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.

divorce certificate. Nathan, can I expect your

snapping back to reality.

your apology I’ll leave Shares in

Chander 6

never see me

him against the wall

in his pocket. His expression was dark as he spoke, “The place

you could have the apartment, and I won’t take it back. You

thank you. And goodbye,” Audrey replied curtly, also putting the divorce certificate into her coat

tie to Nathan was severed. She hoped this would

gesture, Lucas offered, “I have a vacant apartment you can use for

now.”

scarf over her mouth and nose, leaving only her clear, cold

you!” Lucas

distant. “No need to trouble yourself.

lips together tighter as

thought it would come to

outside city hall, Audrey gazed at the divorce certificate,

never imagined this was where her journey with Nathan would end. And

his 22nd birthday: to marry her immediately, to celebrate his 26th birthday

had come

the wedding ceremony,

had lost two years of her life, it felt

outside city hall, where they had registered their marriage,

and swollen eyes and then placed the certificate into her

book a flight to Cloudmill for the next evening, a black sedan pulled up in front

passenger window rolled down, revealing Ryan’s sharp, pale

phone and approaching the car. She bent down slightly and rested her hands on the edge of the

asked Ityan, seated behind the driver’s seat, “What brings you

visiting the Sheysea City office,” he replied, motioning for Audrey

out and greeted her with a smile. He moved to

Audrey remained