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All that cool, collected composure shattered. I saw Evelyn's expression shift – a flicker of guilt, then defensive anger.
"I didn't know you were back from your business trip! Was I supposed to blow off a meeting with Chairman Gomez ? Sending Owen to grab something was the only option! Why do you always make everything a catastrophe?"
Her voice turned accusing. "Liam, since when did you become so petty and jealous, picking fights over every little thing?"
"Liam, no woman wants a man like this!"
I really thought I was numb.
From signing that paper at the station to riding silent in the car, I'd held onto some last shred of pride.
I'd even mentally reviewed our entire history.
My conclusion, is I wanted a clean, dignified end. But the tears came anyway—spilling over uncontrollably at her words, messy and unstoppable, like scattered brads I couldn't pick up.
"Yeah," I choked out, voice thick. "No one would want this. Well, I don't need your liking either."
I wiped my tears and turned to leave, but Owen grabbed my hand again.
He started crying—harder than I was, a flood of “I’m sorry” and “It’s all my fault.”
"Liam," he sobbed, full drama mode, "I swear it was an accident! Please, don't be mad at Evelyn! I'll quit tomorrow! I'll disappear! Evelyn loves you so much, don't make her sad, please?"
I hated his performance. Seeing him cry actually dried my own tears. I shoved him away violently.
"Get away from me!"
Owen stumbled and fell to the pavement, looking up at me with fake shock.
"Liam!" Evelyn rushed to help him up. Seeing the scrapes on his palms, she turned on me. "Have you completely lost it?! Apologize to him, right now!"
"In your dreams," I spat, catching the glint of victory in Owen's teary eyes. "If you won't agree to the divorce, we'll settle it in court."
I didn't look back, ignoring the sounds of Owen's renewed sobbing and Evelyn switching between comforting him and calling me insane.
I hailed a cab and went straight to my childhood friend, Alex's place.
Alex didn't say a word. He let me in, pulled dozens of beers from his fridge, stacked it on the table, and just said, "Enough?"
Looking at him, my eyes welled up again.
Alex stayed silent, just opened his arms.
"Need a hug?" he offered quietly.
I completely broke down, collapsed against him,cried till my voice was gone, my whole body shaking.
I cried until I was sick, throwing up violently in his bathroom.
Finally, gasping, I told Alex, "I want a divorce! I want it! I want Evelyn to rot in hell!"
What is the end of love?
It's two people who were once stood together against the world, now pointing knives at each other’s throats. It's the realization that the roses you planted on your marital grave were always gonna wither.
