Chapter 1 Divorce
1:00 AM.
Lailah Griffith scrolled through her feed and saw Tamara Mosley’s latest
post.
“Huge thanks to Mr. Walter and Krish for the beautiful gifts! Krish even made this mug himself!”
Lailah tapped the photo–a necklace and a handmade mug.
The faint inscription caught her eye: Happy Birthday, Mom.
Then her gaze shifted to the dining table–cold, untouched dishes and a cake with unlit candles. A wry smile tugged at her lips.
A news update from earlier flashed through her mind, “Breaking: The aloof Zayden Walter from Stomdale is confirmed to be secretly married. And his son is already five years old.‘
The photo showed Zayden and Tamara walking hand in hand with Krish Walter at an amusement park.
Tamara smiled as she stroked Krish’s head. Zayden watched her, his gaze unusually soft and intent.
They looked like a perfect family–a tall, handsome father, an elegant mother, and a cute little boy.
Today was Lailah’s birthday.
It was also her fifth wedding anniversary with Zayden.
Yet somehow, the day had been about Tamara.
Krish and Zayden had spent it with her. Even the gifts meant for Lailah had ended up in Tamara’s hands.
Lailah wasn’t surprised. She had learned not to be.
Tamara was Zayden’s first love, terminally ill with just months left.
Her last wish was to see him again.
And Zayden told Lailah he wanted to help fulfill Tamara’s bucket list. He hoped she would understand.
Lailah didn’t want to, but she had no choice.
She had never seen him look so grim when he said it.
It left her feeling hollow and hurt.
She sat in the darkness for what felt like forever until the door opened.
Zayden walked in with Krish.
He froze when he saw Lailah in the dining room.
For a moment, he just stared, like he had forgotten what day it was.
“Why are you still up?”
“I need to talk to you,” she said flatly.
Zayden frowned, then glanced at Krish.
“Go on upstairs. Get some sleep.”
Krish yawned, rubbing his eyes as he shuffled past Lailah.
Then he stopped to say, “Happy birthday, Mom.”
He looked up to meet her eyes. His eyes were beautiful and so much like Zayden’s.
“Dad and I didn’t mean to forget. But… we have all the time in the world. to be together. Tamara only has six months left.
“Mom, you’re not really upset over something this small, are you?”
Lailah didn’t know which hurt more.
Was it being forgotten, or knowing she had always come second?
Krish headed upstairs, and silence settled between them.
Finally, Zayden spoke. “What is it?”
He stood there in a white shirt and black trousers, sharp–featured.
To Lailah, he felt like a mirage, close enough to see but always out of
reach.
Lailah took a deep breath. “Zayden, let’s get a divorce.”
His gaze flickered as something stirred in him.
Then, just as quickly, his composure returned.
“Lailah, I didn’t forget your birthday. I had a gift for you.”
“A gift?” She let out a quiet laugh. “You mean my mother’s necklace? You gave it to Tamara, right?”
It was the last thing her mother left her before she died.
Later, it was lost the day Lailah gave birth to Krish.
Zayden promised to find it. And he did,
But instead of giving it back, he gave it to Tamara.
Lailah confronted him, but he stayed unfazed. His expression showed no guilt or discomfort. Only his eyes darkened as he searched for a reply.
“She just borrowed it. She’ll give it back soon.”
“Soon? You mean when she dies?” Lailah shot back.
“Lailah!” he interrupted, his voice sharp. A rare edge of anger broke through his usual calm and cold demeanor.
“Enough.”
The word hit her like a blow, forcing her to decide..
She had been through enough–her husband’s heart was with Tamara, her son had grown distant, and her in–laws looked down on her.
“Mara has only six months left,” Zayden continued. “Even Krish gets that. Why are you still so petty?”
Lailah couldn’t take it anymore.
“Why are you telling me this? She means nothing to me. Why would I put up with her?” she said coldly.
Zayden was thrown by her words. Lailah had always been meek, and saying something this blunt was unlike her.
His gaze turned icy. “Lailah, I thought we had an understanding.”
She chuckled. “She wants to relive the past, and I’m just supposed to sit back and watch you fall for her again?
“She wanted a wedding, so you gave her the one I spent so much time. putting together.
“I even watched you and her hold Krish’s hand and walk to the altar.
“She wanted to see the world, so you took her everywhere.
“If she asked for the moon, you’d probably find a way to get it for her, right?”
Zayden and Lailah had been married in secret for five years, without a wedding.
Once, Krish had asked what she looked like in a wedding dress. That was when Zayden decided to hold a wedding. He let her plan everything exactly how she wanted.
Six months of work was gone in an instant because Tamara asked for it.
Zayden’s eyes went ice–cold. “Careful, Lailah. You’re crossing a line.”
Lailah felt the warning sink in.
Her heart dropped, and she shut her eyes in disappointment.
For years, she had done everything to be the perfect wife and mother.
No matter how hard she tried, Zayden never really cared.
She thought that was just who he was.
Then Tamara came back, and suddenly, the man everyone believed was incapable of passion burned for her.
The memory was too painful for Lailah to dwell on. She reached for the divorce papers on the table.
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Chapter 1 Dienice.
“I’ve already signed. You should too. Let’s get this over with. You still have time to marry her. That would make her even happier.”
His lips pressed into a hard line, frustration clear on his face.
“What about Krish?” Zayden asked.
“He’s yours,” Lailah said quietly.
Just as Zayden was about to respond, his phone rang.
He picked up, and an urgent voice came through. “Zayden, Mara collapsed! They rushed her to the emergency room!”
