Chapter 3
I stared numbly through the door crack at this now–stranger of a man.
[Alright.]
Ethan made me a checklist–Things to do within three months.
Getting visas and finding a lawyer were obvious necessities.
But he’d also included a dense list of must–visit restaurants.
[Brooklyn–Style Pizza here isn’t good.]
[Trust me.]
I happily accepted.
Following his list, I ate at one restaurant after another.
Life alone wasn’t so terrible after all.
Every day I ate, shopped, and packed my luggage.
The day I moved out of our marital home, Ryan suddenly texted me.
[Not even calling me? Don’t you miss me?]
He’d taken Lily on vacation.
Said he wanted to show the girl the world.
[You’re such a bad girl!]
Then a photo.
[This place is nice. For our anniversary, should I bring you here too?]
I wanted to block him like I’d blocked Lily.
Chapter 3
But considering we still needed to get the divorce certificate, I held back.
For the next two weeks, I dealt with my smaller jewelry pieces and handbags.
Went to the hospital for a checkup to confirm I wasn’t pregnant.
Finally, I organized all the assets Ryan had entrusted to me over the years.
The night before returning to the Court, Ryan came back from his trip.
He called me.
“Sophie? You moved out?”
Used to my silence on the phone, he laughed to himself.
“Sophie, you’re too cute.”
“I told you it was just an act.”
“Well,” he sounded cheerful, “let’s go all the way with this act. Come with me to the Court tomorrow
and get the divorce certificate?”
I gripped my phone.
“Sophie, don’t worry, it’s just-”
“Fine,” I said.
“Whoa”
A chorus of hooting erupted in the background.
I hung up.
Sent him the time by text.
The next day, I woke up early.
Ryan arrived fashionably late.
20:00
When Love Shattered My Prince Appeared
18.39
bapers
He had a faint but visible bite mark on his lip–It must have been Lily’s deliberate touch
He pretended not to notice.
Same here.
The procedure was even smoother than last time–just five minutes.
“Sophie, I’ve got a surprise for you tomorrow.”
Ryan gently kicked my leg,
I put away the divorce certificate.
“Ryan, are you free tonight?”
Then looked at him. “There are some things I want to discuss.”
Ryan froze momentarily,
Since our marriage, I’d always called him “honey.”
The next instant, he curved those almond–shaped eyes into a smile, flicking the booklet in his hand.
“Sure,”
No matter what Ryan had become this past year, I didn’t want to deny the Ryan of the past
I was grateful for his many years of companionship and for the care he has given me.
So I never planned to leave without saying goodbye.
But what I never expect was it rained that night with thunder and lightning.
I extremely feared nights like this.
That car accident happened during just such a storm.
I endured the tremors in my body, waiting for Ryan.
2001
When Love Shattered. My Prince Anneared
5
Chapter 3
I was even worried that when Ryan arrived, years of habit might shatter the psychological barrier I’d built over the past month, and I’d collapse into his arms crying.
But… he never came.
He called instead.
When I answered, the background was noisy.
“What redemption? Bullshit!”
“I was so sick of her for those years! If my mom hadn’t forced me, I wouldn’t have bothered with
her!”
“Marriage? Guess why we married so early?”
“Because she wouldn’t let me touch her!”
“I’m just curious–she gets speech problems when she’s emotional, right? So what about in bed? Can
she make any sounds then? Hahaha~.”
BOOM-
Something seemed to shatter again on this stormy night, torn to pieces.
I wanted to hide so that no one could see me in such a humiliating state.
But…where could I hide?
Everywhere was rain, everywhere was thunder.
Everywhere was mockery.
That’s when Ethan called.
“Sophie?”
His voice was always so calm.
Making all that noise instantly fade away.
“Are you crying?”
20:01
When Love Shattered, My Prince Appeared
21.7༥
Chapter 3
I wanted to say no.
But I couldn’t make a sound, only tears burst out.
“Wait there,” he said, still calm. “I’m coming to get you now.”
2001
