Chapter 3
Yasmine could tell Sebastian was pissed–probably because she’d filed for divorce first. She stayed quiet the whole car ride.
The Zimmerman residence was dead silent. Sebastian headed straight to his study. Yasmine dragged herself to the master bedroom. She curled up on the bed, nails digging into the sheets, sweat beading on her forehead.
No physical pain compared to the hole in her chest.
Why today?‘ she screamed silently. ‘Just one more day–the contract ends tomorrow and the bet’s over. But no. It blew up today. The news went viral. Everyone knows it. I have no choice!‘
Her phone rang. She saw the caller ID, sighed, and answered.
“Yasmine, you lost. Time to come home,” the voice said.
She hadn’t heard the man’s voice in three years. It shattered her.
Tears came. All the pain–lying alone in the OR, seeing Sebastian’s news with Ashley, years of disrespect at the Zimmerman residence–burst out.
“Hayden…” Her voice cracked.
The line went quiet for a moment before a sigh came through. “Come home. All of us miss you. Sometimes people have to learn the hard way, you know. We don’t blame you.”
She cried harder. Just then the door flew open. Sebastian stormed in, tossing shopping bags on the bed.
One bag landed right on Yasmine’s stomach. Pain shot through her body, making her grit her teeth as anger surged. She quickly wiped her tears and hung up the phone.
“What’s your problem, Sebastian?” She grabbed the bag. A purse fell out. In the dim moonlight, she recognized the bag she’d once mentioned liking.
She froze.
With a sound of click, Sebastian lit a cigarette, his face shadowed. “Yasmine, don’t push it.”
“You think it’s my fault?” she laughed bitterly, clutching her stomach, sitting up. She met his shadowed gaze. “You’re the one in the news, not me.
“Divorce is the best option. Unless you want your rep ruined? Or your girl labeled a homewrecker? I’m saving you.”
He crushed the cigarette. Darkness swallowed the room again. “Saving me? Save it. Just mind your own business and do your job.” He walked out, not looking back.
Yasmine forced a smile, mocking herself.
With Sebastian, she played two roles. In public, she was his secretary, pouring drinks and shielding him from rumors. In private, she was his family’s maid, doing whatever they demanded.
She sat in the dark awhile. Then she flipped on the lights. The bed was a mess, with designer bags everywhere, along with the divorce papers.
She stared at the plain document. It was full of legal jargon. The reason for the divorce was straight–up: [Irretrievable breakdown.]
She read it six times. Then she grabbed a pen and wrote: [Husband’s impotence destroyed the marriage.) She signed it without hesitation and left the house.
It was midnight, and Yasmine stood shivering outside the gated community. Her call cut through the quiet. “Hayden, come get
- me.
1/1
10:25 AM D
1/1
