He Called Divorce Papers A Joke I Called It Done Chapter 02

He Called Divorce Papers A Joke I Called It Done Chapter 02

Apparently, she meant it. On her way out, Harper made a whole show of gathering up all the pajamas and underwear she’d “accidentally” left at our house.

Declan called after her. He was halfway to the door before our daughter’s crying dragged him back.

Harper’s friends didn’t waste a second. The moment she was gone, they turned on me. “Nice job, Elena. She shows up to your kid’s birthday out of the goodness of her heart, and you chase her off?”

“Once a gold digger, always a gold digger. If Harper actually wanted Declan, do you really think a girl who used to peddle flowers from a cart would have ever stood a chance?”

“Harper might let this slide, Declan, but we won’t.” They all looked at me. “If you two don’t go apologize to her, don’t expect any of us to set foot in this house again.”

Within minutes, every last guest was gone. The living room was a wreck — broken glass, scattered food, and my daughter still hiccuping through her tears.

Declan pressed his fingers to his temples and kicked over the orchid at his feet. “Happy now? Is this what you wanted?”

I didn’t answer. My eyes landed on the orchid, its pot split open across the tile, petals scattered everywhere.

And just like that, I was back to the summer I met him.

Back then, Declan would stand with me in the rain, helping me push the flower cart. He’d call his friends behind my back and have them buy every last stem so I could go home early.

He helped me scrape together enough money for my mother’s medical bills, dollar by dollar. Somewhere along the way, we fell in love. Got married. Had our daughter.

Back when things were good between us — really good — he told me I’d never stand in the rain again. That he’d make sure nothing ever hurt me.

He promised me a home. A real one.

Then Harper moved back to town, and everything fell apart.

I couldn’t tell you when exactly it started. He changed the photos of us on his social media. Stopped wanting to coordinate outfits with me when we went out.

This was a man who used to be too scared to ride a roller coaster with me. Now he was skydiving, bungee jumping, street racing — every single thing Harper was into.

A hundred small shifts, and none of them small at all. They eroded him. The Declan I married disappeared so slowly I almost didn’t notice — not until he was already gone.

And through all of it, he swore nothing had changed.

I blinked. The memories dissolved. Declan stood in front of me now, calmer, reaching for my hand. My fingers were ice cold.

“I’m sorry, Elena. I shouldn’t have snapped at you — not today, not on her birthday. But Harper and I are just friends. That’s it. Nothing is going on.”

“The papers weren’t supposed to mean anything. I never wanted to leave you or our daughter. I’ll keep my distance from Harper. I promise. Okay?”

For a second, he looked like the man I married. The softness in his eyes, the way his voice dropped — it didn’t feel like a performance.

Even yesterday, I would’ve folded. I would’ve told myself to let it go, for our daughter.

But now, all I could see when I looked at him was the first time Harper and I had a massive blowout. She vanished after that fight.

He’d taken my phone, logged into my account, and sent apologies to the whole group chat — message after message, begging on my behalf until Harper came back. He protected her feelings and turned me into a joke in front of everyone we knew.

And I saw him at Starlight Amusement Park with Harper — laughing, going on rides, having the time of his life — the same night our daughter was rushed to the ER with a terrifying heart scare.

I pulled my hand free.

“No. I want a divorce.”

Shock, panic, then fury flashed across his face — all in a heartbeat.

“You’ve lost your mind, Elena. You’re not gonna stop until you tear this whole family apart, are you?”

“I’m not the one who destroyed it, Declan. That was you.”

The front door burst open before I could finish. Someone was shouting.

“Declan! It’s Harper — she’s been in an accident!”