212: MCIW 024: DIVORCE PAPERS

MCIW 024: DIVORCE PAPERS

"Don't think that I'm kind to you, Alexandria." Lucas spoke after a moment of silence, shattering the stillness surrounding the room. "I'm not capable of that." He added as if he was able to read past my thoughts. 2

I bowed my head. My illusion shattered on the floor into multiple pieces. 

The feeling of shame spread through me like a deadly virus. My sins would always be a part of me, even if I lost my memories the people surrounding me would never forget my evil schemes, I thought with the heaviness on my chest piling up. 

Lucas was calm and reserved but I knew deep within him, he still hates me. It could be seen by the flicker in his eyes each time he looked at me without knowing I was observing him too. I wonder what I could do to completely melt the impenetrable wall of ice standing between us. 

"It will take years or perhaps a decade before I can forgive you for what you did. Running away with Brix— my illegitimate brother was a mistake which I could easily accept because we are heading to separation anyway, but to think you drag Niall along to spite me made it tenfold impossible to forgive you now."

His words struck me painfully. His tone was calm but it was layered with glaciers. 

Lucas left the bed. My gaze followed his movement. He pulled a drawer open and pulled a file from inside. 

I swallowed hard and did my best not to burst into tears again. I don't need to look at the paper in his hand to know it was divorce papers.

"Sign it, Alexandria. Let us stop making ourselves miserable," Lucas said, stopping right in front of me, urging me to take the divorce papers in my hand. "Let's free ourselves from this loveless marriage." He added, his face remained unreadable, reminding me of a blank and empty canvas. 

My fingers trembled as I took the paper. I bit my lower lip to stop the tears as my eyes surveyed the words written. 

This paper will finally put an end to everything. This will sever the ties that bound us. 

Even if it's painful...Even if it's destroying me within….Even if it reaps my heart to a million pieces, I will do it if It's going to make him happy. 

I should not deny the happiness that Lucas deserves. It's time for him to finally be happy with someone who deserves him. 

I swallowed hard and summoned all the courage I could muster to get things done without allowing him to see how shattered I am from within.

"The pen please." I said and tore my gaze away from the paper then raised my chin up until my gaze met his own. I was so calm that I inwardly applauded myself by how convincing I act in front of him. 

He handed me the pen I asked for. Without blinking an eye I signed the papers. 

"Thank you." I told him and handed it back to him. 

Lucas made no move to take it. He just stared at me, completely taken aback by how willingly I signed the divorce paper without showing any violent reaction. 

I vacated the bed with the grace of a queen and lowered the paper on top of the night table. "I like to return to my room now." I whispered, grabbing my crutches which were leaning on the wall. 

"I will carry you back to your room." He offered. His hand grabbed my arms in an attempt to stop me. "Thank you Lucas but I can manage." I replied and pulled my arms away from his grasp. 

His hand fell to his side. I took the opportunity to leave before he changed his mind. 

I found myself making my way to the balcony the moment I entered my room. After slumping on the sofa, I set my crutches aside and stared at the exquisite view of the garden spread rights in front of me. 

The cold wind softly caressing my cheeks

helped me calm down a bit. Slowly, the turmoil inside me starts to subside. When I'm finally feeling better a sigh broke from my lips. 

In the midst of my wandering thoughts, the red leather notebook seated on top of the glass table caught my attention. 

A frown scrunched my forehead as I reached for it. It was the diary Miss Hamilton returned earlier. I remember her tossing it on top of the table inside the library before she marched out of the door. 

Perhaps a servant brought it here, I assumed, suddenly intrigued with what it contained. 

I lifted the thick bound and discovered it was surprisingly heavy against my hand. My fingers moved and traced my name which was delicately written on the cover in shimmering gold. Curious with what was written in the two inch thick paper, I flipped the cover only to stop in my tracks after realizing it was stuck. 

The frown on my forehead deepened as my gaze further surveyed the diary and discovered that it was protected with a lock which requires a four number pin. 

For unknown reasons, this book must be so important to me because I wouldn't take extra measures such as securing it with a password if it was just an ordinary journal. 

Could it be that my birthday was the password? But it was too common, I told myself and searched for another one but nothing came to mind. 

My gaze suddenly landed on the huge portrait of me hanging on the wall. At the bottom of it, beside the artist's name, there's a four digit number—the date when the masterpiece was created. 

Taking any chances, I punched the number without expecting anything and the lock clicked open. A gasp of surprise escaped my lips. 

I took a deep intake of breath as I braced myself for whatever I will discover. 

MY HEAD IS A VERY DARK PLACE, it was the cryptic words written in the first page. Suddenly an ominous chill ran down my spine as my gaze surveyed the words that looked as if they were written with blood. 

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