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.

certificate. Nathan, can I expect your

Nathan responded, snapping back to

stood up and said. “After r your apology

Chander 6

never see me

Audrey pressing him against the wall of a school building flashed through his mind.

His expression was dark as he spoke, “The place

safe. I said you could have the apartment, and I won’t

also

was severed. She hoped this

Lucas offered, “I have a vacant apartment you can

now.”

scarf over her mouth and nose, leaving only her clear, cold eyes visible.

you!” Lucas

again, polite but distant. “No need

pressed his lips together tighter as he

would come to

the bus stop outside city hall, Audrey gazed at the divorce certificate, lost in thought.

with Nathan would end. And yet,

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

one had

still remembered Nathan’s intention to burn their marriage certificate after the wedding ceremony, proclaiming that there would only be widowhood between them, not divorce.

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

had registered their

sore and swollen eyes and then placed the certificate

flight to Cloudmill for the next evening,

rolled down, revealing Ryan’s sharp, pale

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

driver’s seat, “What brings you

replied, motioning for Audrey to get in the car.

in the front seat, Ryan’s assistant got out and greeted her with

Audrey remained still.