They Bet On How Fast I Would Cry On Our Anniversary Chapter 04

They Bet On How Fast I Would Cry On Our Anniversary Chapter 04

I made one last attempt to get Ethan to tell the truth.

I told him to release the full footage.

To admit that he and his friends had planned every game in advance.

And to admit that I’d never agreed to be their entertainment.

He still refused. “Things have finally died down.”

“If you put the truth out now, you’ll ruin my name, wreck our friends’ lives, and drag Sophie through hell all over again.”

He promised he wouldn’t plan anything like this again.

He even offered to throw me another anniversary celebration. But only if I dropped it.

I looked at him and spoke calmly, “I don’t need compensation. I want a divorce.”

Ethan didn’t panic. He actually smiled.

“Claire, you’re finally pulling the divorce card to make me cave?”

Every year, I’d told him I was done.

But as long as he showed up with flowers, said sorry, and put my ring back on my finger, I’d stay.

So he figured this year was no different.

Right in front of me, Ethan pulled out his phone and sent a message to the group chat.

[Bonus round, this year’s game.]

[She says she wants a divorce. Place your bets on how long until she folds.]

The replies came in fast.

[An hour.]

[Too generous. She won’t make it through tonight.]

[Money’s on Ethan. Two apologies and she’ll cave.]

Ethan held his phone out to me.

“Gotta make it real if we want everyone to see how much you can’t live without me.”

To give this year’s video the ending everyone would remember, he had his friends set up the cameras again.

The final round was Truth or Dare.

Truth meant looking into the camera and admitting that I couldn’t let Ethan go.

And admitting that everything I’d done these past few days was only because I loved him too much.

Then I’d put my wedding ring back on and clear Sophie’s name myself.

Dare was signing an actual divorce agreement.

A lawyer had drafted it. Property, assets, legal procedures—everything was spelled out.

It wasn’t a prop. No hidden clause that voided it later.

Ethan was sure I wouldn’t have the guts to pick it.

On our wedding day, he’d held my hand and promised me.

“I’ll never use divorce against you.”

Now he placed my wedding ring and a pen in front of me. He wanted me to use our marriage for one last show.

In front of the entire room, Ethan signed the divorce agreement first.

Then he pushed it toward me with a smile.

“Truth or Dare?”

Everyone started betting again. Most of them put their money on Truth.

Derek even started a timer.

“Thirty seconds. I bet she’s crying and going for that ring within thirty.”

Sophie sat among the others and gently tried to talk me down.

“Claire, don’t take this so seriously.”

“Just admit you can’t let him go, and it’s over.”

Ethan leaned back on the couch, completely certain of himself.

“You hear that?”

“Just say you can’t live without me, and this year’s game is officially over.”

I looked down and opened the divorce agreement.

Everything in it was legally binding—shared property, finances, all of it.

Ethan’s name was already signed on the final page. His signature was clean and decisive. Not trace of hesitation.

I looked at him. “If I actually sign this, is it for real?”

Laughter broke out across the private lounge again.

Ethan laughed too, like I was still putting on a front.

“Of course it’s real.”

“But Claire, can you really go through with it?”

I didn’t answer. I just picked up the pen everyone thought was just a prop.

The laughter around me grew louder. They thought I was just playing it up for the final scene.

Ethan even reached over and flipped the agreement to the signature page for me.

“Right here.”

“Don’t sign in the wrong place.”

I gripped the pen and wrote my name, stroke by stroke.

The smile on Ethan’s face slowly faded.