chapter 5

Caleb stood frozen for a long time.

He picked up the divorce papers, flipping through them in disbelief as he muttered, “This can’t be real. No way… no way.”

But the truth was right there in front of him. How could Caleb not see it? This time, I was really gone.

He sank to the floor, eyes bloodshot, veins bulging as he muttered to himself, “It doesn’t count. None of this counts. As long as I don’t want the divorce, you’ll still be mine.”

Then he tore the divorce papers into shreds, as if destroying them meant there was still something left between us.

Caleb grabbed his phone and tried calling me, but I had already blocked every way he could reach me.

He couldn’t get through. Panic set in like wildfire. Frantic, Caleb called Lucas and told him to find out where I’d gone.

He just didn’t understand how things between us had gotten to this point.

Drained and furious, Caleb collapsed again and slammed his fists into the floor.

Lila walked in and froze at the sight. She rushed over, throwing her arms around Caleb.

“Caleb, what are you doing? Stop! Please don’t hurt yourself!”

But Caleb shoved her away and dropped to his knees, clutching the torn pieces of paper. His voice shook as he whispered, “She’s gone. She doesn’t want me anymore…”

Blood was already dripping from his hand where he had punched the floor. Lila’s heart ached at the sight.

“You still have me. I’m here. It’s okay. Please don’t do this to yourself.”

Caleb shook his head and said, “She left. She really left. Why? Why would she leave me all alone? Emilia… Emilia…”

He couldn’t accept that I was gone. He was completely lost in his own world.

Lila watched Caleb spiral and felt jealousy rise in her chest like a fire she couldn’t put out.

Trying to stir things up, she said, “Even if she was upset, divorce is too much. Emilia Hart’s being selfish. How could she just leave you like that? If you ask me, she doesn’t love you anymore. She probably ran off with someone else!”

The second Caleb heard that, his expression twisted in shock and panic.

“No. That’s not true. You’re lying! Shut up. Just shut up!”

Lila had never seen him yell at her like that. She froze, stunned for a moment, then bit her lip and said softly, “Don’t be like this, Caleb. You still have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

She reached out and gently took his hand, her eyes full of affection as she looked at him.

But this time was different. Caleb didn’t pull Lila into his arms like he usually did.

Instead, he shoved her away again and snapped, “Get out!”

Lila froze, her eyes turning red as tears spilled down her cheeks. She stayed quiet, sobbing softly.

Seeing her like that only made Caleb more agitated. He rubbed his forehead and said, “I need to be alone. Just go.”

Lila felt bitter and unwilling. But Caleb wasn’t thinking straight, and she knew that if she insisted on staying now, it would only push him further away.

After all, I was already gone. She would find a way to make Caleb accept her eventually. There was no need to rush.

So she left without another word.

Caleb sat on the floor, anxiously asking Lucas if there was any news about me.

But I had made sure he wouldn’t be able to find me. I bought seven plane tickets, all to different cities.

It would take him days just to figure out which one I actually boarded.

And by then, I would have already changed my identity.

Caleb would never be able to find me again. And I could finally start a new life.