na's

ink was a glossy, cold black under the lampli

generated from my personal design and investment work during the marriage would re

wealth that the world assumed I depended on

the pen hovered over the paper, and a drop of ink bl

oor just moments ago. "I want Auntie to be

nasty custody battle for a d

, a profound exhaustion

en the bottom drawer of the desk, a

in dark blue vel

at me. The handle of the primary blade was engraved with a line

me like his own daughter. I had been his star pupil, the mo

completion from Meridian International Hospital. All I had to do was send it in, and I

he had said once, "I don't need a wife who holds a

arment. Now I saw it for what it was

f a scalpel. The feeling woke something dormant

The custody clause was still blank. I

easily swayed. I couldn't abandon her comp

ast chance. And I woul

nd created a new event. I titled it: "Heartbreak

tomorrow, every time Xavier or Mia

d-whichever came first-I would sign the divorce papers without a second thoug

for her to see who truly loved her. And it w

alpels, and the certificate back into the drawer

e, the sky outside wa

ent to the guest room next to the study. This w

wide awake, racing, planning my life afte

ot Xavier's. It was the bright, shadowless light of an op

ir. I am not just

geon who could save