Of Pillows and Pampering

At Stonehaven City Courthouse.

“Hurry up and sign, what are you spacing out for?”

The deep, hoarse voice, laced with anger, snapped Catherine out of her daze. Looking at the divorce papers in front of her, she couldn't help but feel bitter about her situation.

“Don’t pretend. Didn’t we already discuss this at home? Are you trying to back out now?”

The man, growing impatient, urged her. As he spoke, he gave her a shove, causing her frail, sickly body to wobble, nearly falling over.

Catherine bit her lip, determined not to let herself cry, and finally picked up the pen to sign her part. It's over.

Her three-year marriage had ended.

She touched her stomach, where it remained silent, much like her emotions in that moment.

Once the divorce procedure was completed, the man turned to her again and said, “In consideration of the three years we lived together, and the fact that you can’t have children, I’ll give you a villa in District X to live out your days. But remember, from now on, don’t ever show your face around me or Juliet, or I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life in poverty.”

“Haha, Gabriel Sterling, so you're not even bothering to hide it anymore, are you? Who was it that said there was nothing between you and Juliet? And now, as soon as we’re divorced, you’re warning me not to go near her?”

Catherine laughed bitterly. The man standing in front of her was her ex-husband, and the woman he mentioned was the adopted younger sister she had rescued from human traffickers three years ago.

The old saying was true: rescue an animal and it will repay you, rescue a human and they will betray you. Even a dog knows loyalty, but saving an ungrateful person like Juliet had cost her even her husband.

Gabriel’s patience wore thinner, his voice growing harsher. “Don’t embarrass me here. If you can’t have children, someone else will. Giving you a villa is already more than enough.”

Catherine wiped her tears, her expression resolute as she replied, “I don’t need your charity.”

Gabriel sneered, “Still pretending to be noble at a time like this? Are you planning to refuse the house so you can cause trouble for me later? Cartherine, don’t think I won’t do something to you!”

Catherine felt a sharp pain in her heart at his cruel words, but she remained outwardly strong, replying firmly, “Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll disappear from your life forever.”

Gabriel looked at her disheveled appearance with disgust before leaving her with two words, “Suit yourself,” and turning away, walking out of the city court.

Catherine remained standing at the courthouse gate, unmoving. Her entire body felt cold, her heart even colder, and her lips turned pale from the biting wind. In the end, her tears flowed uncontrollably, like a river breaking its banks.

In her hand was the divorce paper, and with it, all the feelings of the past years were severed.

She wandered down an empty street, the fatigue spreading through her entire being. How had it all come to this?