"Forgotten the past, have you?" Lysander let out a low, mockingugh. Blood still dripped from his hand, but he simply shook it off. "My hand''s injured I can''t sign anything."


    He''s willing to sign!


    M''s eyes lit up. She nced at Leonard, who was waiting outside the chapel. Her meaning was clear-get in here, now.


    "You really are heartless," she muttered under her breath.


    She waved Leonard over to bandage Lysander''s wound. Leonard poured disinfectant over the gash, but Lysander didn''t so much as flinch. He sat at the small table, looking across at M as if he was seeing her for the first time-there


    was something appraising in his gaze, tinged with nostalgia.


    This M was different—bolder, more alive than ever, her beauty sharper, impossible to hide.


    Let her go? Not a chance.


    He smirked inwardly and didn''t even reach for the pen. His tone was calm as he said, “This agreement gives you nothing. After seven years of marriage, that''s not right. Once we''re down from the mountain, I''ll have a new one drafted. I''ll make sure you get your fair share."


    "I don''t want it!"


    She didn''t dare let this drag on-who knew what could happen if they waited? M cut him off immediately. "This is fine. I don''t want anything. Just sign it."


    He let out a derisive chuckle. "I''ll sign-but only if you agree to three conditions."


    "Why should I?" M snapped. "I''m already walking away with nothing. Why should I have to agree to your terms, too?"


    "My hand hurts. Guess I won''t sign after all." Lysander started to get up.


    M frantically grabbed his sleeve, her teeth gritted so hard it was audible. “Three is too many! One. Pick one!"


    He stood up again.


    She yanked him back, nearly knocking him into the table. The legs groaned under the sudden weight. He frowned, just as M relented.


    "Two! No more than two. And I want to hear them first. If they''re unreasonable, I''m not agreeing."


    But the moment she heard the first, M nearly exploded.


    "You can''t leave the country."


    Lysander sat cross-legged on the kneeler, his faceposed. Those few words nearly set M off.


    Stay in the country? Was he kidding?


    It was already this difficult to get him to sign the divorce papers-she''d never be able to rx unless she put an ocean between them. Once the divorce was final, she''d leave the country, disappear. Besides, Fashion Week was always held abroad. If she couldn''t travel, she''d have to give up her career.


    No way.


    M nearly refused, but forced herself to hold back. No, if she said no now, it would all be over. She just had to get his signature.


    Once she was free, she could go wherever she wanted. What business was it of his?


    She forced a smile and was about to agree when Leonard pulled out a recorder and set it on the table. Lysander gave her a pleasant, expectant look.


    "Go on. Say it. Your word is your bond."


    M red at him. Jerk.


    But a recording meant nothing in court anyway. She clenched her fists and, after a bit of back and forth, managed to amend his condition-she''d stay, but only for a year.


    "Second condition?"


    "You''ll visit my mother once a week. The same goes for the child. If you don''t want custody, that''s fine-I''m not looking after the kid either," Lysander said coolly. "And I''m pretty sure thew wouldn''t let you just walk away. I believe that''s considered abandonment."


    M''s face iced over. She knew a threat when she heard one, but she had no choice. "Once a week is too much. I''m busy. Once a month. And I won''t go to the Montgomery estate. If you want me to see her, it has to be somewhere neutral."


    "Fine."


    Lysander smiled, picked up the pen, and signed his name with a flourish-sharp, elegant strokes. "Well then, Mrs. Montgomery, I''ll see you at city hall in a month."


    M could hardly hear him. She grabbed the signed divorce papers, tears welling in her eyes, her hands shaking. It was done-he''d actually signed.


    All she had to do was get through the thirty-day cooling-off period, and she''d finally be free.


    Thirty days seemed too long, but it was faster than any alternative. Filing again would take months. A separation could drag on for years.


    Thirty days. She could make it.


    When M hurried out of the chapel, clutching the papers like a lifeline, Leonard watched her with unease. He lowered his voice.


    "Sir, about Mrs. Montgomery..."


    Lysander''sugh was cold and sharp. "Divorce? She''s dreaming. In the Montgomery family, there''s only ever widows."


    The blood-stained pen snapped in his hand and ttered to the floor.


    Outside, the wind howled and snow swirled into the church. The statue of Christ looked down with solemn, silent mercy-watching over the world, unmoved by human drama.