4.

ARTEMIS

I stared at Kieran’s outstretched hand like it was contaminated. His request had stunned me to the extent that my mind went blank.

When I lifted my gaze to look at him, his expression remained unapologetic. The subtle air of arrogance and confidence lingered as though he already knew what choice I would be making.

The room seemed to hold its breath as they waited. I could pick apart the emotions in their eyes. Some looked at me with pity, others with jealousy, which I didn’t understand, some hatred, some amused and most waiting to share the gossip through their phones, eagerly waiting in their hands.

Van looked stunned at first. He glanced between me and Kieran, and I could see the wheels in his head turning as he tried to understand why Kieran would make such an absurd request.

A question that was still bugging me, and I couldn’t provide an answer to. We didn’t know each other prior to this night, so why did he request my divorce and ask me to come with him, all in less than an hour?

“What?” I whispered after a long beat of silence. That was the only word I could manage.

Van recovered first, eyes gleaming with that familiar cruelty as he laughed, “It seems you are not entirely useless after all, Emmy.” he sneered.

The room recovered, and some chuckled maliciously at his words. “You should go with him,” he urged with a condescending tone “You are useless to me now, and if someone as powerful as Mr Archibald wants to make a maid out of you, you should lick the sole of his feet and shout out your gratitude”

How did I fall in love with someone like this? The words slammed into me as I stared at Van. The humiliation of it all still burned. It got worse with each word, each stare, each minute.

Tears I fought raged to the surface. A mix of anger and pain burned like a furnace under my skin.

Kieran hadn’t dropped his hand. He held it out, holding my gaze, not minding the snickers and murmurs around us as he waited patiently for my answer.

Everything felt wrong about his offer. Why would he want me? What was he going to do with me? Was this all a show only to discard me as soon as I took his hand? Would his humiliation burn worse than Van’s when I tried to take his hand, and he tells me it was all a joke?

“The paper is here,” Van announced gleefully, and Kieran dropped his hand to watch someone walk towards us with a file in his hand.

My divorce papers.

The man handed it to Kieran, who brought out the papers, and I sucked in a harsh breath when I realised it wasn’t the temporary one I had expected but a formal divorce paper.

My eyes snapped to Kieran, who was already watching me “How?” I choked out.

“I can make anything I want happen in the blink of an eye,” he answered casually, like rearranging people’s lives was like sorting out work clothes during the weekend.

“Can I sign them?” Van asked, his fingers squirming as he lingered behind Kieran like a child waiting to receive free candies.

The sight made my stomach churn as he snatched it quickly when Kieran held it out for him to take. He signed them immediately, without any hesitation, and when the man who had brought the divorce papers handed him the contract papers, Van practically squealed.

I am not kidding. The sound that came out of his throat was more like a little girl’s squeak than a groan.

Kieran signed it as well, and one copy was given to Van to keep. He raised his glass in triumph and clinked it with a few of the guests standing close.

I could have collapsed right there, but I didn’t. Not yet. Not here.

“So?” Kieran asked, this time much softer than the first.  “My offer remains, but I have limited time, Artemis, so choose now”

Kieran’s voice had stolen the attention of the guests again. Right there, I made my decision without another thought.

When Kieran held out his hand again, I walked towards him and placed my hand in his. I didn’t want to think about it.

How I was taking the hand of the man who had just turned my world upside down. The man who had humiliated me and torn down the house I had built. All I could think of at that moment was that I needed to leave.

It didn’t matter what form the escape came in, I wanted it. Even if it was from the devil who ruined my life.

The crowd gasped in surprise as though they hadn’t expected me to take Kieran’s offer, but I didn’t care.

Kieran’s hand closed over mine without hesitation. I must be crazy to say this, but his hold almost felt like an anchor, unlike the words he had spilt up until the moment.

Kieran didn’t smile or say another word, but I could swear there was something close to a victory glint in his eyes that made my stomach curl.

Did I just walk into a trap?

I wasn’t given enough time to answer as Kieran led me forward, out of the house and the chaos he started.

I took his lead, keeping my head high and didn’t look back as the crowd parted for us to leave. I didn’t even glance at Van. He didn’t deserve it. Not after what happened tonight.

The little pride I had, however shattered when, as soon as I crossed the door, Van’s voice rang out behind me, “Good riddance”