Page 10
Story: When Love Wasn’t Enough
I gave a bitter laugh. “If you have something to deal with, just go.”
Beckham answered the phone, and his expression immediately changed.
Without hesitation, he turned and walked away.
Claire yelled at him from the door, “Hey, you’re just going to leave like that? If you walk out now, don’t ever come back!”
I texted Beckham, “Monday morning, 8 a.m., in front of the lawyer’s office. I hope you won’t be late.”
Then I deleted his contact information and blocked him from everything.
On Monday, I felt surprisingly well.
I applied some light makeup and had Claire braid my hair.
Looking in the mirror, I noticed a much younger version of myself smiling back.
For a brief moment, I felt transported back to my vibrant university days, before I met Beckham.
I arrived at the lawyer’s office promptly at 8 a.m.
Maxwell waited in his car.
Beckham stood at the entrance, holding our marriage certificate and lowering his head.
When he heard footsteps, he looked up.
I noticed that in just a few days, he had become much more haggard.
Dark circles under his eyes, a pale and drawn face, colourless lips, and an empty gaze–all in stark contrast to my polished and bright appearance.
Anna was beside him.
After several months, her pregnancy was clearly visible.
She attempted to link her arm with Beckham’s, but he pulled away.
She stubbornly stood next to him, raising her brow in challenge.
But it didn’t matter anymore; I’d stopped caring a long time before.
Beckham asked cautiously, “Athena, do we really have to go through with this?”
I nodded.
“You’re not well right now. I can take care of you. Can’t we reconsider the divorce?” he added, still unwilling to give up.
I shook my head and looked straight ahead. “No need, someone else will take care of me.”
Maxwell caught my gaze from the car and waved.
I smiled. “Let’s hurry up, or we’ll have to wait in queue.”
Beckham followed behind me, looking defeated.
The divorce process moved quickly.
The lawyer attempted to mediate, but no matter what she said, I just smiled and shook my head.
She sighed and said, “I’ve never seen anyone this determined before.”
Fortunately, there was no waiting period for divorces where we were.
When we came out, our marriage was officially ended.
I turned to leave, but Beckham stepped in front of me and said, “You can’t drive. Let me take you home.”
Anna glared at me, tugging on Beckham’s sleeve with obvious annoyance.
I shake my head. “No need, someone’s here to pick me up.”
I walked over to Maxwell’s car, opened the door, and entered.
After that, I never saw Beckham again.
After I was released from the hospital, I decided to spend my remaining time on a spontaneous journey.
Claire left her baby with her husband to join Maxwell and me on the trip. We visited Spring Valley to see the sea of flowers, East Bay to enjoy the crystal blue ocean, and Egypt to witness the changing of the guard at the national monument…
I regretted not being able to ride horses on the Eastern Plains or visit the Southern Desert, but it was sufficient.
Claire kept me up to date on Beckham.
Beckham answered the phone, and his expression immediately changed.
Without hesitation, he turned and walked away.
Claire yelled at him from the door, “Hey, you’re just going to leave like that? If you walk out now, don’t ever come back!”
I texted Beckham, “Monday morning, 8 a.m., in front of the lawyer’s office. I hope you won’t be late.”
Then I deleted his contact information and blocked him from everything.
On Monday, I felt surprisingly well.
I applied some light makeup and had Claire braid my hair.
Looking in the mirror, I noticed a much younger version of myself smiling back.
For a brief moment, I felt transported back to my vibrant university days, before I met Beckham.
I arrived at the lawyer’s office promptly at 8 a.m.
Maxwell waited in his car.
Beckham stood at the entrance, holding our marriage certificate and lowering his head.
When he heard footsteps, he looked up.
I noticed that in just a few days, he had become much more haggard.
Dark circles under his eyes, a pale and drawn face, colourless lips, and an empty gaze–all in stark contrast to my polished and bright appearance.
Anna was beside him.
After several months, her pregnancy was clearly visible.
She attempted to link her arm with Beckham’s, but he pulled away.
She stubbornly stood next to him, raising her brow in challenge.
But it didn’t matter anymore; I’d stopped caring a long time before.
Beckham asked cautiously, “Athena, do we really have to go through with this?”
I nodded.
“You’re not well right now. I can take care of you. Can’t we reconsider the divorce?” he added, still unwilling to give up.
I shook my head and looked straight ahead. “No need, someone else will take care of me.”
Maxwell caught my gaze from the car and waved.
I smiled. “Let’s hurry up, or we’ll have to wait in queue.”
Beckham followed behind me, looking defeated.
The divorce process moved quickly.
The lawyer attempted to mediate, but no matter what she said, I just smiled and shook my head.
She sighed and said, “I’ve never seen anyone this determined before.”
Fortunately, there was no waiting period for divorces where we were.
When we came out, our marriage was officially ended.
I turned to leave, but Beckham stepped in front of me and said, “You can’t drive. Let me take you home.”
Anna glared at me, tugging on Beckham’s sleeve with obvious annoyance.
I shake my head. “No need, someone’s here to pick me up.”
I walked over to Maxwell’s car, opened the door, and entered.
After that, I never saw Beckham again.
After I was released from the hospital, I decided to spend my remaining time on a spontaneous journey.
Claire left her baby with her husband to join Maxwell and me on the trip. We visited Spring Valley to see the sea of flowers, East Bay to enjoy the crystal blue ocean, and Egypt to witness the changing of the guard at the national monument…
I regretted not being able to ride horses on the Eastern Plains or visit the Southern Desert, but it was sufficient.
Claire kept me up to date on Beckham.