I Said “I Do”… Then Woke Up at My Divorce Chapter 17

I Said “I Do”… Then Woke Up at My Divorce Chapter 17

When Vivian woke, she smelled stone and cedar polish.

It was not the clean smell of the hotel.

It was not the pine scent of the clinic.

It was the Ashford estate.

The smell that had followed her into nightmares.

Her eyes opened.

The crystal light above the bed was familiar.

Vivian sat up quickly.

Then she saw the walls.

They were covered with photographs.

Their wedding portrait.

A photograph of Vivian smiling in her wedding dress.

Vivian reading in the garden.

Vivian sleeping against Grayson’s shoulder.

Every wall held pictures of her.

Pictures of them.

The wedding portrait she had ordered removed was hanging in the center.

Then she saw Grayson.

He stood near the bed.

He wore Ethan’s gray coat.

His hair fell across his forehead the way Ethan wore his.

Wire glasses sat on his face.

From a distance, he looked almost exactly like Ethan.

But Vivian felt sick the moment she saw him.

“You’re awake?”

Vivian moved back against the headboard.

“Why did you bring me here?”

Grayson ignored the hate in her voice.

He reached out to move a strand of hair from her face.

“This is our home.”

Vivian pulled away.

His hand stopped.

He kept smiling.

“You’re not used to it yet.”

“We will stay together now.”

“I will give you anything you want.”

Vivian looked at him.

“The only thing I want is to be away from you.”

The smile left his eyes.

Then it returned.

“Are you hungry?”

“I had the kitchen make your favorite dessert and soup.”

“I replaced all the dishes.”

“Everything comes in pairs now.”

Vivian looked around.

Two cups.

Two sets of nightclothes.

Two pairs of slippers.

Their old wedding rings sat beside the bed.

Grayson had placed everything as if he could force the past to return.

Vivian felt only disgust.

You think this will fix anything?”

Grayson swallowed.

“I know I was wrong.”

“I will change.”

“You like Ethan.”

“I can become like him.”

He removed the glasses and put them back on.

“He gardens.”

“I can garden.”

“He cooks.”

“I can cook.”

“He walks with you.”

“He stays with you at night.”

“I can do all of it.”

“Just look at me again.”

Vivian laughed.

It was soft.

But it cut into him.

“No matter how much you copy him, you will still be the cheap version.”

Anger moved through Grayson’s eyes.

He grabbed her shoulders.

When he felt her body shaking, he pulled his hands away.

“That isn’t true.”

“I loved you first.”

“I chased you for three years.”

“I married you.”

I spent all those years with you.”

“What right does he have?”

“He appeared when you were broken.”

“He used your weakness.”

“Vivian, we can go back.”

Grayson left the room.

He locked the door from outside.

For the next week, Vivian remained trapped inside the estate.

Every window was sealed.

Guards stood outside every door.

Grayson came each day.

Sometimes he brought food and copied Ethan’s soft voice.

Sometimes he carried plants and placed them beside the window.

Sometimes he sat on the bed and read Vivian’s old love letters.

Vivian never answered him.

He continued talking.

He sounded less like a man trying to win her back and more like a man losing his mind.

On the seventh night, a loud crash came from downstairs.

Guards began shouting.

“Sir, someone has entered the estate.”