Chapter 9
Zorina sat silently on the courthouse bench, her eyes fixed on the stack of divorce papers before her.
Beside her, Kael leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his face a mask of indifference.
“It’s over,” the judge declared, stamping the documents.
Zorina sighed, her gaze shifting to Kael. Five years of marriage, and it all ended with a single stroke of a pen. She shook her head, bitterness creeping into her heart.
Kael turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Are you satisfied now?”
Zorina nodded, forcing a small smile. She stretched her hand toward him. “Goodbye, Kael. Let’s end this properly.”
He looked at her hand but didn’t take it. Instead, his lips curled into a smirk. “Where do you plan on going now?”
Her smile faltered. “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about me.”
He snorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Worry about you? I just wanted to make sure you’ll have a roof over your head now that you’re no longer married to me.”
Her chest tightened, but she refused to show any weakness. Instead, she smiled again, this time with more resolve. “Goodbye, Kael.”
She turned on her heel and walked out of the courtroom. Kael’s eyes followed her, an inexplicable pang of guilt gnawing at him as the doors swung shut behind her.
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.
“Power,” he muttered under his breath. He needed the wealth and influence that marrying Liora would bring.
His family’s bankruptcy had been a wake-up call years ago, and now he was terrified they would fall into ruin again. The governor’s wealth was his safety net, and tradition would grant him access to half of it upon marriage.
As he stood in the hallway, lost in thought, a loud voice jerked him back to reality.
“Kael!”
He looked up, startled, to see Liora running toward him, her face pale and eyes wide with panic.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, furrowing his brows as she reached him, panting.
“Don’t finalize the divorce yet!” she blurted, her voice trembling.
Kael’s eyes widened in confusion. “What? What do you mean? It’s already done.”
Before she could answer, another voice cut through the air. “Where is Zorina?”
Kael turned to see his mother and sister rushing toward him, their faces mirroring Liora’s panic.
“Why do you all care so much about Zorina now?” he demanded, his irritation flaring.
His mother grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “Tell me you haven’t finalized the divorce yet!”
Kael frowned. “We just finished. What’s going on?”
His sister gasped, covering her mouth in shock. His mother’s face turned ashen, and before anyone could react, she collapsed to the floor.
“Mother!” Liora screamed, dropping to her knees beside her.
