Chapter 4
“Can’t you be reasonable for once? You’re threatening divorce just because I took Sophia to the hospital?”
“Sophia’s hands are precious–they can’t have even the slightest imperfection!”
I held up my right hand, looking at the small scars crisscrossing my skin.
He said Sophia’s hands were precious.
But why would an unemployed drifter need perfect hands?
For the past three years, whenever Sophia said the word, James would drop everything—including me–to cook for her.
Meanwhile I, a surgical resident, was constantly begged by him to do his laundry and cook his meals?
I looked down and typed again:
“James, let’s get this divorce done quickly. Noah’s already planning our wedding.”
As soon as I sent the message, it showed “delivery failed.”
I didn’t care. Rejected messages were the least of my concerns–I’d just mail him the divorce papers.
As I was nearing home, Sophia texted me. One glance at the message made me frown.
[Sorry Emma! We left some stuff in your car. I’ll cover the cleaning fee.]
She attached several photos.
The most prominent things were used condoms, along with suspicious stains all over the seats.
In the past, I would have been heartbroken, made a scene, demanded explanations from James.
But now I just felt disgusted.
James had actually done… that… in my car.
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Chapter 4
Fighting back my anger, I immediately listed the car on Autotrader.
When I got home, Noah was already there. He’d just gotten off a flight and looked a bit tired, but the moment he saw me, his eyes lit up with that same puppy–dog enthusiasm as always.
Any gloom James had caused instantly evaporated.
Noah stayed at my place for two days. My mom was increasingly impressed with him and decided we should all take a five–day trip before the wedding.
James and Sophia were included in this trip because my mom was still trying to play matchmaker
for them.
The moment James saw Noah, he raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
He assumed I’d brought Noah along just to make him jealous.
So he pulled me aside and said casually, “Emma, aren’t you a bit old for these childish games? You
think bringing some random guy on vacation will make me jealous? You should really learn from
Sophia–she’s so much more mature than you.”
I ignored him completely.
James seemed completely satisfied with the vacation arrangements, sticking by Sophia’s side the
entire time and leaving me far behind.
Even at night, he shared a room with Sophia.
When distributing the key cards, he handed separate ones to Noah and me.
“Emma, the hotel’s completely booked up. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to share a room since I’m
your uncle,” he explained smoothly. “And Noah’s our guest, so he shouldn’t have to room with me
either.”
“Sophia, on the other hand, is my old friend, so sharing with her makes perfect sense.”
I didn’t argue, but I did record everything he said and sent it to my divorce attorney.
The next morning, I also took photos of the marks all over Sophia’s neck and shoulders, sending those to my lawyer as evidence of James’s infidelity during our marriage.
Two days later, we rented a car with driver to head to our next destination. Noah took the passenger
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Chapter 4
seat while the three of us sat in back. We never expected what happened next.
A truck suddenly swerved into our lane on a winding coastal road. Our driver jerked the wheel to avoid it, sending our SUV spinning toward the guardrail.
Second Choice No More I Upgraded to a Loval Pun