Meeting The One For Me

Chapter 6

Melted snow pooled on the uneven cement road, trampled into a messy slush by passing pedestrians.

“Wait here. I’ll go in,” Audrey said, pushing open the car door.

Nathan unfastened his seatbelt in the passenger seat. “I’ll come with you to ensure you don’t run away.”

Nathan and Lucas followed Audrey, carefully avoiding the muddy water collected in the potholes. They frowned as they surveyed the crowded and chaotic shantytown.

“Why are you living here?” Lucas asked, his gaze shifting away from a pile of garbage on the street, his brow furrowed with concern. “Even if you don’t want to stay in the dorms, you could’ve come to Jen’s. This place is dirty and unsafe for a lady like you.

“It’s okay,” Audrey responded. She didn’t want to claborate.

Staying in a hotel was too expensive, and she couldn’t afford to spend her savings from part–time jobs.

She hadn’t planned on staying in Sheysea City for long and didn’t want to sign a long–term contract for an apartment.

Despite the poor conditions, the place was the quickest and cheapest short–term rental option she could find after moving out of the apartment two days before.

They walked deeper into the secluded area, eventually stopping in front of a wooden door with a lock.

Nathan’s frown deepened.

Audrey didn’t invite them in. She unlocked the door then quickly retrieved the documents she needed from a drawer.

The wooden door seemed flimsy, and the interior was small. It had a bed, a simple wardrobe, a pile of books neatly stacked on a table, a chair, some old kitchenware, and no bathroom. Yet, the bedding was tidy, the old headboard and table were clean, and the floor shone from being freshly mopped.

Audrey locked the door and turned to them, “Let’s go.”

The ride from the neighborhood to city hall was silent. Everyone was lost in their thoughts.

At city hall, the staff noticed both Nathan’s and Audrey’s injuries. Before issuing the divorce certificate, they uttered the same advice they gave all couples.

As he looked at the certificate in his hands, Nathan found the process unbelievably smooth.

got the divorce certificate. Nathan, can I expect your public apology tomorrow?”

Nathan responded, snapping

r your

Chander 6

see

on the certificate tightened. The image of Audrey pressing him against the wall of a school building

pocket. His expression was dark as he

in isn’t safe. I said you could have

Audrey replied curtly, also putting the divorce certificate into her coat pocket.

Nathan was severed. She hoped this would never meet

Audrey refuse Nathan’s gesture, Lucas offered, “I have a vacant

now.”

only her clear, cold eyes visible. “I’ll withdraw

you!”

her head again, polite but distant. “No need to trouble yourself. It’s out of

his lips together tighter as he watched her swift

come to

at the bus stop outside city hall, Audrey gazed at the divorce

Nathan would end. And yet, it seemed

to marry her immediately, to celebrate his 26th birthday with their

one had come

intention to burn their marriage certificate after the wedding ceremony, proclaiming that there would only be widowhood

who had lost two years of her life, it felt like

they had registered their marriage,

rubbed her sore and swollen eyes and

to book a flight to Cloudmill for the next evening, a black

rolled down, revealing

before locking her phone and approaching the car. She bent down slightly and rested her

driver’s seat, “What brings you

office,” he replied, motioning for Audrey to get in

got out and greeted her with a smile. He moved to open the car

remained still.