Narrated by Mason:
The day has arrived. Finally, I will see Paige again. I feel excited, sad, and angry all at once. I wish things could have been different between us, but I can't do anything to change the past.
I look at myself in the mirror of our bedroom, where I still sleep, trying to sense her scent. Even though there's nothing left, I refuse to stop sleeping here, at least until Peyton moves in. I've thought about permanently closing this room and using the one next to it for us. That way, the one next to it will be for the baby. I hope Peyton won't mind that.
The pregnancy is progressing well. She hasn't had any pain, and her next check-up is in two weeks.
I'm on my way to the meeting with my lawyer and Paige and her lawyer. I'm really anxious to see her.
I get out of the car and walk faster than I intend to, just so I can see her. As I enter, I spot her from a distance. She looks even more beautiful than before if that's even possible.
She hasn't noticed my presence, so I take the opportunity to observe her without hiding it. I missed her so much. My feet automatically move closer to her; I need to sense her scent to remember how she smells.
I find myself standing behind her while Paige is talking to a woman whom I assume is the lawyer. I inhale her scent, and she tenses up. She turns around and sees me.
"Hello," I greet like an idiot, not knowing what else to say. I see her wipe the smile off her face and become serious.
"Hello, let me know when your lawyer arrives so we can sign and settle this matter," she says sternly.
"How have you been?" I ask, trying to maintain a conversation.
"Fine, thank you," she replies, turning back to look at her lawyer.
She has changed a lot, not physically, but in her demeanor. Where did the sweet and loving Paige go? My beautiful Paige has changed so much in this short time. I can't believe how she spoke to me and how easily she stopped talking to me. Didn't she miss me? Did she forget everything she felt for me?
I can't stop thinking about it until my lawyer touches my shoulder and tells me we can start.
We enter a room with a table, where a mediator is present to witness our mutual divorce agreement.
Throughout the entire process, I observe her, but she doesn't look at me once. She receives the document from her lawyer and signs it without even reading it.
"My client agrees completely with everything Mr. Mason requests. She will not contest anything and hopes that this process is resolved quickly. The only modification she made to this document she signed is to donate the money your client wants to give her for the house to charity. She doesn't want it," her lawyer says, handing me a document that Paige has already signed.
"It's rightfully hers. The house belonged to both of us," I say, unable to stop myself.
"To my client..." her lawyer begins to speak, but I interrupt.
"Can you answer for yourself?" I ask her directly.
— "My client doesn't have to tolerate being spoken to in that manner. She's here voluntarily in this room and deserves respect. If she doesn't want to respond, she doesn't have to. Respect her decision," the lawyer tells me angrily.
— "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice," I say, as I did raise my voice when I asked if she could respond.
— "Very well, read the document and confirm that we haven't changed anything other than the money for the house," Paige's lawyer insists.
My lawyer takes the document and reads it silently. I try to do the same, but I can't concentrate with her standing in front of me, not even looking at me. Her indifference hurts me, and I understand it because of the change she made regarding the money for the house, considering I had already accepted it, and if she changed it, it's because she found out I will be living with Peyton in our house.
My lawyer tells me everything is in order, and I sign, annoyed at how easy it was for her to end everything between us. I may be shameless for thinking this way since it was my fault that it all ended, it was my actions that ruined everything.
When we both sign, I clear my throat and look at the woman who will now be my ex-wife.
"Can we talk?" I ask, looking directly at her.
"There's no need. I have things to do, and I'm short on time. If you want to accompany me to my company to get caught up, I don't have a problem with that, but it will only be about work matters. We don't have to talk about personal things anymore, except for Simba, of course," she responds to me like an icy wall.
"Fine, let's go to your company. I can drive you," I insist, wanting to be alone with her for a while.
"No, thanks. They're coming to pick me up," she replies, checking the time.
"Then I'll see you at the company," I say, annoyed.
I leave, furious at her coldness towards me. I didn't expect any of this; on the contrary, in my mind, everything was different. Her coldness hurts me, but at the same time, I understand it. If I were in her place, I would have reacted even worse, or perhaps I wouldn't have come to sign at all.
I feel awful seeing her like this. I miss the woman who was my wife during our trip, the times we shared. It's not that I want to be with her other than as friends because she doesn't deserve to be treated as a second choice. I just want to talk to her and see that she's doing well where she lives now. That's all.
I drive to her company, and as I get out of the car, I realize she hasn't arrived yet. I head straight to her office and wait for her, sitting in her chair, just to see her walk in. The minutes pass, and I start to feel impatient as she doesn't show up. Just when I'm losing my patience, I hear her laughter, and butterflies flutter in my stomach. Besides her, Sarah is with her. I recognize her voice anywhere.
They open the door, and upon seeing me, they both fall silent.