He stood in front of me and said in a serious tone, “Then maybe… you should consider me instead.”
I froze. That wasn’t what I’d expected.
I wasn’t trying to get revenge on Magnus. I wasn’t trying to prove anything to anyone. I was just tired. Tired in a way I hadn’t been when I was eighteen, dreaming of a fairytale life with him. Now, all I wanted was peace.
So I joked. “Sure. Once the divorce is final, I’ll come find you.” Then I walked away.
Not long after I got home, my phone buzzed with a message from Sven: [I’m done waiting.] I stepped out onto the balcony and looked down. His car was still there. Sven was leaning against it, smoking.
It was the first time I’d ever seen him smoke.
I’d always heard Sven came from an old military family. Strict upbringing. Cold personality. His background could rival the Fincks.
Maybe Sven sensed me watching, because he slowly lifted his head until our eyes met. He exhaled a stream of smoke, gave a faint, crooked smile… then turned, got into his car and drove away.
I stood there watching his taillights fade into the night. To my surprise, something inside me stirred…
By the time Magnus finally came home, the sky had already started to lighten.
He stepped through the door and immediately scowled, nose wrinkling.
“Evelyn, can you try acting like a decent woman for once?” he snapped. “You stink of smoke. It’s disgusting. Quit that habit. It’s not ladylike.”
He hated it when I smoked.
But I hadn’t always been like this. I only picked it up after we got married–when silence, cold shoulders and routine had taken over my life.
I needed some kind of release, even if it was just the burn of nicotine.
I stubbed the cigarette out without a word and headed for the bathroom.
He followed me in. “Did you hear me?” he demanded.
Magnus was getting irritated and I knew why. I’d always revolved around him–never defied him. Now that I wasn’t falling in line, it was starting to rattle him.
I gave him a half–hearted response. “I heard you.”
Magnus paused, caught off guard. Through the mirror, he studied my face.
“What’s wrong with you?”
2/2
12.1%
“What’s wrong with you?”
His eyes dropped to my collarbone, where the edge of the bandage peeked through, “What happened to your neck?”
He reached out, as if to check it, but I turned away. His hand froze midair. For once, I didn’t
let him touch me.
He grew impatient, then turned to leave.
“Evelyn, I’ve given you everything I promised. You have no reason to act out like this.”
But I hadn’t done anything at all.
As he started walking away, I looked at his back. “If you think I’m standing in your way- with her or whoever–maybe…”
I continued, “…we should get a divorce.”
Magnus stopped cold. Then turned around, staring at me in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
A beat of silence. Then he let out a dry, bitter laugh.
“So that’s your move now? First, you clung to me like your life depended on it. Now it’s emotional blackmail?”
“Evelyn, do you really think a manipulative woman like you is someone I could ever love?” “You’ve been coming to my house since you were ten. If we divorce, where the hell would you even go?”
His voice was sharper than usual, every word designed to sting. “If you’re not strong enough to walk away, then stop pretending to be. Just stick to your role as Mrs. Finck.” It wasn’t often he lost his temper like this–but when he did, the ugliness showed. He didn’t stop until he’d basically called me a leech, like I was nothing without him.
I didn’t argue. I just turned on the faucet and washed my hands.
Behind me, I could feel his gaze lingering, but eventually his tone shifted–calmer, colder. “Grandpa’s birthday is next week. Get something respectable and come with me.”
A command. No different from how he spoke to his staff.
***
Then the day of the birthday arrived. Magnus actually came home early to pick me up. What I didn’t expect–was that Seraphina was already in the car.
She was in the front seat. When she saw me, she offered a polite smile and greeted m
