Kate stretched out her arm, half-asleep, expecting to feel the warmth of a strong, solid body beside her. Instead, her hand brushed over a cold, empty sheet. She frowned, confused, and her eyes snapped open.

The room was silent. The space next to her was messy, the sheets rumpled… and he was gone. Her chest tightened. She bolted upright, clutching the sheet to her chest as she looked around, searching for any sign of Grayson.

There was nothing.

"Again…" she whispered, gripping the sheets. "You did it again."

Because just like eight years ago, he had left.

She stood slowly, her body still tender from everything that had happened between them the night before. She checked the room, hoping that he was in the bathroom or out on the balcony. But then she saw it. On the vanity, the divorce papers lay waiting. She approached with hesitant steps. Part of her didn't want to touch them, but she forced herself to pick them up.

And when she opened them, it felt like someone dumped a bucke