My Deceased Wife Wants a Divorce (Hannah) novel Chapter 244

“Hey, why are you crying all of a sudden?” Hannah asked, her heart aching as she gently wiped a tear from her friend’s cheek.

Tess sniffled, her voice thick with emotion as she threw her arms around Hannah. “Why? Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this?”

She buried her face in Hannah’s neck, her body shaking with silent sobs. Every time they’d talked, Tess would ask how things were, and Hannah would always say she was fine, that everything was great. Tess knew she was putting on a brave face, but no matter how much she pried or tried to read between the lines, the answer was always the same: I’m fine. I’ve moved on. It’s okay.

Tess knew it was a lie, a way to protect her. She had imagined life was hard, that Lionel was being a monster, but she had never imagined it was this bad. She clenched her jaw to keep from wailing, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

Hannah took a long, steadying breath and stroked her friend’s back. “Compared to what you’ve been through, this is nothing. Besides, it’s almost over. Soon, I’ll be able to join you, and we can finally have the life we always talked about. We’ll commute together, go grocery shopping, have barbecues on the balcony at night. It’ll be perfect, won’t it?”

They had so often dreamed of that future, of the beautiful life that awaited them after the divorce. The more they imagined it, the more they yearned for that day to arrive.

After a long while, Tess' sobs subsided, though she still clung tightly to Hannah’s arm.

“Your luggage is at the hotel, right?” Hannah said. “I’ll pack my things tonight and move in with you.”

“Yes!” Tess' face lit up. “And tonight, I’m buying wine. We’re not stopping until we’re both drunk! We deserve a good, long drink!”

“Okay,” Hannah laughed. “Whatever you say.”

“She can stay in the guest room,” Lionel said.

Hannah stopped in her tracks, a bitter, incredulous laugh escaping her lips. She spun around to face him. “Lionel, do you even hear yourself? Do you have any idea how you sound?”

She instinctively pulled Tess behind her, her voice low and furious. “The only reason Tess doesn't have a home to come back to in Sova is because of you. She’s forced to live in a hotel, and now you have the audacity to offer her a guest room like you’re some kind of saint?”

Lionel remained silent, his expression unreadable.

“You protected Sandra, you refused to trust me, and you went after Tess. You got her fired and forced her to move halfway across the country. The fact that she was even willing to set foot in this house today took immense courage. How dare you stand there and act like nothing ever happened?”