Danielle drove back to her apartment, the city lights flickering past her windshield. The images from the house she'd just left replayed in her mind, each one more bitterly ironic than the last.
They called each other brothers, swore loyalty, yet shared a bed behind closed doors.
They played everyone for fools—and the saddest part was that, in her previous life, she hadn't suspected a thing.
Looking back, she should have realized something was off whenever Alexander brought Raffy along to visit Millie. Their connection was far more complicated than simple friendship.
Alexander's refusal to sign the divorce papers, his unwillingness to even speak with her—was it all revenge for her forcing this marriage in the first place? Or did he just want to keep her tethered to the Davidson family forever, using a marriage certificate as her leash?
Danielle let out a deep breath and tried to clear her head.
If he wouldn't agree to a divorce and refused to communicate, then so be it—she'd take him to court.
She was done clinging to this broken, exhausting marriage. The longer it dragged on, the more it drained her.
She grabbed her phone and called Gian, asking if he knew any good divorce attorneys.
Gian, always in the loop about her situation, was quick to help. "Actually, a friend of mine just moved back from overseas. I'll give you his number, and you can reach out directly."
"But if you want to file for divorce, you'll need evidence first. You know, proof that he's been unfaithful."
"I have it," Danielle replied. "Plenty of it."
Living together, sharing meals—it was all the evidence she needed. She'd put everything together, nice and neat.
"Alright," Gian said. "Get in touch when you're ready."
—
It was Open Day at the Blackwood Research Institute.
Danielle kept her morning routine simple: a light touch of makeup, quick brush through her hair. Her schedule had been a mess lately—long hours lost in blueprints, barely pausing except to pick up and drop off Niki. Meals were even more erratic.
As she stepped outside, a faint ache twisted in her stomach, and her mind felt hazy for a moment.
But Danielle knew her own body well. This was just low blood sugar—nothing she hadn't handled before. She stopped at a corner store, grabbed a bottle of soda and a handful of candy, then headed to Blackwood.
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