Never Getting Her Back novel Chapter 1

"Clara, are you really leaving Damon behind and moving abroad?"

In the quiet café, Clara Rayner laid down her spoon and caught her best friend, Olivia Hyde's startled look from across the table.

"I'm already divorced from him," Clara said. Her voice was calm and steady.

"Divorced?" Olivia blurted out. She was clearly caught off guard.

A beat later, her shock gave way to outrage on Clara's behalf. "And Damon just went along with it? You've treated him so well these past three years. Anyone else would've come around by now. Does he really feel nothing at all?"

Clara smiled, and a flicker of emotion crossed her eyes. The truth was, she had no idea if Damon had actually agreed or not.

Half a month ago, she'd handed him the divorce agreement. He signed them while he was on the phone—barely listening to a word she said—then took off. He hadn't brought them up since.

Now, with just half a month left, she'd finally get the divorce decree and be free.

Clara was about to say something when a low voice came from behind them. "Are you done talking?"

Both she and Olivia turned to see Damon Croft approaching. He was dressed in a black overcoat.

Olivia was still fired up and was ready to call him out. "Damon, Clara just said she's di—"

"What brings you here?" Clara quickly reached over and gave Olivia's hand a light pat, signaling her to stop before she could finish.

"I saw the forecast. It's supposed to rain soon, so I came to pick you up," Damon said.

Smiling, Clara said goodbye to Olivia. Then, she grabbed her bag and headed out with him.

Rain tapped against the car windows on the drive home. It filled the silence inside the car.

As he sat next to the wife he'd practically married by accident years ago, Damon parted his lips a few times like he was about to say something. But each time, he stopped—probably remembering he hadn't even been home in half a month.

After a long, uneasy silence, he finally asked, "Clara, that document you had me sign half a month ago… what was it?"

It had been forever, and now he was finally asking her. Then again, he'd been wrapped up with Giselle Sutton this whole time. Why would he bother with something so insignificant?

Clara's lips curved into a bitter smile. She was about to answer when Damon's phone rang.

"Damon, I drank too much. My head hurts. Can you come get me?"

The sweet, lilting voice on the other end made Damon's grip tighten around the steering wheel. His knuckles turned white.

A shadow crossed his face as he said, "Giselle, I've told you over and over—I'm married."

Giselle went quiet for a second before saying, "So what? I was supposed to be the bride that day, anyway."

Her light, careless tone set Damon off.

In three years of marriage, Clara had only ever seen him calm and composed—never like this. He slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched as they gripped the road.

"Did you come?" Damon asked.

Giselle went quiet on the other end of the line.