Chapter 20 I pushed open the study door with the divorce papers in my bag . Inside , Xavier had his sleeves rolled up , trimming the stems of a bouquet of white lilies.He was never a romantic . In fact , he used to mock other men for bringing flowers to their girlfriends . " Pointless , " he'd said one Valentine's Day. " They're dead in a week . " We'd been married three years and I hadn't even received a single daisy.Besides , those lilies weren't for me - they were Vanessa's favorite . A few clipped stems fell into the trash before Xavier finally glanced up . " You're out of the hospital . How are you feeling ? " he asked as he stood , arranging the bouquet in a crystal vase and fussing with the petals . Then he added , " About tonight ... I didn't mean it . " : " But I know you'll be fine , " he laughed . " You've been through worse , right ? Grew up with nothing . A little operation isn't anything is it ? " I almost laughed . " He had no idea - I was the sole heir to one of the state's wealthiest families . The only time I'd ever suffered was the day married him . " He crossed the room toward me with the lilies like a trophy . " Hey , don't you think these are pretty ? " } As the flowers came near , my throat tightened . I turned my head and coughed - once , twice - hard , involuntary coughs.My allergy flared , and the first thing he did was shove me aside . My back hit the sharp corner of the desk . The stitches on my healing wound split open and blood began to soak my blouse.Pain blurred my vision , while Xavier's worried gaze stayed fixed on the lilies . " You nearly ruined them ! " he snapped . " Do you know how rare these are ? Air - freighted ! Professionally grown ! " Realizing that even my health couldn't compete with a bouquet , I forced a bitter smile and thought , Was I with him for three years for this ? God , how blind I'd been to love this bastard . } I was allergic to flowers - something he never cared about.If he'd cared at all , he would have known my wound wasn't fully healed . I took a steadying breath , reached into my bag , and pulled out the papers . " Xavier , " I said , sliding the divorce agreement hidden inside a contract toward him , " I need your signature ." F He paused . For the first time his gaze rested on me . " You just got out of the hospital . You should rest , " he said quietly . Still , he reached for the papers . His fingers had barely touched the page when his phone rang . The contact name flashed on the screen and I glanced : " Baby . " " He kept Vanessa's name stored so sweetly ; mine had always been formal , my full name . The contrast said everything . @ Holding the bouquet in one hand , he smiled and answered as he walked toward the door . " I won't be home for dinner . Go back after work by yourself . " I stepped forward , flipped to the last page , and shoved a pen into his hand . " Sign first . " My husband frowned . He was cautious - he checked every word before signing anything . But the phone rang again . Even at near - mute volume , Vanessa's voice poured through , playful and breathy . " Xavier , I've been waiting forever ! Hurry up ... " And so the careful man didn't read a single line . He flicked his wrist and scrawled his name . My heart , which had been lodged in my throat , dropped - and then a flash of self - mockery passed through me . If he'd looked twice , he'd have seen he wasn't signing a property contract at all . % " Done Satisfied ? Can I go now ? " he said , sarcastic . 1 nodded stiffly " Yes . You're free now . " % This time I did exactly as he wanted - I let him go and handed him his freedom.N As he left , he turned and said , " The study hasn't been cleaned in months . Since you're here - why not tidy it up ? " The heavy click of the door echoed in my ears . \ Xavier's study had always been off - limits . Not a speck of dust . Only he knew where the spare key was , which drawer held the wipes , and how he liked the edges of papers perfectly aligned . When I reached his desk , a framed photo caught my eye - Vanessa's smile behind the glass , staring back at me . I turned and noticed my own photo in the wastebasket by the cabinet face down , its edges crumpled like trash . I pressed my lips together , the smile didn't reach my eyes . It felt like a knife.N Having secured his signature , I looked around the cozy home I had built with my own hands and memories swelled . My gaze finally settled on the wedding photo in the living room - one he polished and displayed Seeing Xavier's strained smile in the frame felt unbearable.I took the picture down and threw it into the trash downstairs . P I spent the rest of the night clearing out our marital things . Xavier noticed the missing photo as soon as he came back . He saw me bent over writing and , rare for him , frowned . " Where's the wedding photo ? " " The nail was loose.I was afraid it might fall , so I took it down , " I said . He didn't ask more . He set the late - night takeout beside me and went back into the study . The sharp aroma stopped me.I opened the bag and saw the red , spicy Chinese food inside and felt my stomach turn . For three years of our marriage I'd eaten blandly because of my stomach . My husband had never known . The old me would have eaten it all to please him , no matter how hot . Now I took the whole bag downstairs and threw it away . From today on , I would throw away every grievance and every hurt from this marriage - and that included throwing him away ,