Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Elena: POV

He flinched like I’d hit him.

“Okay,” he whispered. “Okay.”

We got out of the car.

The courthouse was busy–people everywhere, rushing between offices with folders and phones and conversations that mattered more than ours.

Julian ed me through security, his hand still possessively placed on my waist. Even when I tried to push him away, he wouldn’t budge and said somewhat

plaintively in my ear, “Just let me hold you for this last little while. Don’t reject me.”

I ended up not pushing him away.

上

We took the elevator to the fifth floor. Neither of us spoke. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, harsh and clinical.

My heart beat faster-panic or relief, I couldn’t tell which.

The elevator dinged. Doors slid open.

“This way,” Julian said softly.

We walked down a long hallway, past closed doors and bulletin boards covered in official notices. My heels clicked against the tile floor-click, click, click- marking time like a countdown.

Finally, we reached Room 523.

Family Court – Dissolution of Marriage

Julian opened the door.

Inside was exactly what I’d expected-a small waiting area with uncomfortable chairs and a reception desk where a tired looking woman sat behind bulletproof glass.

“Can I help you?” she asked without looking up from her computer.

“We’re here to file for divorce, Julian said.

His voice was steady. Controlled. Like he was ordering coffee instead of ending our marriage.

The woman glanced up. Did a double-take when she saw him-of course she did, everyone always did-then recovered quickly.

“Names?”

Julian Sterling and Elena Vance Sterling.”

3:03 pm

M

Chapter 121.

She typed something. Clicked her mouse a few times. “Do you have your marriage certificate?”

Julian pulled a felder from his jacket. Handed it through the slot in the glass. The woman opened it, scanned the documents inside.

“You’ll need to fill out these forms. She passed a stack of papers back through. “And there’s a filing fee of $210.

Julian pulled out his wallet. Slid his black Amex through the slot.

The woman processed it. Handed him a receipt.

“Once you’ve completed the forms, bring them back to me. You’ll receive a court date within 30 days for the final hearing.”

“Thank you.”

Started

We moved to the corner of the waiting area. Julian sat down, spread the forms across his lap. Started filling them out with quick, precise strokes.

I watched him write.

Petitioner: Julian Alexander Sterling

2

Respondent: Elena Marie Vance Sterling

Grounds for Dissolution: Irreconcilable Differences

茗

My chest tightened. Irreconcilable differences. Such a sterile way to describe the complete destruction of everything we’d been.

Or maybe we’d never been anything at all.

Julian finished the first page. Moved to the second. His handwriting was neat controlled-just like everything else about him.

“Assets?” he asked without looking up.

“Keep them all.”

His pen stopped mid-stroke. “Elena-*

“I don’t want anything, Julian. I just want out.”

“You’ll need money. A place to live. I’m not going to let you walk away with nothing-

“You already did.” The words came out sharp. Bitter. “The night you let me bleed in that alley. The night you locked me in this mansion like a prisoner. The night you-” I stopped. Swallowed hard. “I already have nothing. So what’s the difference?”

He set the pen down. Turned to face me, and fuck-there were tears in his eyes. Actual tears.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “God, Elena, I’m so fucking sorry-”

“Don’t.”

“Please-

2/3

3:03 pm

Chapter 121

MA

Lust finish the forms, Julian. Lets get this over with.”

He stared at me for a long moment. Then he picked up the pen again.

Kept writing.

Twenty minutes later, we were done.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify