Chapter 17

"You're awake." Natalie's tone was detached, as though she and Stephen were strangers. Stephen was so excited that his whole body shook. It had been an entire month since he had last seen her, and the bone-deep longing had been gnawing at him relentlessly, almost driving him crazy. Finally, he got to see her again and hear her voice. In an instant, a flood of longing crashed over him. His eyes reddened as he abruptly sat up to pull her into a tight hug. "Tania, it really is you! I've missed you so much!" His voice was low and hoarse, filled with endless love and yearning. Natania's body stiffened slightly before she swiftly shoved him away. "Stephen, we're already divorced!" The sudden emptiness in his arms brought a flicker of pain to his eyes. "Tania, I don't agree to the divorce," he replied anxiously. In an attempt to salvage their relationship, he added, "That day, I had a bit too much to drink and didn't realize what I was signing was the divorce agreement." The panicked a