Chapter 13
It hit Sean all at once, how wrong he’d been–so wrong it almost felt like a joke. He should have told Bella the truth the moment she confessed she’d come back to life, when she promised she wanted to make things right between them. He should’ve told her he’d been given another chance, too.
There were a million ways Bella could’ve tried to make it up to him. So why did he pick the one that hurt the most? Why did he have to mess with her by chasing after another woman, just to get a reaction?!
But regret always comes too late. Bella was gone now. There wasn’t even a trace of her left–no ashes, nothing.
“Ah!”
Sean couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears broke through, wracking his body with sobs. Then, out of nowhere, a bitter, metallic taste flooded his mouth. He coughed hard, and blood splattered across his hand.”
His world faded to black.}
He drifted into a dream that seemed to go on forever. In it, Bella ran toward him, her eyes shining with love, and crashed into his arms. She gave him a sweet kiss and whispered, “Sean, I like you.“}
He leaned in to kiss her back, desperate to hold her close, but in a blink the dream shattered. Bella turned to dust in his arms, scattering no matter how hard he tried to pull her back.}
No! Don’t go, Bella!“}
Sean jolted awake, heart racing, and sat up fast. He was in a big bed, an IV taped to his arm. The only people in the room were Calista, his assistant, and a man he didn’t recognize, standing at his bedside.}
“Mr. Rangel, my condolences. I’m Ms. Bella Lopez’s divorce attorney.”}
Sean’s head snapped up at the word “divorce.” “What did you say?“}
Calista’s eyes lit up as soon as she heard it–she looked almost excited. She started to say something, but the assistant, sensing things were about to get ugly, quickly ushered her out.}
The lawyer pulled out a folder and set it down on the nightstand. “Ms. Lopez asked me to handle your divorce a month ago. She didn’t want anything from you–not a cent. She told me, no matter what happened, you had to get this certificate in the end.”}
“And she left you a message, Mr. Rangel. She said, ‘Let the past go. From now on, we’ll live our own lives. We’ll never meet again.“>
He placed the divorce certificate on the nightstand.}
Sean just stared at it, numb. The deep maroon cover shimmered coldly in the light. After a long pause, he reached out, hand shaking so badly his fingers barely brushed the folder before he snatched them back.
Their marriage certificate had been a bright, joyful red, embossed in gold. This one was dark, like dried blood, the edges rough with the official seal.
He only noticed his hands were trembling when the water glass on the table started to shake.
He opened the folder. The words “Divorce Certificate” leapt out at him, burning into his mind.§
“No… this isn’t real…”
How could this happen? Why would Bella divorce him, just like that? Hadn’t she said she’d been given a second chance? That she regretted everything? That she wanted to love him, to treat him right this time around?!
Why did she leave him?
For a second, Sean wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Had Bella really come back? Had she ever said those things? Did she ever love him at all?%
He swallowed hard, his throat tight and raw, like he’d forced down a chunk of ice with sharp edges that cut him up from the inside.
When did she give him the divorce papers??
Suddenly, the memory snapped into place. His assistant had handed him a stack of documents one day–he hadn’t paid them much attention, too busy with Calista. There had been divorce papers in there.
Later, when Bella saw him sign them, she’d looked… relieved. He’d thought it was strange at the time.!!
He never thought much about it–until now, when everything came crashing down.!!
So she’d decided to leave him even back then?$
