[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603134E5B19-28":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},28,10,"Chapter 10: The Unthinkable Divorce","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only Dante remained unfazed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d had his fun, though. He stood up and followed her out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back home, he rubbed his temples, adopting a nonchalant tone. \"First, run me a bath. Then, whip up some spiced honey cake. And also…\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before he could finish, Celine produced divorce papers and her wedding ring.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Dante, I want a divorce.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante had never in a million years thought Celine would be the one to initiate a divorce!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His mind went blank, a sudden static buzzing in his ears. He spun around.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What do you mean?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine repeated calmly, \"I want a divorce. I've already drafted the papers and signed them. You're the only one left.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">If he hadn't heard her words so clearly, Dante might have assumed he was losing it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He figured Celine was still fuming about last night’s drama. \"Just because I didn't let you celebrate Thanksgiving with me?\" he asked incredulously.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was absurd.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Ten years.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine had stuck by him, chased him for ten years!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d pulled stunts far worse than this countless times. And now she wanted a divorce?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine didn't bother explaining. She was exhausted after staying up all night.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She had envisioned a dignified farewell, but since that was clearly a pipe dream, a clean break was the next best thing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Without another word, she stated flatly, \"Fine, consider it that.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante's pupils constricted. He stared at her, his shock escalating.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing he wasn't moving, Celine shoved the divorce papers toward him again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Isn't this what you've always wanted? What’s the hold-up? Aren’t you going to sign?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Instantly, pure fury surged through him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Fine. Divorce it is. Let’s see who cracks first.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante swallowed his rage, grabbed the papers with a steely expression, snatched a pen, and scribbled his name in a few sharp strokes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are you absolutely sure about this? Once you walk out that door, I won’t take you back, not even if you beg.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This was his final offer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But Celine acted as if she hadn’t heard a word. She placed her wedding ring on the table. \"Don't worry, I won't.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then, she went to the bedroom and collected the suitcase she’d packed the night before.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before leaving, she saw Dante slumped on the sofa. She couldn't tell if he was still reeling from the shock or just simmering in his anger.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She paused, offering one last set of instructions. \"Your stomach medicine is in the second compartment from the left, on the bottom shelf of the tall cabinet. Your usual dress shirts are on the south-facing row in the second section of the walk-in closet. The ties that match your suits are all in the drawer below the shirts…\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She continued listing things for a while.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Finally, she said, \"Dante, take care of yourself after I'm gone.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And I’ll start my new life.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With that, she walked out, suitcase in tow, not daring to look back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante watched her silhouette vanish, his expression darkening with each passing second.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Crash!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He kicked a chair, sending it hurtling across the room, where it splintered instantly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Let's see how long you can keep up this charade!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After leaving, Celine headed straight for a psychologist's office.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She'd booked the appointment ages ago.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The doctor opened her file and looked up. \"You're here for hypnosis?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine nodded. \"Yes. I want to use hypnosis to forget someone. To completely start over.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are you sure? After the hypnosis, you won’t remember anything about him.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'm sure.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her answer was firm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Several hours later.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The door to the hypnosis room opened. Celine's eyes fluttered open as she lay on the bed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The doctor asked, \"Ms. Evans, do you remember Dante Williams?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She looked up, her expression completely blank and unfamiliar.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272932174]