Dark circles formed around her eyes as Shantelle packed her bags at five in the morning. She kept returning to the closet and deciding on what to bring. Evan bought her a few dresses. Even if they were in a loveless marriage, somehow, he had thought about her.

"I think it's better not to bring anything that would remind me of Evan," she mumbled and resumed packing only those she bought with her father's money.

When she was done, she called for her father's driver and asked him to pick her up. Only then did she read the terms of their divorce. She read it once and twice until it all sunk into her head.

"You are getting a divorce, Shanty. You are getting a divorce," she repeated. "No more crying. Cry later when you are at home."

"Ten million dollars." She reread. Evan would give her ten million dollars as alimony for accepting the divorce terms.

Shantelle marked out the alimony. She affixed her signature on the correction. Afterward, she cautiously signed her name on every page and at the last part.

She felt a knife stab her heart as she affixed her signature next to Evan's. For a moment, she wondered when he had signed this contract.

When Shantelle was done, her shaking hands placed the same document beside the table, and she sadly removed her wedding ring. Tears threatened to fall again, but she held back.

Shantelle allowed herself a few minutes to take it all in. Just as she was sitting on the bed, her phone buzzed. Immediately, she assumed it was her father's driver.

To her surprise, it was the same anonymous number that had been telling her about Evan and Nicole. However, the message was bolder this time, declaring herself.

Her eyes widened at what she saw, and her heart galloped!

On her screen was a picture of Evan having coffee at an unfamiliar dining area. From the photo, Shantelle could tell that Evan had just woken up. His hair was messy, and he wore his usual office attire, except it was all wrinkled.

The message on her phone read: [No matter what you do, he will come back to me. He never loved you. Give up.]

Shantelle's face turned ghostly white. She could not believe her eyes! Apparently, her mysterious tipper was none other than Nicole Lively herself! How brazen!

Her mouth fell open as she threw her head back on the sheets. She laughed and laughed while tears streamed down her face.

After what felt like ten minutes of laughing and crying, her heart out, she replied to the message, saying: [So it was you all along, Nicole. I would never have thought. Well, you can have him. I accept my defeat.]

Either way, Shantelle had already signed the divorce papers and earnestly accepted that Evan did not love her.

For seconds, she contemplated what to do. Still, she thought it was necessary to let Evan know what Nicole had done. She took a screenshot of Nicole's message. Then she sent it to Evan.

Shantelle typed her message: [I agree to the divorce. You can have your ten million dollars. I don't need the money, Evan. I am Shantelle Scott, daughter of the world-famous cardio surgeon, Doctor William Scott. Thank you for everything, Evan, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything.]

Before leaving, Shantelle made sure that Evan would get her message clearly. She wrote added instructions in her letter:

[By the way, I marked out the alimony and countersigned it. As I said in my text, you don't need to give me any money. And, I'm sorry about the picture message I sent you. I just thought you should know.]

The next call she received was that of her father's driver. She gave her room one last look before finally leaving her marital home.

***

Last night, in a private room in an exclusive club, Evan was spending time with his friends. His brown-colored eyes narrowed at his drink. His perfectly sculpted and slightly bearded jaws clenched before gulping down a full glass of hard liquor.

After settling the glass on the table, he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair and announced, "I'm divorcing Shantelle."

Dead air fell upon the room, but soon, one of his friends, Sean, asked, "I can't believe this. Are you serious, Evan?"

"He is dead serious, man. We all knew he was always envious of our single-blessed life," Wendell remarked before gulping down a full glass of wine.

"What's going on?" Keith arrived, curious about the purpose of their gathering.

Sean Ross, Keith Henderson, and Wendell Franco have been good friends with Evan since high school. They parted ways when they studied at different colleges, but they had always communicated with each other.

Sean and Wendell first glanced at Evan. Seeing he was seriously drinking his liquor, Wendell revealed, "Evan is divorcing our beautiful Shanty."

"What?" Keith asked with a frown. He sat next to Evan and poured himself a glass of wine. "Why?"

"Why not?" Evan said back. "I never wanted to get married two years ago. I was twenty-five then, at the prime of my life. I had many plans. It was all my father's doing, and she rode in on it. She is not that innocent!"

"But I thought you both were fine last year?" Sean asked. "Weren't you going out on occasional dates?"

"A few. A few dinner dates were just a front to appease my father." Evan scoffed. His response was his way of justifying his decision. "I just endured it. But now that father no longer has the stamina to run the corporation, and he has no choice but to hand me the full authority, I am free to make my own choices."

"Besides, I have had enough of her being constantly jealous and insecure!" Evan added.

There was silence between the four friends, but eventually, Keith sought, "Is this because of Nicole Lively?"

"I don't know, man. I mean, you have been spending time with Nicole lately. Plus, you kept that a secret from Shanty. It's natural for Shanty to be jealous," Wendell suggested.

"Who I make friends with is none of her business," Evan curtly pointed out and then indulged himself in another glass of alcohol. "Whose side are you on?"

The temperature in their room dropped instantly. It took minutes and a few more drinks for Sean to break the ice. He asked, "So you are only interested in becoming friends with Nicole? Or are you planning to make her your girlfriend after the divorce?"

Evan thought deeply about it. That was the plan before he was forced into marriage. Now, many things had changed, but of course, he still felt responsible for Nicole's well-being. Nevertheless, he wasn't sure how he felt about it.

Despite his uncertainties, he retorted, "Why not? I brought Nicole to Rose Hills two years ago with that intention."

Evan immediately noticed the varied expressions of his friends. Keith scoffed. Sean sneered. Wendell bit his lip. All the more irritation filled his heart.

"What the hell is wrong with all of you?" Evan cast them an intimidating glare as he questioned.

"Nothing, Evan. It's just that." Sean cautiously looked at Wendell and Keith. When he confirmed their minds were synched, he said, "We don't get you, Evan."

Keith nodded. He, for one, had known Shantelle and Evan since they were young. Evan used to cherish Shantelle, and their families always knew they would end up together. Everything changed when he came home one day and brought Nicole Lively.

"What do you mean you don't get me?" Evan, in his stern voice, sought.

"Sure, they have similarities, but if you look closely, they are so far apart. And it's not just the look; it's everything else; Shantelle's background, her character." Shaking his head, Keith said, "Let me show you, Evan." With his left hand raised above his head, he said, "This is Shantelle." Then, he lowered his right hand below his waist and suggested, "This is Nicole Lively."

"That's the difference between the two of them. Any man would want Shantelle over Nicole. We don't get how you like Nicole over your wife," Keith said in a sarcastic tone.

"Then!" Evan yelled, "Why don't you marry her?!"

Angered by his friend's idea, Evan pushed the liquor bottles off the table, spilling the contents on the tiles. He got up and fixed his coat and acted to leave.

Just when he had heard enough from his friends, Keith said back, "Are you sure about that, Evan? Because if you are not interested in Shanty, I'd be more than happy to pursue her!"

The thought of Keith wooing his wife filled his heart with fury. Keith was a known playboy. He dated women left and right! He did not deserve someone like Shantelle. He said back, "Don't even think about it!"

For an hour, Evan drove around town aimlessly, thinking about the divorce. Thanks to his so-called friends, he was second-guessing his decision.

It was past midnight when he still had no specific direction where to go.

He thought about going to a hotel or his office, but suddenly, he remembered one person who could understand him, Nicole. Thus, he drove to Nicole's apartment.

When Evan arrived at the apartment, he rang the doorbell several times. Finally, when the door opened, he saw Nicole's smiling face.

She was surprised to see him, and he could tell by how her eyes widened and gleamed. Faintly, she said, "Evan, you are here!"

"I need someone to talk to," Evan revealed. "I hope you don't mind."

Nicole quickly let him in and guided him to the living room. She said, "What's bothering you, Evan?"

Then she frowned, and with a sad expression, she asked, "Did you fight with Shantelle? I'm sorry. I don't know how she learned that I had returned. I was surprised when she came barging into my door last Tuesday."

Nicole quickly cried and said, "I should have never come back here and make trouble for you and Shantelle -"

"I've asked for a divorce," Evan revealed.

"What?" She asked in shock.

"I told Shantelle I want a divorce. Since my father stepped down at the company, he can no longer force me to stay married to Shantelle," Evan revealed, looking past Nicole.

"Are -are you sure?" Nicole inquired.

Evan groaned. He lowered his head and rested his face against his palms, saying, "It has to be done. I want out. This wasn't how I wanted my life to be."

Nicole stretched her hands to rub Evan's shoulder. She said, "I know how you feel, Evan. It's hard when everything is taken from you - like how your father deprived me of getting an opportunity here in Rose Hills. You and I both know what it feels like to be stuck in a situation you can't escape."

In a caring tone, she added, "I wholeheartedly support your decision. You deserve to make your own choices."

To Evan, Nicole was a good listener, and that always gave him a sense of comfort. It reminded him of how he became friends with Nicole in the first place.

When Evan was still taking his master's degree at Lockwood University, he met Nicole while borrowing a book from the library. She was working as a librarian there. At first, she quickly caught his attention because her back looked like Shantelle's. Besides that, Nicole was very efficient in giving Evan the books required for his research. Then, every time he visited the library, they would chat briefly.

Evan and Nicole seemed to like the same things. Outside the library, they often bumped into each other, especially in the places where Evan spent his free time. It was as if fate was bringing them together that Evan casually dated her. So when it was time for Evan to take on a more prominent role at the company, he offered to bring Nicole to Rose Hills. He wasn't sure yet of how he felt about her back then.

Nicole did not have friends or family, and Evan felt sorry for her. Evan thought, with his connections in Rose Hills, Nicole would have a better life in the city of his birth.

Unfortunately for Evan, he forgot about one thing.

Shantelle Scott.

He failed to factor in Shantelle in his decision to bring a woman to Rose Hills. How could he forget that his parents had always wanted him to marry Shantelle?

Evan could only blame the distance. He was technically gone for seven years, returning only a few days every year and forgetting about that verbal arrangement between their families.

However, before Evan could consider things thoroughly, his father acted harshly against Nicole. He looked down at her and tried to pay her off. When it did not work, and Nicole remained in the city, his father forced him to marry Shantelle.

Evan let out all his frustrations with Nicole. Feeling relieved, he said, "Thank you for hearing me out, Nicole. I'm glad I came here. Is it okay if I sleep in the guest room?"

"Of course, Evan. Technically, this is your house," Nicole replied.

Evan guided himself into the guest room. He smiled at Nicole, who was standing outside the door. He said, "Goodnight, Nicole."

"Goodnight, Evan," Nicole answered with an amiable smile.

When the door slammed shut, Nicole frowned. She was very disappointed that Evan did not let her in. She walked closer and even tried to open the door. However, it was locked from the inside.

She cussed but reminded herself of how Evan was divorcing Shantelle! She made her way to her room and mumbled, "Be patient, Nicole. In due time. The wait is all worth it."

***

In the morning, Nicole prepared breakfast for Evan. Then, recalling how Evan complained about Shantelle's paranoia, she took a picture of him while drinking his coffee.

Over the past few months, she had secretly sent clues to Shantelle that Evan had been seeing her. The photos did not have to suggest that they were in a relationship. Nicole knew Shantelle had always been insecure when it came to her.

Since Evan was divorcing Shantelle, she no longer hid her identity. 'Soon, Evan will be mine, like it should have been two years ago, bitch!'

Nicole smirked as she sent the photo to Shantelle. She gave Evan her back and awaited Shantelle's reaction.

After a few minutes, she received a response, and oh, how it was favorable to her. A sinister grin became painted on her face with the realization that Shantelle had given up!

She imagined herself living with Evan, sleeping beside him in the bed, and finally making love. Her relationship with Evan had always been ambiguous. When they were casually dating back in Lockwood City, they had kissed, but they had never gone beyond that. Evan never gave her a title, whether a girlfriend or a fling.

When Evan married Shantelle, everything changed. Evan held back with her and put a distance between them. It was worse when Evan's father banned her from the city. She could not get a job, and Erick's men constantly threatened her away.

Nicole had no choice but to stay away for over a year. Once in a while, she would reach out to Evan, but their communication was minimal.

Finally, with her back in Rose Hills and with Evan holding the CEO position of the Thompson Group of Companies, Nicole was more determined to be with Evan. She smirked as she thought, 'Soon, with Shantelle gone, Evan will remember who he truly likes, and that's me. I did not sacrifice so many years to fail!'

"Thanks for breakfast, Nicole. I better head back and remember, you have an interview at the public library. Don't worry. Father would not interfere from now on. He has become tired of fighting me."

"Really?" Nicole asked. "That's good news. That means I can finally pay you back for all the help you gave me."

"No, don't pay me back. I owe you for what my father did." Evan suggested. He then turned in the direction of the common restroom and asked, "Can I use the toilet?"

"Sure, Evan," Nicole said with a smile.

She watched as Evan first attended to some of his messages. He left his phone on the table before going to the restroom.

Nicole was cleaning the table when she saw Shantelle's message. Her hands itched to see what Shantelle had to say, especially since she had revealed herself to her. Thus, she opened the text. Thankfully, Evan's mobile was still open from his earlier use. She did not need his password at that point.

When she saw that Shantelle had sent a screenshot of her picture message, Nicole panicked. Even if she had used an alternate number, it was obvious that the picture came from her. The angle of where the photo was taken gave it away.

'Evan can't know!' She quickly deleted the screenshot Shantelle sent, including the message where she had agreed to the divorce. "Bitch! Do you think that will work?"

She laughed. She rolled her eyes and said, "Sorry, Evan will never know about it. You are such a loser, Shantelle Scott."

"Sweetheart, if he can't appreciate you, then he doesn't deserve you," Doctor William Scott said. "I'm glad you have come to that decision."

William and Eleanor Scott embraced their weeping daughter inside the Scotts family mansion.

"I loved him, dad, mom. How I wish it did not have to end this way -" Shantelle expressed, but her mother cut her off.

"But more importantly, you have to love yourself," Eleanor suggested.

As Shantelle pulled away from her parents, her father suggested, "It's time to put yourself first, my dearest Shanty."

"When you married Evan, you lost yourself - your dreams and aspirations. I know you loved Evan, but there's more to life than that boy." William lifted Shantelle's chin and suggested, "You deserve better."

If it were two years ago, William would have wanted Evan as a son-in-law, but since Shantelle married him, he saw through her sadness. In the first few months of their marriage, his daughter was still elated at being with Evan. However, as the months passed, he could see Shantelle's longing to be loved.

Recently, she has been crying more often. She lost so much weight and was never interested in anything else but following Evan around. It pained William to see his daughter this way.

Shantelle was never lacking in love. Everyone around her loved her! For his daughter to feel so unwanted - to become doubtful of herself hurt William the most. He had long been asking Shantelle to get a divorce, but she always insisted that their marriage was getting better, day by day. Of course, that was not what he saw.

Finally, they were going to be separated. He did not care who initiated it. What mattered most was how his daughter would be free to live her life. He urged, "Let's leave this town. Let's relocate to where you can pursue medicine."

William smiled and suggested, "Become a surgeon like me."

In William's view, taking Shantelle away was the best solution. His daughter may appear strong right now, decided on the separation, but he knew well that Evan was her weakness. She could easily crawl back into his arms, and it wasn't because his daughter had no brain. She was too in love with Evan, and it clouded her judgment.

Shantelle sighed and contemplated. After some time, she weakly replied, "Okay, father. I agree with your plans."

"I'm glad you approve," William answered. "Then your mother and I will prepare for everything. I'll have the house for sale. I don't want us coming back here, even if it means cutting my friendship with the Thompsons."

"But, dad. That would mean - your work?" Shantelle asked.

"I will resign from St. Dominique's Hospital as their director. I will sell my shares at the university. I can easily find work elsewhere, being the best cardio surgeon in the world," William suggested. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll take care of you."

"I have a city in mind. Warlington. They have the best training facility for Surgeons," he revealed. "As soon as I can find a home, I'll move you out of Rose Hills."

***

Days passed.

"Mr. Thompson, sir. I'm very sorry, but my mother was admitted to the hospital because of pneumonia the other day. May I please be allowed to review the documents at the hospital?" James, Evan's assistant, asked. "I will bring my laptop with me."

"You will bring your laptop to the hospital?" Evan leaned back and sighed. He finally understood why his assistant had been so exhausted recently. He shook his head and suggested, "Take two days off and attend to your mother. I'll ask Sherly to cover your work. Get some proper sleep while you are at it."

James' eyes lit up. He quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, sir Thompson. Thank you so much. I will give Sherly my endorsements."

Evan brushed off his assistant with a hand, saying, "Go. Take care of your mother.”

"Sir, since you allowed me to take a leave," James said. "May I recommend that you also get a good sleep yourself?"

Evan froze. Was it that obvious how he had been struggling to rest for many nights? He glanced at his private room next to the office and gasped. Maybe he needed a good sleep - at home, the same home he shared with Shantelle.

Again, he sucked in a breath, knowing it was finally time to deal with the divorce. Evan had yet to return home for more than a week. It was beyond the time that he gave Shantelle. 'Could she have already signed the divorce papers?'

There was only one way to find out. He turned to James and said, "You are right. Thank you, James."

"You are welcome, sir. Goodnight," James said before leaving the CEO's office.

***

"Mrs. Shaw? I have several clothes from the office needing laundry. Kindly take care of them," Evan said as soon as he entered the villa.

"Oh, my. Mister Thompson, you have been staying too much in the office. You used up all your spare clothes!" Mrs. Shaw said. "Have you eaten dinner? I can make one very quickly."

When Mrs. Shaw suggested she prepare his dinner, he frowned and asked, "Shanty did not make my dinner?"

Sure, he gave Shantelle divorce papers, but she had always attended to his needs, even when they were arguing. The fact that she did not cook dinner was surprising to him.

Mrs. Shaw was taken aback by Evan's probing. She knotted her brows and asked, "But, Sir, aren't you getting a divorce? She left three days after you and the Misses quarreled in the living room last week."

Immediately, Mrs. Shaw lowered her head, saying, "I'm sorry to pry. Your voices were so loud it was hard not to listen."

"I see." Evan frowned. He could not believe it. "She left?"

"Yes, Sir. She has left some papers on your bedside table," Mrs. Shaw revealed.

Evan skipped dinner altogether. He went straight to the bedroom and saw the papers, exactly as Mrs. Shaw had disclosed. When he moved closer, he understood it was the divorce agreement.

He was surprised that Shantelle signed it, even without making a drama. She did not go to his office. She did not call or send him any messages these past few days. Evan did not also get a call from his father, which meant his family had not learned about his decision to divorce Shantelle.

Evan picked up the two-toned wedding ring that was meant for Shantelle. He unwittingly studied the ring on his finger and muttered, "She signed it. She really signed it."

His brows met. Evan thought he would be relieved, but why did it feel like his chest was heavy? He was about to remove his wedding ring when he discovered another paper underneath the divorce agreement.

He picked it up and recognized it was a letter addressed to him. Lazily, he flipped the paper open and read it.

[My Dearest Evan...]

The weight on Evan's chest felt heavier in each line of the letter. Shantelle recounted the years when they were young. Somehow, it also reminded Evan of how close they were back then. Eventually, his eyes landed on the last words, which appeared to have been written as a follow-up. It read:

[By the way, I marked out the alimony and countersigned it. As I said in my text, you don't need to give me any money. And, I'm sorry about the picture message I sent you. I just thought you should know.]

He raised a brow and wondered, "A message? She sent a message?"

Evan found it strange because he had never received a single message from her.