Chapter 40

Angela POV

When those memories resurfaced, the small moments of intimacy we once shared-those careless touches, the soft words-felt like sharp blades, each one slicing through me, reopening old wounds.

If only he had shown me even the slightest bit of affection, maybe I wouldn't feel so completely broken.

I sighed and took the wedding photo from the bedside table. I didn't want to look at it anymore, so I placed it into the drawer and shut it, hoping to leave the past behind.

Footsteps pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see Sean standing behind me, freshly showered. He looked the same as always-calm, composed, distant.

"Cleaning up already?" he asked, his voice flat, his gaze fixed on me. "In a hurry?"

"Once Christina moves in, she won't want to see this," I said, trying to sound indifferent.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but after a beat, all he said was, " I'll sleep in the study tonight."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving me standing in the emptiness of the room.

The alarm blared, dragging me from a restless sleep. Groggily, I pressed my hand to my forehead, wincing at the dull ache pounding there.

I hadn't slept much at all last night. Thoughts of Elizabeth's surgery, the divorce, and the baby kept cycling through my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, I drifted into a haze of jumbled dreams.

I sat up for a moment, trying to shake off the exhaustion. Then, dragging myself to the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would clear the fog.

When I looked up at the mirror, I almost didn't recognize myself. My face was pale, dark circles under my eyes, and my eyes themselves bloodshot and tired.

I quickly washed my face and threw on some makeup, trying to hide the signs of a sleepless night. My phone buzzed, and I saw a message from Sean.

"Come downstairs. I'm waiting in the garage."

His tone was as cold as ever.

I responded with a simple "ok" and grabbed my jacket, heading downstairs.

The morning was still young, and the chill in the air hit me as soon as I stepped outside.

Sean was leaning against the car, wearing nothing but a thin shirt, holding a cigarette between his fingers. He looked exhausted-his stubble unshaven, his eyes tired and dark.

He didn't move as I approached, and there was this strange silence between us.

After a long beat, he finally spoke.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

His voice was hoarse, and I hadn't realized how much until he asked.

I paused before answering, not quite meeting his gaze. "Yeah, pretty well. How about you?"

He flicked the cigarette away, his eyes locking onto mine. "Yeah, pretty well."

I nodded, though I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the tension in his face. He looked just as worn out as I felt. But of course, he was too proud to show it.

We stood in silence for a while. The air between us felt thick, uncomfortable. I shifted under his gaze and finally asked, "Shall we go?"

Sean didn't answer right away. Instead, he raised an eyebrow. "In a hurry?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my voice light. "I'm fine. Just worried you might be."

He scoffed, glancing at me. "What would I be in a hurry for?"

"How would I know what you're in a hurry for?"

His expression hardened for a second before he sighed, clearly irritated. "Did you bring the documents? Don't forget them at the court."

At that, I snapped. "I brought them. I prepared them last night. How could I forget?"

"Angela..." He seemed at a loss for words.

I didn't want to stand around any longer. I opened the car door, slid into the seat, and buckled up. I leaned out and said,

"Let's go. After the divorce, we'll head to the sanatorium."

Sean followed me into the driver's seat, his expression unreadable. The drive to the courthouse was quiet.

The early morning traffic was light, and soon, we were pulling up in front of the building.

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