They Bet On How Fast I Would Cry On Our Anniversary Chapter 05

They Bet On How Fast I Would Cry On Our Anniversary Chapter 05

The timer stopped at eighteen seconds as my pen left the page.

The laughter in the room died instantly.

Derek was still holding up his phone, the camera pointed straight at my face.

The smile on Sophie’s face froze too.

Only Ethan kept staring at the agreement, like he couldn’t make sense of what he was looking at

After a long moment, he suddenly reached out and snatched the papers away.

“Claire, what the hell did you sign?”

I looked at him, perfectly calm.

“The divorce agreement.”

“Isn’t that what you told me to do?”

Ethan flipped straight to the last page.

His name was on the left. Mine was on the right.

Two signatures, side by side, leaving neither of us a way back.

His face darkened. “I told you to play the game. I didn’t tell you to actually get divorced.”

“Second thoughts already?” I asked, my voice soft.

The others finally caught on and rushed to smooth things over.

“Claire, that was way too real.”

“Ethan, just call it. Game’s over.”

“Just tear it up. Don’t let this ruin your marriage.”

Ethan looked like he’d found the obvious answer. He grabbed the edge of the agreement.

But the lawyer stopped him first.

“Mr. Whitmore, I have a copy right here.”

“You personally approved every term, and the entire signing was recorded.”

“Both parties signed willingly. No fraud, no coercion.”

Ethan whipped around. “Who hired you?”

“You did.” The lawyer paused. “You specifically told me to make it all real. No loopholes. Nothing

at could void it later.”

To make sure I had no way out once the cameras were rolling, Ethan had personally put together a solid plan.

Sophie came over and took my hand.

“Claire, don’t do anything reckless.”

“The pregnancy was fake. Ethan promising to leave you was fake too.”

“We never wanted to actually break you two up.”

I pulled my hand away.

“But you all knew exactly what I was afraid of.”

Her face went pale.

“It was just a game.”

There it was again.

Three years ago, I cried and walked out. It was just a game.

Two years ago, he almost kissed her. It was just a game.

Last year, they staged a fake wedding. It was still just a game.

Now that I’d signed real divorce agreement, they suddenly couldn’t handle it.

Ethan grabbed my wrist.

“Isn’t this what you wanted? For me to admit defeat.”

“Fine. You win.”

“I won’t play anymore. Just give me the agreement and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

“Ethan, I was never playing against you. You’re the ones who turned me into a bet.”

I turned and walked away.

He followed me to the elevator, and for the first time, the certainty was gone from his voice.

“Claire, if you walk out today, you’ll regret it tomorrow.”

I pressed the elevator button.

“Why don’t you put money on it?”

His hand went slack.

The elevator doors slid shut.

The last thing I saw was his face, the sinile completely gone.

That night, Ethan came home to an empty closet.

My ID, clothes, personal stuff-all gone. Even the matching slippers by the front door had vanished,

He called me again and again.

I didn’t pick up once. I only sent him a screenshot of the divorce appointment.

[Three days from now, 9:00 a.m.]

[Don’t be late.]

Then I blocked his number.

This time, I didn’t wait for him to chase after me.