April Fools “Surprise” Husband Divorcing Me For His “Pure” Girl novel Chapter 32

Chapter 11

he settlement wrapped up way faster than I thought it would.

farrison told me Ryan just sat there. Twenty minutes straight. Staring at the evidence like it might catch fire.

uldn’t say a word.

lis lawyer finally broke the silence-laid out the worst case scenario. If that forged signature turned criminal, money would be the least of his problems.

hree days later, Ryan caved,

igned everything.

keep the apartment. He pays off what’s left on the mortgage

he $840K gap from selling the place in Auckland-he’s got six months to wire it back

he $453K he drained from our joint account-returned in full Immediately

hat fraudulent $600K loan he took out in my name-his mess to dean up and cancel

nd he loses all rights to touch anything under my name. Ever again.

Then he signed, his hand was shaking so bad the pen kept slipping.

sat across from him. Watched him scrawl his name over and over on each page.

andwriting nothing like that forged signature-this time it was all over the place. Shaky. Like a kid learning to write.

Then he finished, he set the pen down real slow.

ooked up at me.

yes bloodshot. Voice barely audible.

Emma… what if I hadn’t canceled that ticket–

here’s no what if, Ryan.”

e closed his eyes.

arrison swept up the paperwork without a word.

he divorce went through fast.

o kids. Assets already split. Court mediation took one session.

he day I picked up the decree, the weather was fucking perfect

unlight poured through the courthouse glass doors. Warm. Bright. Almost offensively cheerful.

slipped the divorce papers into my bag and walked out

it the bottom of the steps. Ryan was still standing there.

Vain wearing that sharp suit from Auckland anymore.

ray hoodie Sweatpants. Beat up sneakers.

Chapter 11

Looked exactly like he did lack in college when we first met.

“Emma”

I stopped.

“I’m sorry”

I looked at him.

Those two words.

I’d waited so long to hear them.

Too long.

Now they didn’t mean a goddamn thing.

“Ryan.” My voler came out flat. Your mom’s meds-she needs them daily. One pill. If her blood sugar drops, sugar water. Her knees are bad-install a grab bar by the bathroom.

He just stared.

I turned and walked away

Last time I’d ever worry about his mother for him.

From now on?

She was his problem.

Sot mine.

About half a block down, my phone rang.

Dr. Stevens.

Emma-your position came through. Official hire. And they want to roll out your transmission model statewide. HR needs you in next week to sign.”

Okay.”

Salary’s not huge, but research funding’s solid. I’m assigning you two grad students. Let’s get this thing off the ground.”

Sounds good.”

hung up.

Rood at the crosswalk waiting for the light.

spring was here.

the sycamore trees had tiny green buds pushing through. Someone planted roses along the sidewalk-tight little blooms just starting to crack open.

My phone buzzed.

kyan’s text: That necklace. I’ll get it back and return it to you.”

I stared at it for a second

Typed back: “Don’t bother. Throw it out. I don’t want anything someone else wore.”

Then I deleted has contact

hapter 11

idn’t block him.

1st deleted.

he light turned green.

crossed the street toward the institute.

ly bag was stuffed with research papers for the new project. Divorce decree folded in my pocket. Phone wallpaper still the same-

photo from last winter.

hat pothos plant on my balcony.

uring those fifty days of lockdown, it was the only living thing that didn’t let me down.

watered it.

grew.

mple as that.

Then I reached the institute entrance, Carol’s voice message came through.

Emma-saw your ex today. Outside your building with two huge suitcases.”

Wouldn’t go up. Wouldn’t leave. Just standing there.”

Security asked who he was looking for. He said ‘my wife.””

Guard told him only Ms. Carter lives there now.”

He stood there forever. Then finally dragged his bags away.”

listened to the whole thing.

hoved my phone back in my pocket.

ushed through the institute doors.

own the hall, my new office had a fresh nameplate screwed to the door.

mma Carter

pidemiology & Statistical Modeling Center

Associate Researcher

unlight streamed through the window. Yesterday’s data reports still spread across my desk. Coffee in my mug had gone cold hours ago.

sat down.

Opened my laptop.

Created a new folder.

Not “Evidence.”

2026 Research Projects.

Some people are worth making soup for your whole life.

Chapter 11

Some people don’t even deserve the pot it boiled over in.

Ryan was the latter.

And my life?

Nobody gets to hit pause on it ever again.

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