Chapter 6

The lawyer worked fast, and the divorce agreement was drafted the very next day. Kayla skimmed through the document, satisfied with how it looked. There were no messy asset disputes between her and Jonah. The only shared property was the property they lived in, which Jonah had purchased before the marriage. However, Kayla had been in charge of the entire renovation herself. From the blueprint to the flooring, furniture, and decor, Kayla had poured her heart and savings into that place. She'd turned it into a dream home, one where every detail reflected her vision of the future they were supposed to share. Even the nursery—she had designed it months ago, full of love and hope. It was her proudest project. Now, looking around the place, all Kayla felt was a bitter kind of irony. She didn't want to keep torturing herself with memories. Her leave from work was over, so she returned to the office to tie up loose ends and begin preparing for her resignation. She was done living so far from home, ready to leave it all behind and go back to her parents. Just as she parked outside the building, she spotted the two people she least wanted to see. Jonah looked like he was drowning in disappointment. Lily stood behind him, eyes glassy with tears. "Kayla, I hope you'll apologize to Lily. I really believe you didn't mean what you said to her," Jonah said. Jonah came to find Kayla not just to ask for an apology but also to talk to her about helping fulfill Sally's final wish. When she saw the look of reproach in Jonah's eyes, Kayla couldn't help but smirk. She thought it was laughable. "Oh? What exactly did I say that made you drag yourself all the way over here to find me?" Kayla asked. "You're really going to deny it? Lily, show her the message." Lily shook her head pitifully. Then, she walked up and clutched Kayla's arm tightly. "Kayla, you can say anything about me—I can take it. I'm not mad. But my mom… She doesn't have much time left. All she wants is to see me and Jonah get married before she goes… Please…" "Hold up." Kayla yanked her arm back and cut her off. "What did I say to you, exactly? Go on. Spell it out." "I…" Lily froze. Caught off guard, she shrank back. Her eyes were widened like she was frightened, and she quickly hid behind Jonah. When he saw her act all fragile again, Jonah immediately stepped forward to shield her. "Kayla, this is too much. Lily's trying to keep this civil, and you're still acting like this? You cursed her mother, told her to hurry up and die, called her a homewrecker, a bitch—God, Kayla. "What happened to you? Did all these years of your education mean nothing? What would your parents say about the way you're behaving?" Kayla slapped him with everything she had. Jonah reeled back, stunned. He stared at her, completely blindsided. "Did you hit me?" "Yeah. That's right," Kayla said with a mocking smile. "Did it hurt?" She added, "Yeah, I called her a bitch. I called her a homewrecker. And yeah—I said I wished her mom would die already. So what? She's not my mom. I don't owe her a damn thing. She was just telling me earlier that I should let you two be together. "Fine by me. Just say the word. I'm ready for the courthouse whenever you are." She didn't wait for a response. She turned and walked away, not sparing him another glance. Jonah stood there, staring at her shrinking figure as a strange panic gripped his chest. Why did she look so indifferent? Why did she agree to him marrying Lily without even flinching? Where was the Kayla who used to smile at him every day, who used to lean on him and act all sweet? Lily gently cupped Jonah's cheek, her face full of concern. "Jonah… Kayla loves you so much. I'm sure she didn't mean to hit you. She was just angry. Give it some time—I'll talk to her myself. I'll explain everything. You two will be okay again." Her voice was soft, comforting. It slowly soothed the tension in Jonah's chest. He nodded. Lily was probably right. No matter how mad Kayla got, she'd never actually leave him. There was no way she'd ever go through with the divorce.