Chapter 4 The End of Love
Serena Sinclair's POV:
My head throbbed with pain from the hangover as I stumbled toward the bathroom. The face in the mirror was both familiar and strange—my hair had been cut short, just above my shoulders, and the natural waves were more pronounced without the weight of the longer length.
Yesterday's spa day with Sarah had been more than just pampering; it had been an act of rebellion. I ran my fingers through the newly shortened strands, remembering Alex's possessive appreciation of my long hair. He'd always said it made me look softer, more feminine. The thought made me grimace now. How many other little ways had he tried to shape me into his ideal wife?
The new cut felt lighter, sharper – like armor rather than adornment. My reflection showed a woman with a cool, aloof demeanor, far removed from the trophy wife I'd allowed myself to become.
A knock at the suite door pulled me from my contemplation. The courier who stood outside looked bored, holding out his scanner for my signature. The manila envelope he handed over felt impossibly heavy for something made of paper.
My hands didn't shake as I opened it. Inside, exactly as I'd left them on Alex's desk, were the divorce papers – now bearing his bold signature across every marked line. He'd signed them all, probably in one angry flourish. I could picture him at his desk, jaw clenched, pride wounded, determined to call what he thought was my bluff.
I spread the documents across the suite's elegant writing desk, methodically arranging them alongside the other necessary paperwork: certified copies of identification, bank account details, property division documentation. Everything needed to legally end four years of marriage and seven years of us.
The second courier arrived within the hour to collect the papers bound for the courthouse. I handed them over with steady hands and a clear conscience, watching as he disappeared into the elevator with the remains of my married life.
The Plaza's grand entrance felt different in the afternoon light. I adjusted my new blazer – one of last night's purchases on Alex's card – as I waited for Sarah. Today's agenda included retrieving my car from the NYPD impound lot, another step toward reclaiming my independence.
"Special delivery for Ms. Sinclair."
Another courier, this one holding a slim envelope. Inside was a single document: the final divorce decree. Alex must have pulled strings to expedite the process, probably hoping to hurt me with how quickly he could discard our marriage.
Due to my divorce with Alex, I split a total of 6 million dollars in cash and 3 million in funds. The funds didn't need to be touched, and I deposited 3 million dollars of the cash into a fixed deposit because the interest rate was quite high for such a large amount. I kept 3 million. Sarah worked in finance and needed to achieve performance targets, so I was planning to invest 3 million with her to help her with financial management and also to help her improve her performance.
Sarah's Porsche pulled up just as I was processing the document's implications. She took one look at my face and the paper in my hand, and her expression shifted from cheerful to concerned.
"Is that—"
"It's done," I said, sliding into the passenger seat. "Officially divorced before lunch."
The leather seats of Sarah's car felt cool against my skin as we pulled away from The Plaza. The familiar skyline of Manhattan stretched before us, unchanged despite how dramatically my life had shifted in the past twenty-four hours.
Sarah's phone rang through the car's speakers. She glanced at the screen and quickly answered, "Hi, Grandpa."
I turned to look out the window, trying to give her privacy while feeling the weight of my own guilt. Professor Steven had been more than just a teacher – he'd been a mentor, someone who'd believed in my potential. And how had I repaid that faith? By marrying Alex, his rival's student, right after graduation and becoming a full-time housewife without ever working.
"Of course," Sarah was saying, her voice warm. "I'll let her know... Yes, I think that would be perfect... Love you too, Grandpa."
She ended the call and was quiet for a moment, hands steady on the steering wheel. She stared ahead and said, "Alex is truly awful. Because you married him, my grandpa took early retirement. You can imagine how devastating it was for him when you married Alex. Even now, he can't bear to hear your name - he just shakes his head whenever it's mentioned. And yet Alex doesn't even know how to cherish you."
My nose stung with emotion as I lowered my eyes, filled with guilt.
Back then, Professor Steven and Professor Anderson were competing for tenure. Professor Steven's best asset was me, while Professor Anderson's trump card was Alex.
The overseas competition that year was actually a contest between the two professors. But I withdrew, dealing Professor Steven a heavy blow. But that wasn't even what disappointed him the most. What he couldn't accept was that the talent he had painstakingly nurtured not only abandoned the legal profession but ended up becoming a housewife for Professor Anderson's student, cooking and doing laundry.
From then on, Professor Steven always stood in Professor Anderson's shadow. Professor Steven never recovered from this and took early retirement.
Sarah said, "You know what? Because of Alex bringing such prestige, Professor Anderson was invited to stay on after retirement."
Professor Anderson had also reached retirement age, but he benefited greatly from Alex's success.
"I've let Professor Steven down," I turned to look out the window.
Back then, Professor Steven had placed such high hopes in me and nurtured me.
Even Sarah, his own granddaughter, didn't receive as much attention as I did. And how did I repay him? By letting his later years end in such an undignified way.
Tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably.
"Oh, don't blame yourself. My grandpa and Professor Anderson have been rivals their whole lives. They're natural enemies. It's all in the past now, don't take it to heart," Sarah said.
Seeing me cry made Sarah a bit flustered. She smiled and changed the subject to lighten the mood. "If you want to talk about disappointing him, I've done far worse. He wanted to groom me as his successor, but what did I do? I went into finance instead. He was so angry he didn't eat for three days."
Sarah had been groomed by Professor Steven, but she wasn't cut out for it. Even though she was pressured into attending Yale Law School, after graduation, she secretly studied finance and went to work in the financial sector.
"How is Professor Steven now?" I asked hoarsely, concerned.
"He's doing well. After retirement, he spends his time gardening. He's quite content."
Sarah paused for a moment. "I'm going to visit him tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?"
I felt too ashamed. I had cost him his chance at full professorship.
"Maybe after I find a job," I said, looking down at my hands.
I needed to achieve something first before I could face the professor who had nurtured me so carefully.