Husband In The Shadows - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Back when we were married, I handled most things at home, even when I was working.
It didn't take me long to find her documents. I glanced at the study. A big bookshelf stood there, filled with all the books I'd read.
I let out a cold laugh, grabbed the documents, and walked back out.
Nydia was slumped on the couch, pale and quiet.
I stopped in the hallway and frowned, wondering if she was just pretending once more.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She struggled to hold them back.
She knew this was all on her.
Now, even if her heart shattered into pieces, regret couldn't change anything.
She glanced at the papers in my hand and muttered, "I should've just burned all of it."
I shot back, "That's fine. We'll just get new ones."
She stepped closer, grabbed my hand, and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Can't we just try one more time? Emerson, I don't want you to go."
I clenched my fist for a second before gently pulling away. Her palm was damp—nerves, probably. I kept my voice calm. "Let's go to the court."
The place was packed. Tons of couples were there for the same reason. We got in line and waited.
Nydia stood quietly beside me, looking lost. Her hands trembled, her eyes filled with despair and fear.
Time kept ticking by, and it was almost our turn when the couple in front of us got into a fight.
The guy was begging the woman not to go through with it. The woman snapped, slapped him across the face, and shouted, "You cheated on me and wanted me to forgive you, huh? Dream on. It's divorce or your funeral."
The guy shut up and signed the papers without another word.
Nydia bit her lip and turned to me, her eyes red. "Emerson, even if we get divorced, I still want to chase after you. I want to start over."
I didn't say anything. There wasn't anything left to say.
Two hours later, it was our turn.
The staff offered to mediate, but once they saw the court documents, they went ahead with the paperwork.
Afterwards, standing outside with the divorce certificate in hand, Nydia finally broke down and cried.
I didn't even look at her and turned to leave.
But she grabbed my arm. "There's a work dinner tonight," she said, her voice shaky. "Come with me."
I looked at her like she'd lost her mind. After the divorce went through, I felt pretty good. Even my tone softened. "I don't feel like it."
I tried to walk away, but she held on tighter. Her grip surprised me. "We might be divorced, but we're not strangers, right?" she said, almost desperate. "I saved your life once. Don't I at least deserve one dinner?"
I raised an eyebrow. "So you're cashing in that favor now, huh?"
She shook her head quickly. "No. It's just a meal. That's all."
I stared at her, not wanting to overthink it, and asked bluntly, "Was that the reason you never let me go before? Because you were embarrassed to admit we were together, huh?"
Nydia froze and shook her head. Things had already come to this point. No matter what I said, she didn't argue—she knew it was all her fault.
Then she looked up at me slowly. "Back in the car, you said after the divorce, we could talk about anything I wanted. Are you going back on that?"
That caught me off guard.
She went on, "I know you don't believe a single word I say, but we've still shared years together. Do we really have to act like we're nothing now?"