Beyond the Divorce by Third Blossom novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41 A Life–Changing Vow

I cried uncontrollably again because I wasn’t as strong as I thought. I don’t know where I got the courage to remain composed enough to take a photo before running out of the house.

Atlas hesitated momentarily before patting my back. His gesture was gentlemanly. Although he was a stranger, his comfort relieved me. The walls I had put up crumbled as I clung to him. Unexpectedly, I encountered him a few times today, and he saw how pitiful I was.

I didn’t know how much time passed, but I eventually stopped crying. Perhaps my tears had run dry.

Atlas patted me again and looked at me profoundly. Soon after, I saw the sky brightening and realized dawn was approaching.

“Thank you, Mr. Pierce. I want to go to my friend’s place at Amethyst Apartments,” I said.

He embraced me and nodded.

When I appeared before Ivanna in such a miserable state, she could hardly believe her eyes. She rubbed her half–opened eyes, thinking she was hallucinating. “Chlo, you… What’s happening? Weren’t you supposed to go back to your hometown?”

I stepped inside and threw myself into her arms. “Ivanna…”

She embraced my stiff and cold body, leading me into the bathroom. “Don’t say anything right now, don’t cry. Take a hot shower, all right?”

I entered the bathroom, shivering as my teeth clacked against each other, I turned on the heater and stood underneath the warm water. The warmth helped me regain my senses when Ivanna knocked on the

door.

I changed into the dry clothes she gave me and saw she had prepared a bowl of ginger soup for me. Suddenly, I thought of Atlas, who had stayed with me throughout the night. I wondered if he would

appreciate a bowl of soup, too.

I passed Ivanna my phone. She looked puzzled, then realized what I meant. She was just as shocked as me when she flipped through the photos. Ivanna looked at me wide–eyed, her voice trembling as she asked, “A–Am I hallucinating?!”

She slapped herself, and I burst into laughter. My tears fell as I laughed until I nearly vomited again. Suddenly, I picked up a fruit knife from the coffee table and cut my arm.

Ivanna exclaimed, “Chloe!”

Honestly, I hadn’t considered dying. Even what I did at the river wasn’t about dying. I just wanted to cleanse myself and regain clarity because I had lost my sense of direction and purpose. I sat in a daze, letting Ivanna tend to my wound and console me.

She handed me a glass of water, saying, “Have a drink and nap. We’ll face this together when you wake up.

I accepted the water and downed it. Soon, drowsiness took over, and I gradually fell asleep.

It was already three in the afternoon when I woke up. I realized Ivanna had stayed beside me the entire time. The pain in my arm reminded me it was all real and not a nightmare.

I sat up and held my head, only seeing Matthew and Melanie entangled in my mind.

“Matthew, I will make your life a living hell!” I emphasized each word with unwavering determination.