Chapter 30
“You’ve lost your mind again, haven’t you?” Jude said.
Jude didn’t even bother turning around. It was obvious he didn’t want to revisit this conversation.
“I said I want a divorce.” I repeated.
He didn’t love me anymore. Maybe he’d finally found someone he loved.
I couldn’t understand why he was will holding ou–unless this was some drawn–out punishment for leaving him all those years ago. But hadn’t three years been enough?
1 left him for two years; he mocked our marriage for three years. I figured that made us event.
If we ended things now, we could still part with dignity—no debus lefi, berween us
When he finally turned to look at me, there was a hard edge in his eyes.
“Ada” he snapped. “what kind I of stunt is this?”
A divorce?” he echoed with a loud voice. “You did this for my attention! Didn’t I do enough“”
meant.
I couldn’t even began to guess what he me
Had I missed some act of devotion he thought he’d performed?
Was it the way he paraded his mistress into our home, then dragged me along to play wife at a family dinner?
If that was him trying–then yes, it was more than enough.
But before I could voice that, another wave of nausea rolled over me
I bolted to the bathroom and vomited until there was nothing left but bile.
I hadn’t eaten much that evening, and even the sourness in my throat eventually gave way in sheer exhaustion.
Jude followed me in, parting my back, pressing water into my handh.
I could feel how tense he was, maybe even worried, but I couldn’t make out a single word he said. It was like trying to listen underwater,
And then he picked me up. Till take you to hospital”
I struggled weakly in his arms. “Put me down. I’m not going to the hospital”
It was just the side effects of chemo, and this was only going to get worse.
What was the point? It was
But he was impatient. He held on tighter, carrying me toward the door.
That’s when his phone rang–the specific ringtone I recognized instantly. Vivian
He hesitated. I saw it in his face, the brief pause in his step. Then he put me down, pulled out his phone, and answered.
“Jude,” Vivian’s voice broke through the quiet, trembling, on the edge of tears, “do you really not want me anymore? Don’t you love me? Because I still love you—I still want you”
- Yo
Her voice, softer now, dripped with nerd. “You’re with her, aren’t you? Going to meet the family!”
And then came the book. I’m at a bar. there’s this man who won’t stop staring at me. I’m scared, Jude. Please
Jude stood frozen
I saw the guilt flicker across his face before he bit down hard on his lip and said into the phone, Send me the address. I’m on my way!
ay a word as I sank onto the sofa, covering
g my face with one hand.
I didn’t say a
Fouldn’t stand to look at him–couldn’t stomach watching him worry over another woman.
He grabbed his coat, his voice tight. “Ad… Wait for me, alright I’ll take her home, then come back and drive you to the hospital
A laughs escaped me–dry, humorless. I didn’t answer
I knew. He wasn’t coming back.
Chapter 30
The dizziness crept in like a tide. My limbs fel heavy, my head too light.
The doctor had warned me–if the side effects got worse, I might lose consciousness
I pressed my palms to my temples, eyes already swimming with blurred light. And then I saw him, standing at the door.
“Jude. His name left my lips in a whisper
He paused just for a second. Then he opened the door and walked out.
A hollow smile rugged at the corner of my mouth. Of course, he wouldn’t stay–not for me.
Somewhere between waking and fading, I managed to call Casey.
A small, desperate hope that she’d catch the signal. If not well, I’d be unconscious by morning and possibly dead by noon.
When I woke up in the hospital, I could’ve cried with relief. Apparently, my paranoid streak had saved me–Ed given Casey the code to my apartment weeks ago,
She sat by my bed, red–eyed and fuming. “That bastard left your Alone? What the hell is wrong with him?!”
She cried while she cursed him out, furious and heartbroken on my behalf.
Turned out she’d been asleep when I called. She only saw the missed call when she got up to the restroom in the middle of the night.
By the time she reached my place, it was nearly dawn.
Unsurprisingly, Jude had never come back.
“Liar.” I munered, eyes cast low. “Said he’d take me to the hospital”
I lowered my head silently. “Casey, sorry for making you worry!
“You shouldn’t be apologizing to met Casey shot back, her voice rising. “I was the one sleeping like a brick!”
The doctor came in then, eyes scanning my chart with a furrowed brow.
“Ms. Watson,” he said gently, “you really need rest. And someone with you.
“This is a recurrence, and we can’t afford to take chances. During chemo, you should have someone at home–family. Ideally”
Casey’s hand shot up Til do it. She’s moving in with me. Today
I was about to refuse, but she turned those tear–filled eyes on ine, furious and stubbom.
She insisted. “You’re either coming home with me, or I’m staying at yours. Your call. And don’t sest me- camp under your desk at work if I have
I gave it some thought. I did have other places I could go… I just didn’t want to
“Fine,” I murmured. “Come with me. I’ll pack.”
Casey let out a breath like she’d been holding it for hours.
The doctor confirmed I was stable enough to leave but reminded me firmly. “You’ll need someone to act as your medical proxy. In your condition, some decisions may fall to next of kin”
I shook my head. “I can write an authorization. Casey will handle everything from nove on.”
Once I filed for divorce, Jude wouldn’t be considered family anymore.
Casey drove us back to my place, ranting al
about Jude the entire ride.
I let her go. There wasn’t much left to say I’d known the kind of man he was for a long time.
But I hadn’t expected to come home to this.
At the front door, I noticed a pair of women’s slippers. M
Miar-
the white ones were gone.
Vivian strolled out of my walk–in closet, smug and sparkling, three necklaces looped around her neck, and her arms full of my things.
I stared at her, cold and silent. Who the hell let you come here!”
