Chapter 57 – Part 1

‘What a bother.’

Theodore would likely ask about the divorce papers, and I felt somewhat annoyed at having to explain…

But, well… A few words would suffice.

It was the divorce he wanted all this time anyway.

I slowly approached him. Theodore, who had been staring at the white paper, lifted his gaze. His blue eyes were sharp and cold.

“…What is this?”

He turned the paper over and showed me the side with the writing on it. I replied calmly, blinking my eyes slowly.

“Divorce papers, as you can see.”

“…Divorce papers.”

“Yes, I prepared it in advance to avoid the hassle. I finished signing it, so now all you have to do is sign as well.”

“…Ha…”

Theodore rolled his eyes and gave a low laugh. The response was rather astounding.

I frowned, unable to understand him. Wasn’t he the one who wanted a divorce more than anyone else? But why did he have a disapproving look…

“Is this an act of consideration for me on your part? To prepare divorce papers in advance?”

“Somewhat, yes.”

“What consideration? It seems that you want to divorce me after all. Seeing that you prepared these documents without even discussing it a single time with me.”

“You were the one who wanted a divorce, weren’t you? I don’t understand why you’re angry.”

“Angry? I’m just baffled. This isn’t something you should do on your own?”

“Can’t I do the same while you do various things as you please? And you were going to divorce me anyway. It would be easy and convenient to just sign the paperwork, so why are you so shocked?”

Theodore gave me a big sneer, as if he was finding it ridiculous, and glared at me with boiling eyes. It was a gaze that seemed like it would burn. But I didn’t back down.

“Just in time. This is good.”

“…Good?”

“Yes. Please sign the papers. I’ll give you the other two copies as well, so please sign them too.”

“…….”

He gripped the paper tightly. It looked like the paper would be terribly crumpled or torn. As he stared at me, he chewed word by word.

“You.”

“…….”

“Didn’t you have feelings for me?”

“……?”

…For a moment, I was so surprised that I was rendered speechless.

What’s the use of asking such a question? ‘Why do you want to divorce me when you have feelings for me?’ Something like that?

“…….”

This time, I couldn’t stand it at all.

I laughed.

Was he saying that I’d be satisfied with clinging onto him and begging him not to divorce me?

Just how did he see me? Should I keep yearning for him even after I had been hurt so many times by him? Like a faithful guard dog that would remain loyal even if its owner had already abandoned it?

This man is the worst.

I never imagined that I would feel so dirty. How could he speak of my feelings? As for how I felt, did he really not care at all? Was I just a speck of dust to him… That he didn’t even feel sorry for me?

I’m not a wooden doll that doesn’t bleed even when poked. I’m a human being.

The thought that I would be hurt by one word, one glance, one action from him… I really can’t.

“…I told you, Theodore.”

“…….”

When I called him by name, he paused and stared at me with blank eyes. Calling by name was not a sign of friendship. It was a protest in the sense that he and I were equal human beings.

“I resent you.”

“…….”

“I… am not someone you can hurt and wield recklessly on your own.”

I snatched the divorce papers from him as he stood there stunned. And I turned around and said,

“I’ll bring the divorce papers to you later. Please leave.”

I went to my desk and put down the papers and stood still. I never looked back, not even once.

After a while, the sound of footsteps followed by the sound of a door closing. Only then did I let out the sigh I had been holding back and looked back toward the door.

In that place, there was no trace of Theodore left anywhere.

“Divorce papers?”

“…Yes.”

Theodore came with a complicated expression, Calvin put the candy he was about to put into his mouth and put it back in the wrapper.

It was because Theodore’s mood was too unusual for him to make the sound of rolling a candy in his mouth. Calvin clicked his tongue inwardly and thought.

‘Tsk, they certainly fought.’

He could roughly anticipate what kind of quarrel would arise. With Theodore’s temperament, Calvin didn’t think that the man would have easily acquiesced…

But he looked oddly somber?

What the hell did he hear there?

——