Lady Warrior's Warth on Divorce Day novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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Nicolas’s face scrunched up. “Divorce? Seriously? Just ’cause my mom wouldn’t let you bring your parents’ ashes into the house?”

He said it like it was some petty spat, no biggie.

A cold weight settled in Zoya’s gut. She was done expecting anything from this guy.

“It’s not just that,” she said. “It’s Jasmine too. Let’s end this, and you can go be with her.”

“I told you, Jasmine’s just a friend. Don’t make a big deal outta nothing,” he snapped, clearly pissed.

Zoya nearly laughed. ‘A friend?’ Everyone knew he was stepping out, but he stuck to that weak excuse like it was his lifeline.

“I’m tired, Nicolas. I’m done trying to save this marriage,” she said.

When one’s heart was checked out, there was no going back. And hers? Done with him.

His expression shifted, a hint of panic flickering in his eyes, like he could feel her slipping away for real.

“If you’re freaking out about us, how about we have a kid?” he threw out, out of nowhere.

“What?” Zoya’s jaw dropped. Three years married, and he’d never touched her.

Early on, he’d brushed it off-swamped with work, wanted to “let things happen naturally.” She hadn’t pushed it.

Over time, it became their norm-sharing a bed, but nothing else.

“We’ve been hitched three years. Time we thought about a kid,” Nicolas said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

Zoya’s stomach churned with a mix of disbelief and pain.

She’d once wanted a family with him.

But he’d always said, “I’m not there yet, babe. Can we wait?”

So she’d waited. She thought he just wasn’t ready to be a dad.

Truth was, his heart was with Jasmine-his “one that got away.”

All her love, all her effort to win him over? A total joke.

And now, when she was ready to bolt, he was offering her a kid.

Zoya shoved him back, wiping her cheek where his lips had been. “Nicolas, that’s messed up.”

His face darkened. “Zoya, I promised I’d never screw you over when we got married. I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that. If you’re not ready for a kid, we can hold off.”

“No need,” she said, her voice ice-cold. “I’m never having a kid with you.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but his phone buzzed. When he answered, Zoya caught Jasmine’s voice on the other end.

“Yeah, I’m coming now,” Nicolas said, soft and sweet for her.

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Chapter 4

He turned to Zoya. “I gotta run. Chill out, okay? We’ll talk when I’m back.”

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Zoya alone in their big, empty villa.

Through the window, she watched his car peel out. Off to Jasmine’s side, as usual.

‘He doesn’t get it, does he? Every time he ditches me for her, he’s already betrayed me,’ she thought bitterly.

Years ago, she’d fallen hard for him. Believed his vow to always be loyal. Married him for it.

Now, the part of her that loved him was dead. This marriage? Over.

*****

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In the afternoon, Zoya hit the mall with her best friend, Eowyn Sanford, snagging a few things.

When she spilled the divorce news, Eowyn was all but popping champagne. “About freakin’ time! The gossip rags are full of Nicolas and Jasmine’s shady hookups. He’s cheating, she’s the side chick, and they act like it’s all good.”

Zoya shrugged. “Once we’re done, they can do whatever. I’m out.”

“When are you taking your parents’ ashes back home?” Eowyn asked.

“A month from now,” Zoya said. “After the divorce is official, I’ll take Mom and Dad back to the hometown.”

By dinnertime, Eowyn dragged Zoya to a high-end restaurant.

They’d barely sat down when laughter and chatter drifted over from the next table, dropping a name Zoya knew too well.

“Nicolas, when are you and Jasmine tying the knot? You gotta let us crash the wedding, man!”

et we’ll be toasting at their reception soon. Zoya’s a nobody-some chick from a no-name school. If Nicolas hadn’t thrown. ra bone, she’d be toast. And she still thinks she’s got a right to play Mrs. Mayer?”

omine’s the real deal. Top university grad, total stunner, first female pilot at Cloud Airline. That’s straight-up legendary!”

he crew at the next table was loud, clueless that Zoya was right there behind the partition.

Eowyn’s grip on her chopsticks tightened, ready to snap them in half. She started to stand, but Zoya grabbed her arm. “They’re talking about me. I’ll handle it.”

Zoya got up, stepped around the screen, and faced the table. “How ’bout I buy you all a round to toast that wedding right

now?”

Every head at the table whipped around, staring her down.

Nicolas’s face froze, his brows knitting tight.