Chapter 8
Hearing that. I immediately shoved the divorce papers into his hands
Alaric didn’t hesitate for a second–he grabbed a pon and scrawled his signature across the bottom
The moment I held those signed papers, this crushing weight I’d been carrying just… vanished ||
I thought Td feel devastated, but honestly? All I felt was free.
Turns out it doesn’t matter who you marry–it all ends the same way.
Aurora saw that we’d actually gone through with the divorce and couldn’t hide her glee. Her eyes were practically sparkling |
She immediately grabbed Alaric’s arm and started her next manipulation.
Mr. Marchand y you know those missing funds from the company accounts? I bet she and her secretary friend embezzled that money together.”
ould she get that kind of cash? And the balls to divorce you? You can’t just let her walk away with this!”
“Think about it–where else would s
Something clicked for Alaric. He grabbed my wrist hard enough to bruise:]
“Did you steal money from my company?”
Back in collage, Alaric’s grades weren’t good enough to get into Colombia with me, so we’d done the long distance torture.]
We’d see each other maybe once a month if we were lucky, sometimes not for half a year when our schedules got crazy
He had no clue about my actual life, but he knew my family was broke.
In his mind, there was no way I could have that kind of money legitimately
So when Aurora planted that seed, he bought it instantly
“Get your fucking hands off me! I never stole a dime from your precious company. Learned every penny of that money in college!“||
I tried yanking my arm away, but Alaric’s grap was like a vice. My wrist was turning red and he wouldn’t budge.
Aurora kept pouring gasoline on the fire:
“Come on, Mr. Marchand, you seriously believe some college kid could make that much money?”
“She’s playing you for a complete fool! She probably only married you for your money in the first place.”
“Now that she’s gotten what she
e wanted, she doesn’t need to pretend anymore. That’s why she wants the divorce!”
“I bet she’s got some other guy lined up–stole your money and now she’s running off to be with him. Check her phone if you don’t believe me!“]]
Alarit imunebately
snatched my
ed my iPhone, used Face ID to unlock it, and went straight to my messages.
The most recent thread was with Rowan.]
Just one text: “Flying back to California next month.”
Aurora leaned over to read it, her eyes lighting up like she’d won the lottery.]
See? I fucking knew it! She’s totally running away with some e other man!“]]
Alaric’s face went black as thunder: “Rowan? That little pink from your college days?“}]
Alaric had met Rowan once when he’d visited me at Colombia.
Rowan had been pestering me about investing in our startup, and Alaric had gotten it in his head that the guy wanted to sleep with me. He’d been jealous as hell]
I started to explain: “It’s not what she’s making it sound like–|||
But before I could finish, Alaric backhanded me so hard I hit the pavement,
“Isolde, you’re fucking disgusting!”
“What did I ever do to deserve this? How could you betray me like this?“]
I crashed onto the asphalt, blood trickling from my split lip, my cheek already swelling up||
1 looked up at him from the ground, holding my face:
you out of your goddamn mind right now?
“You believe every word that comes out of her mouth? Have you completely lost the ability to think for yourself?”
Aurora immediately put on her wounded act]
trying to protect you! All I did was expose what she’s really like, and now she’s questioning my loyalty…]
“Mr. Marchand, I was just try
Alaric grabbed my hair and yanked my head back, pointing his finger right in my face:
“Then explain why you’re texting Rowan! And why you’re so desperate to divorce me!”
My scalp was on fire, the pain so intense 1
I could barely keep my eyes open, but I managed to grit out:
“You really don’t know why I want a divorce?”
“The way you’ve been fawning all over her while treating me like garbage these past few months?“|||
“Did you really think I was too blind to see it? Or just too pathetic to care?”
Alaric hesitated for a split second, then his face hardened again
“That’s complete bullshit!”
“Aurora just reminds me of Celeste, that’s all! Everything I do for her is guilt over losing Celeste–nothing more!”
