He Gave Our Bedroom to Her... So I Disappeared

Chapter 6

Inside the box were only two things: a divorce agreement and a medical report.

Michael stared, stunned.

Divorce?

Ashlyn wanted to divorce him?

No. That had to be a mistake.

There was no way.

But then his eyes focused on the words in the report—and before he could even react, Arnold, who had been keeping his composure all evening, suddenly raised his hand and slapped Michael hard across the face.

"You ungrateful bastard!" the old man roared, his voice shaking with fury. "Look at what you've done! If I'd known it would come to this, I never would've let you marry Ashlyn!"

"You've destroyed her!"

Arnold's body trembled violently, almost as if his anger might consume him. Family members rushed to his side, trying to steady him and get him out of the hall.

The remaining guests took the hint and quietly slipped out.

Michael stood frozen, alone in the middle of the ballroom, gripping the torn edge of the divorce agreement with trembling hands.

No one knew how long he stood there.

Eventually, expressionless, he tore the papers to shreds.

Daniela called out behind him, panicked and pleading, but he didn't even look at her. He stormed outside, grabbed the nearest car keys from a valet, and drove straight to the Roberts family's old estate.

But when he arrived, the house was dark.

Not a single light on. No signs of life.

He rolled the window down and waited at the gate, chain-smoking through the night.

By dawn, his throat was raw, his voice hoarse, but the lights inside the house never came on.

Five days after the birthday banquet, the truth finally reached him.

Ashlyn had left the country.

She left him.

Just to avoid seeing him again?

He clenched his fists.

Why?

All he did was make the kind of mistake every man makes. Nothing unforgivable.

So why did she get to disappear like this? Why did she get to walk away so easily?

No.

He wouldn't allow it.

He refused to let it end like this.

The moment he got confirmation of Ashlyn's whereabouts overseas, he booked the first available flight.

No going home. No packing. He walked out of the office and went straight to the airport.

He was just about to check in when a familiar voice, thick with tears, called out behind him.

"Michael... are you really going to abandon me and the baby?"

He turned around slowly, eyes falling to Daniela's now slightly rounded belly.

Without much emotion, he reached out and gently patted her head.

"I've asked Thompson to set up a new place for you," he said quietly. "Move in today."

The moment the words left his mouth, Daniela broke down in sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.