On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 65

A call came from Lance Smith, but Jessica simply blocked his number. She found a divorce agreement template online and started modifying it to send to him.

That evening, she and Amy went out for fried rice. The rich, savory dish was a hit with her daughter, who declared she wanted to eat it again tomorrow.

Back at the hotel, Jessica sent Amy on another adventure: a quest to find the hairdryer. The little girl played happily until nine o’clock, when she finally crashed on the bed, fast asleep.

Under the dim lamplight, Jessica began drafting her divorce agreement. She had considered hiring a lawyer, but she had no money. Any lawyer she could afford would be inexperienced, and any reputable one would refuse the case the moment they heard the opposing party was Lance Smith. She was better off doing it herself.

Just as she was working, her phone rang. It was Laura.

Jessica answered immediately. She had already called Laura to take a leave of absence, but she was thinking of quitting altogether. The job’s late hours weren’t suitable for raising a child. She had planned to buy Laura a small gift and tell her in person out of respect, but she hadn’t expected trouble to find them so quickly.

“Jessica,” Laura said, her voice strained, “do you know a Mr. Smith? Lance Smith?”

Jessica’s lips tightened. “Laura, what’s wrong?”

Laura sighed heavily. “Our bar’s been shut down. They found some illegal substances during a raid. I’m calling everyone I know, trying to figure out what happened. Someone told me I must have pissed off Mr. Smith without even realizing it…”

A cold dread washed over Jessica. She stood up abruptly. “Laura, I’m so sorry. Lance Smith is my ex-husband. I’m on my way to you right now.”

After hanging up, she called Helen and asked her to come watch Amy. Helen arrived quickly, and as soon as she was there, Jessica rushed to the bar. The sprawling establishment was dark and silent. The street, usually alive with neon lights and bustling crowds, was now eerily still.

Jessica found Laura standing by the shuttered entrance and hurried over, bracing herself for a lecture.

Jessica contacted Lance. A few minutes later, his car pulled up across the street.

She gave Laura a wry, bitter smile. “No need to trouble yourself. Thank you for everything these past few days.”

With that, she walked resolutely toward the waiting car.

As she slid into the passenger seat, Lance spoke from the driver's side, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’ve got some nerve. Running off with Amy, threatening your father for an apartment, blocking my number… Is this what they taught you in the asylum, Jessica?”

She looked down, a faint, humorless smile on her lips. “If you’re so curious, you could always check yourself in for six months and find out.”

Lance wasn’t in the mood for a fight. “Take Amy and come home. And I don’t want to hear another word about divorce.”