Chapter 8
After that day. Roman seemed to give up on trying to reach the
My phone stopped lighting up with his messages, and the sdence felt freking,
1 focused all my energy on the divorce,
For the first time, I truly understood that leaving him was the best decision coedd make for myself
When I sent over the divorce papers, Ronan didirt try to stop me
word of protest.
Het stared at the document, letting out a long, heavy sigh, like the weight of it was eruding tim.
Eventually, we went to the courthouse to file for divorce,
But with the required 30 day waiting period to finalize it, we’d have to return one last time to make it officA
A few days before the cooling off period ended, everything took an unexpected turn.
Ronan jumped from his office building.
By the time I got to the hospital, he was already in the ICU.
As his legal spouse–his only next of kin–I was the only one allowed to sign the critical condition notice.
Standing outside the operating room, Arden stormed toward me, grabbing my shirt with trembling hands.
“You’re heartless, Eve!” she spat, tears streaming down her face.
“Ronan gave you everything–his entire estate! Even his suicide note was addressed to your
Her voice cracked as she went on, “He fell into depression because of you! He did this because of you! Why can’t you just leave him alone?”
I didn’t respond.
I fimply signed the papers and handed them back to the nurse.
As I turned to leave, I saw Ronan’s suicide note lying on the counter.
Against my better judgment, I picked it up and began to read.
Eve, I’m sorry for everything.
For all the awful things I’ve done.
If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have cut ties with your family.
You wouldn’t have missed saying goodbye to your parents.
I did love you, truly.
But I also hurt you more than anyone ever should.
I’ve left everything to you, so you don’t have to run from me anymore.
This is my way of letting you go.
I’m sorry.
The letter went on and on, detailing everything–from how he fell for me to how it all fell apart.
14:21
Butchered by Love
31.06
Chapter 8
When I nished reading, I ripped it into tiny pieces and tossed them into the trash.
The past is the past.
Irefused to let it control me any longer.
Ronan, from the day I truly walked away, I stopped loving you.
I stopped hating you too.
We’re nothing more than strangers who crossed paths once.
And that’s all we’ll ever be.
