On the way home, after Damon Starr bailed me out of the police station, I told him I wanted a divorce.

“Mia, there’s a limit to how childish you can be.”

I looked at Damon, who was focused on driving, and suddenly, I just had to laugh.

“I’ve thought it through.”

“Damon,” I said, turning to face him, my gaze firm, “let’s just let each other go.”

…

The Maserati sat parked on the side of the road.

The atmosphere inside the car had dropped to absolute zero.

“The reason.”

Damon’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his voice as cold as ice.

“Give me a reason. What kind of tantrum are you throwing this time?”

I looked at him and suddenly felt like it was all so pointless. I rolled down the window, pointed to the Porsche that had been tailing us in the rearview mirror, and said:

“I bet, in less than ten seconds, someone is going to come looking for you.”

I started a confident countdown.

“Ten.”

“Nine.”

“Eight.”

Before I even got to seven, a slender figure had already stepped out of the Porsche. The girl walked up to my window, her eyes red.

“Mia, I really didn't mean for this to happen today. I only suggested getting the clothes because I had to go to the gala with Damon. I swear, I didn’t know you were home sleeping. I especially didn’t know you’d mistake me for a burglar and call the police.”

“This is all my fault. Please, don’t fight with Damon because of this. I’m begging you.”

“If you’re really that unhappy,” the girl grabbed my hand and started to raise it towards her own face, “just hit me.”

“Hit me, and let it all out.”

My hand was being pulled forward.

It was about to make contact.

Damon’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. “Mia, where are your manners?”

“Did a dog eat them?”

I found it all so laughable.

See?

I didn’t have to do a thing. I could just sit here, a passive participant, and it would still somehow be my fault.

I pulled my hand back and turned to face Damon.

“Do you get it now?”

“Damon,” I felt like I truly couldn’t cry anymore, like the pain had numbed me to the point of being emotionless, “this is the reason.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and told him:

“Damon, let’s get a divorce.”

I opened the car door. Under the shocked, yet secretly delighted, gaze of Damon’s secretary, I looked at her and smiled.

“Congratulations. After all these years of worming your way into every corner of my life with Damon, you’re finally about to make it.”

“I don’t want Damon anymore.”

I turned to walk away.

Damon scrambled out of the car and grabbed my wrist.

“Mia, what the f**k is wrong with you? Do you have any idea that because you called the cops, I missed out on a hundred-million-dollar deal? Just because you said you were scared, I dropped everything and raced to the police station like a madman, only to find out you had my secretary arrested!”

“I have been putting up with you for a long time.”

“You pick on Zara for every little thing, and she’s always defending you, telling me not to be angry, telling me we should get along! Don’t be so f**king ungrateful!”

His grip was painfully tight, pulling on the old scar on my wrist, making it burn. I frowned, looking at the angry red marks forming on my skin.

“Let go!”

I yanked my hand away and rubbed my aching wrist. Then, I raised my hand and slapped Damon across the face.

“Damon Starr!”

“I’ve been putting up with you for a long time, too!”

Damon and I had been together for ten years.

We had fought, we had argued, we had given each other the silent treatment, but I had never, ever humiliated him in front of other people like this. But I was done holding back. I looked him straight in the eye and laid it all out.

“Let me tell you something. When I was in the hospital with a high fever, you were with your secretary, saving stray cats and dogs. When I was rear-ended, you were with your secretary, stargazing. Every single time I needed you, you chose your secretary! And today!”

I stared at him.

“You gave your secretary the code to our front door! While I was sleeping off my medication, you let her walk into our bedroom to get your things! And after I called the police, you didn’t give a damn about me. All you cared about was me signing the papers to let her go!”

“Damon Starr!”

“We are completely and totally over!”