Chapter 1 - Anniversary of Goodbye
The aroma of rosemary, butter, and garlic drifted through the mansion’s marble halls, warm and inviting, almost capable of fooling anyone into believing this was a home built on love.
It was not.
For five years, Neil Wade had cooked in this kitchen like a man trying to win a war no one else knew was being fought.
Five years of waking before sunrise.
Five years of measuring medication, preparing meals, memorizing dietary restrictions, folding designer clothes, cleaning messes he never made, and loving a woman who had never once truly seen him.
Tonight marked eight years since he first fell in love with Kira Thorne.
Five years since she had become his wife.
And tonight, he would finally stop pretending.
Neil stood in front of the stove, his tall frame illuminated by the soft golden lights beneath the imported oak cabinets. His sleeves were rolled neatly to his forearms, exposing lean muscle earned not in gyms, but in laboratories, observatories, and years of carrying burdens that no one ever thanked him for.
His expression remained calm, almost unreadable, but inside, something ancient and aching had finally died.
He plated the final dish with the precision of a surgeon.
Pan-seared salmon.
Steamed vegetables.
A small bowl of jasmine rice.
No excess sodium.
No shellfish.
No ingredients that might trigger her seizures.
Perfect.
Just like every meal he had made for her over the last five years.
And just like every other effort he had given her…
It would go unnoticed.
Neil placed the plate on the dining table, then reached into the inner pocket of his fitted charcoal blazer.
He pulled out a thick envelope.
Divorce papers.
Freshly signed.
Freshly notarized.
Final.
He stared at the documents for several seconds.
His thumb brushed over the edge.
Five years.
Five years of sacrificing everything.
His career.
His dream.
His identity.
His future.
All for a woman who still looked at another man like he hung the stars.
A soft vibration interrupted his thoughts.
Neil looked down at his phone.
One new message.
From Dr. James.
We still have your seat. Last chance, Neil.
Neil stared at the message.
Then slowly locked his phone.
Soon.
Very soon.
The front door opened.
High heels clicked across marble floors.
Laughter echoed through the hall.
Neil didn’t need to look up to know she wasn’t alone.
He recognized that laugh.
And the man she only used it for.
“Simon,” Kira’s voice sang from the foyer.
Neil’s jaw tightened.
Then came a second voice.
Male.
Smooth.
Confident.
Far too familiar.
“Thanks for letting me borrow your jacket, Kira. It still smells like you.”
Neil’s grip around the plate tightened for half a second before he relaxed.
No anger.
Not anymore.
Only clarity.
The dining room doors opened.
And there she was.
Kira Thorne.
Heiress.
Beauty.
His wife.
The woman he had spent five years loving.
She looked breathtaking.
As always.
Long dark hair cascaded over one shoulder.
Her crimson dress hugged every curve like it had been sewn directly onto her skin.
Her lips carried the faintest smile.
A smile Neil realized, with painful certainty…
She had never worn for him.
Beside her stood Simon Franklin.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly relaxed.
Perfectly at home in Neil’s house.
Kira barely glanced at Neil.
“Hey.”
Just one word.
No kiss.
No smile.
No anniversary greeting.
Nothing.
Neil offered a small nod.
“You’re late.”
Kira rolled her eyes.
“Oh my God, Neil. Don’t start.”
Simon chuckled softly.
“Still the responsible husband, huh?”
Neil looked at him.
Calm.
Unreadable.
“Dinner’s ready.”
Kira walked straight to the table, scrolling through her phone.
No thank you.
No appreciation.
No acknowledgment.
Just habit.
Just expectation.
Just Neil.
Simon leaned casually against the chair.
“Smells great.”
Kira looked up.
“Oh, Simon, are we still on for Norway next week? I found this gorgeous ski resort in the mountains.”
Neil stood perfectly still.
Norway.
She had never once taken a vacation with him.
Simon grinned.
“Of course. Just us.”
Kira smiled.
That smile.
That devastating, effortless smile.
Neil felt something inside him finally break.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
Permanently.
He reached into his blazer.
Pulled out the envelope.
And placed it on the dining table.
Kira didn’t even look up.
“What’s that?”
Neil stared at her.
For the first time in five years…
He spoke without hope.
Without fear.
Without love clouding his judgment.
“Kira.”
She finally looked at him.
Annoyed.
Impatient.
“What?”
Neil met her eyes.
And said the words that would change both of their lives forever.
“Let’s get divorced.”
Kira blinked.
Then looked back down at her phone.
“Whatever.”
Neil watched her sign without even reading.
Watched her hand move lazily across the paper.
Watched five years of his life end with less attention than she gave a restaurant bill.
The pen clicked shut.
She slid the documents back across the table.
“There. Happy?”
Neil looked down at her signature.
Legal.
Binding.
Done.
For a moment…
He said nothing.
Then slowly…
Very slowly…
A small smile touched his lips.
Not of happiness.
Not of revenge.
But of freedom.
For the first time in five years…
Neil Wade could finally breathe.
And somewhere far above Earth…
The stars waited for him.
End of Chapter 1
