Chapter 4 Divorced
Carolina Pov
I drove to the court with my divorce papers clutched in my hands. This should be my third time coming here this week.
Three years. Three years as Carolina, wife to Ace Blackwood, the Alpha of the most powerful pack in the world.
It ends today.
“I'm here to file for a divorce,” I told the lawyer who had his head buried in paperwork.
He checked the papers, and when his eyes settled on the age, he finally looked up at me.
“Young lady, divorce is not something you can easily just do. Where is your husband?”
I knew he must be surprised because a girl of my age shouldn't be married but going about planning her life and future.
Instead, I was planning the future with my husband.
“Just stamp it, I will get my husband to sign his signature.” My voice was calm, concealing all the anger inside of me.
When I got home, I grabbed the divorce papers and a pen, signing my name and relieving myself from the torture I called marriage.
Then I stepped out of my room, heading towards the lower floor where Ella's room was situated.
I knocked on the door, once, twice. Then it opened, and I expected to see Ella, but I guess Ace was trying to avoid another drama unfolding tonight.
“I have an order I want to pick, I need your signature since you're the only family I have.” I lied smoothly because I could.
This wasn't the first time he was signing off on a document without going through it. I handled all of his paperwork, and he trusted and still trusts me with it.
Without asking any questions, he signed every spot that needed his signature, and that was it.
I quickly take the document away before he sees the petition for DIVORCE boldly written at the top.
Without saying anything else, I hurried out of the room before he noticed my shaking hands.
The door shut behind me.
My freedom, at last.
—---------
Just three days until the divorce is finalized.
A knock came on my door.
I opened the door and saw one of Ace's guards standing at the door.
“The Alpha wants to see you.”
I came out of my room and met my husband leaning against his SUV.
Ace stood a few steps away, tall and imposing as always. His broad shoulders filled the space around him, his dark hair falling slightly over his forehead the way it always had. His sharp silver eyes, the same ones that once softened whenever they looked at me, now seemed distant and unreadable.
I had spent three years memorizing every detail of the man who no longer looked at me the same way. Even standing still, there was something dangerous about him, something untouchable.
I quickly looked away, denying any trace of feelings I still had for this man. Three years of being married, yet my body reacted like we're newlyweds. After all that he did to me, my body shouldn't react to him this way. This is the most forbidden craving I wouldn't accept.
“Lina,” he called, removing his sunglasses. I felt butterflies in my stomach when my eyes met his tempting silver eyes.
“Date this evening, Sunrise hotel.”
My throat tightened. The last time Ace and I went out, he left me alone in the cold to go take care of Ella.
“Fine.”
Ace's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Even my robotic reply surprised me. Why so eager to eat with this man alone?
Maybe because this will be our last.
And it's better to follow up with everything he said without being suspicious because Ace will suspect any slight change and weakness. I can't afford any mistakes at this critical moment now that the child is involved.
Just three days to endure. I reminded myself.
Later that evening, I went to the Sunrise Hotel, and I was directed to the VIP. Ace was already seated, waiting for me. Good sign.
I sat across from my husband. Drinks on the table, and I was beginning to think how I'll reject the drinks without being suspicious of the pregnancy.
This is where we had our first date, and memories of that night still remain fresh in my head.
How Ace was all over me, being romantic and sweet.
Ace took my hands in his, not barely brushing them, but he was actually holding me for the first time since Ella's arrived.
“There's something I want to explain about what happened earlier at the hospital—”
The glass door opened. His beta, Mason, came rushing in. He went to his side and whispered something into his ear. The room was quiet, so I heard him talking about Ella being injured, and instantly, my husband's mood changed.
“What?” Ace shot to his feet. His legs hit the table, and the drinks on it fell to the floor.
Glasses scattered all over the floor.
He didn't care to look back; he was already at the door.
“Wait…” I tried to reach him, but stepped on broken glass. The sharp glass sliced into my foot.
Pain shot up my leg, and my balance slipped on the spilled drink.
I crashed on the floor.
“Ah—!” A cry escaped my throat.
The world tilted around me.
Ace paused at the doorway, looking between Mason and me. After seconds of calculation, he finally said to his beta.
“Take her to the hospital.”
My vision blurred as I watched Ace running down the stairs.
I hear fragments of conversations.
“Give her first aid. I will be there soon.”
Then silence followed.
“Are you okay?” Mason rushed beside me.
I tried to keep my eyes open, but the darkness swallowed me whole.
First, the faint scent of the hospital smell hit my nostril, then it came sharper and stronger, my eyes fluttered open.
I saw the doctor talking to Mason. Panicked shot through me. He shouldn't find out about the pregnancy.
“Good thing you brought her early,” the doctor said. “Her condition could have…”
My throat dried. This is not good.
The ringing of Mason's phone distracted the doctor from speaking further.
“Excuse me,” he picked up the call.
I knew he was talking with Ace, but I didn't know what they were discussing.
“On my way, Alpha,” he dropped the Blackwood black master card on the doctor's table. “Discharge her once the treatment is complete.” Without giving me a glance, he dashed out of the room.
I made a low sound as I sat upright on the bed.
“You're awake.” The doctor said, turning her attention to me. “The baby is healthy, and you're fine. But due to your condition, we'll keep you here for 24 hours.” The doctor wrote on a paper.
“Thank you.”
“When is he coming back so I can inform the beta...”
“Please don't tell anyone about the pregnancy.” I protested.
“But he's the beta…”
“I'm just a stranger he found on the street.” I lied.
She was silent for a while but agreed.
The following day, I was discharged. As I stood in the corridor, I could hear nurses hushing voices under the curtains.
“The atmosphere had been lovely since Alpha Ace came with his fiancée.” One of the nurses said.
“They've turned room 02 into a romantic world with roses and romantic music everywhere.” Another answered her.
“Alpha Ace hasn't left her side since yesterday.”
“Did you see how he carried her into the hospital? I thought I was watching a soap opera.”
I could imagine some of them wishing to be Ella.
“Ten years of being in a relationship, yet he treated her like a doll.”
Their words cut deeper than a knife.
While I was dying at the hospital, my husband was playing devoted lover with Ella.
“I heard Ella is carrying his heir. He hired all the best doctors in the pack to attend to her when he brought her.”
I sighed. Feeling a hard pang in my chest. No one will remember me, not even as Ace's secret wife.
While I remained as Ace's secret wife, he was flaunting Ella to the world.
Immediately I left the hospital, I went straight to the court to pick up the divorce paper.
I'll be leaving Silvercrest Pack tomorrow.
I had set the divorce email to be sent to Ace three days after I must have left the pack.
Ace will turn the world upside-down in search of me, but he won't find me, not even my shadow.
Today ends my three-year journey with Ace.
DIVORCED.
The word stared back at me from the paper.
Three years of loving Ace Blackwood ended with a single stamp.
