Chapter 13 - The Last Signature
The divorce took eleven minutes.
Eight years of marriage.
Eleven minutes.
Blake signed.
Evelyn signed.
The judge reviewed the agreement.
No fight over money.
No fight over custody.
Sophie would spend substantial time with both parents.
Blake had requested almost nothing financially.
When it ended, they walked outside together.
“Mrs. Winslow—” a reporter called.
Evelyn stopped.
Then smiled faintly.
“Fairchild.”
The reporter corrected himself.
“Ms. Fairchild.”
Blake heard it.
He looked at her.
“Sounds right.”
Evelyn studied him.
“So does Blake.”
He laughed softly.
No titles.
No empire.
Just Blake.
They stood awkwardly beside the courthouse steps.
“I'll pick Sophie up Friday,” he said.
“She'll be ready.”
He turned to leave.
“Blake.”
He looked back.
“I forgive you.”
He froze.
Evelyn continued before he misunderstood.
“That doesn't mean we're coming back.”
“I know.”
“It means I don't want to carry what happened anymore.”
His eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
He walked away.
Evelyn watched until he disappeared.
Then she took a deep breath.
For the first time since she was twenty-six, she was not someone's wife.
She expected sadness.
May you like
Instead, she felt space.
And she intended to discover what could grow inside it.
