Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO FINALLY ASKED FOR A DIVORCE
Grace returned to her suite at eight that evening.
She was exhausted.
Her feet ached.
The baby had been kicking for nearly an hour.
She removed her shoes and sat beside the window.
The Atlantic stretched into darkness.
For a moment, she allowed herself to cry.
Not because she regretted the acquisition.
Not because she wanted Ethan back.
But because the marriage she had believed in was finally over.
Seven years.
Seven birthdays.
Seven Christmases.
The miscarriage two years earlier.
The fertility treatments.
The night Ethan cried when they learned she was pregnant again.
She had loved him.
Completely.
And somewhere along the way, he had begun treating that love as permission to do whatever he wanted.
A knock sounded.
Grace wiped her face.
“Come in.”
Declan entered carrying a paper bag.
She stared.
“What's that?”
“Dinner.”
“I ordered room service.”
“You ordered tea.”
Grace blinked.
“How do you know?”
“The staff mentioned it when I asked whether you'd eaten.”
She smiled faintly.
“You're very controlling.”
Declan stopped.
Then looked genuinely concerned.
“I'm sorry. I should have asked.”
Grace stared.
Ethan would have laughed.
Told her she was overreacting.
Explained that he knew what was best.
Declan simply apologized.
She felt tears rise again.
“It's okay.”
He placed the bag on the table.
“I can leave.”
Grace shook her head.
“Stay.”
They ate quietly.
Grilled fish.
Vegetables.
Warm bread.
Grace told him about the baby's nursery.
The little blue blanket she had bought.
The name she was considering.
Oliver.
Declan smiled.
“Oliver Whitmore?”
Grace looked surprised.
“I haven't decided about the last name.”
He nodded.
“Whatever you choose, it should be yours.”
Her throat tightened.
After dinner, Grace opened her laptop.
Then wrote a message to her attorney.
Please proceed with the divorce filing.
She stared at the words.
Then pressed send.
Declan said nothing.
May you like
He simply sat beside her.
And somehow, that silence felt kinder than every promise Ethan had ever made.
