Chapter 52

The following morning, just outside the courthouse.

Emilia sent out message after message,her calls going straight to voicemail every time.

All last evening, she had tried to get through to Rodger.Since nothing had worked, she had sent him a message, suggesting they meet up next day to wrap up the divorce documents.

Now, with plenty of time already gone,she still had not heard a single word back from him.

Sloane glanced over, her brow furrowed."He still hasn't answered anything?"

"No. I've called and texted him, but there's been nothing. We agreed on a time last night, but now I can't even tell what he's thinking," Emilia said with a sigh, shaking her head.

Sloane asked, "You're sure he promised to show up?"

"Yes, he sent me a message confirming everything.You can read it yourself," Emilia said, holding out her phone to let her see the screen.

"Is it possible he's ignoring you on purpose because you left him hanging before?" asked Sloane,her tone thoughtful.

"That's not it. He's the one who's desperate to end things. He's terrified that people might see Violet as the reason for our split. Even if he felt slighted, he wouldn't risk missing this chance,"Emilia said, sounding sure of herself.

Between them, this sort of drama felt pointless -something that happened with people who had just started dating, not with a pair like her and Rodger.

For Violet to secure her place, Rodger would never gamble with her good name.

Every extra day this divorce dragged on only increased the risk of people digging up rumors about Rodger cheating during the marriage.

If Violet ever got branded as the "mistress",those whispers would never die down online.Her reputation would take a blow she could not repair.

"You'd expect him to show up, even if he had to crawl out of a wreck. That man's never been

shy about wanting this over," said Sloane,scanning the crowd and folding her arms.

"Let's just give him a bit more time," Emilia responded,calm as ever.

Suddenly, a stranger appeared, pressing a colorful flyer into both of their hands.

Emilia handed hers to Sloane without glancing at it.

"This is amazing!" Sloane said, clutching Emilia's arm. "The new club just opened, and the deals are wild. These guys in the ads look unbelievable. We should hit the place tonight and see if it's as good as they say."

Emilia took a quick peek, and she had to admit,the men pictured were pretty striking.

Before she could stop herself, Emilia said, "They still don't compare to Rodger."

Sloane rolled her eyes. "Rodger? Please. Oliver outshines him any day. And Elias is the real stunner, but too bad he's got a limp. Wilbur isn't far behind either-he's got the looks to turn heads."

"Guess you have a point," said Emilia, giving in with a small nod.

"So,what do you think of this lineup? You know what people say-when you let someone new into your life, the last one fades into the background. Maybe you'll find one who makes you forget all about Rodger," Sloane teased.

A single memory crept into Emilia's thoughts,uninvited. She remembered being at the hospital with Elias, close enough to catch the heat of his breath.

That moment carried his scent-intoxicating and inviting, with something untamed and captivating about it. Everything about him suggested a quiet strength, and the air around him seemed to spark with a kind of restless energy.

Emilia's chest tightened as her cheeks warmed,embarrassment and excitement mixing together.

Meanwhile, over at the hospital, Rodger stretched out on the bed, his eyes flicking to the phone beside him.

A shadow crossed his features. He wondered why Emilia had not tried reaching out again. She had spent most of the morning blowing up his phone, practically demanding that he show up at the courthouse. Now, nothing but silence hung between them.