise you , I have more to say ́than you do on that topic ," she says . " Now go pay for that school before I change my mind . " go back to the laptop , hands steady now . This time , when I enter the payment information , the screen flashes green . ENROLLMENT CONFIRMED Welcome to Nashville Culinary Institute Program Start Date : March 15th Three weeks . In three weeks , I'll be starting over in a new city , learning a new skill , building a new life . " I can't believe I'm actually doing this , " I say , staring at the confirmation email . 4/5 < Chapter S More Rewards > " I can . " Chloe grins . " You're the strongest person I know , Scarlett . You just forgot for a while ." I print out the enrollment confirmation and pin it to my refrigerator , right next to the ultrasound photo of my baby girl . She's going to grow up knowing her mother fought for her dreams . " So what now ? " Chloe asks . " Now , I take action . " 41 Violet Moon #Vote # ! 3