ng smile faltering. "A divorce

ted. He looked almost...

going to talk to you a

aning forward c

are these online trolls, really vicious stuff. They're saying

ot forming in her stoma

. what if we had a temporary separation

ed. The trolls would back off. Then, once her brand is stable, we can, you

ife, the one that ended in horro

e. He was offering her an out, gi

Mark,"

prised. "Okay?

. Fair division of assets. My stake in the house, and i

you being like this? So... petty? I thoug

. If we're divorcing, even 'for s

him. This wasn't

Chloe out of her

nt. My lawyer can draw something up

sorry it has to be like this, Ava. But it's fo

lies. That this was a nobl

e once loved, now a strange

final test. "Do you have any idea

flicker of genuine concern,

othing. Onl

felt for him had died. It died with Leo in

ce. Leo doesn't even need to know the details. We'll still be a family.

g. He truly didn't see the emot

" and "reunion" was like a mant

hey were in his

rprisingly fair, likely because Mark wanted

the pen. Her h

r name. A def

most triumphant sigh. "G

't hide h

out. "He has that robotics camp trial class

arently, just moved to town and is really into robotics. Chloe asked if her niece c

u gave Leo's spot awa

He can go another time. Chloe's

t. He was already prioritizing Chloe

mplete emotio

ranger. His actions were not ju

" anymore. There w

would pr

thouse was a blur of

judge, mumbled the

ifferent from their wedding day, whi

ncing on the balls of hi

declared them divorce

wide smile spreadi

hloe needs me to help her pick out launch par

t even l

lone, the divorce

ched her lips. Perfect

rly days. The passion,

t all gone

creasing absorption in hi

ld college acquaintance, her father

ebted. Chloe

. The late nights, th

een blind

ack. This second chance was a g

ed to a

ment ring Mark had given her. I

elt like

his?" she asked

e. She took it

ring he used to promise forever wa

rding to the agreement, until it was sold

clothes, bu

Mark's toxic influence, away fr

art. Somew

nto her room, his l

, his favorite roboti

for the summer program... it's gone. Daddy g

th tears. "But I w

ust the beginning of Mark's betr