I don’t think Melanie is watching.
“Depends on who is asking?” I quirked an eyebrow and let my lips twitch into a lazy smirk.
“My name is Missy.” She cooed and stuck out one of her dainty hands.
“You can call me Ben.” I reached out to bring it to my lips, but instead of her hand in mine, I found myself holding a large envelope.
“What the-“ I glared at her.
“You’ve been served Mr. Landon. Ms. Penelope Yang will be waiting to hear from you or Mr. Gatti.” She wiggled her little fingers in a wave before she spun around and waltzed back down the walk. “Have a good day.” She called back with a sneer.
I spun back around, raced up the steps, and grabbed the spare key from inside the porch planter.
“Melanie!!” I yelled as I burst through the door, “What is the meaning of this!”
I was met with silence. I raced through the house looking for my wife.
“Melanie? Grifin? Where are you guys?” I hollered before I took the stairs two at a time.
In our bedroom, I found my wife’s side of the bed empty. Her pillow and the robe she usually laid out after she got dressed for the day and in their place was a folded sheet of paper. I reached for the paper with trembling hands just as my phone chirped to notify me that I had received a high-priority-level email.
I pulled my phone from my back pocket and felt my eyes widen when I saw that it was from Melanie.
Hello husband,
Shortly after I press send on this email, you will find that Ms. Yang has hired a young woman to serve you with divorce papers. I don’t think I need to explain why I am asking for a divorce. I am going home for a brief time to help my parents finalize my grandmother’s estate. For now, you may stay in our home. YOU… no one else. Remember, Benjamin, we are still legally married until the judge says otherwise. When I return from North Dakota, we will let the judge decide how to divide the properties, per our prenuptial agreement.
Before I started typing, I thought I’d have far too much to say for just one email, but as I was typing, I realized that I don’t need to hear anything from you right now. I need to protect my peace.
Do not follow me or contact me. If you find that you need to contact me, my attorney’s number and email are listed on the paperwork inside the envelope that Missy provided you.
Devastated,
Your wife- Melanie Landon.
I stared at the email in complete shock. She had gotten all of this together so quickly. While I was sitting in a hotel, hopeful that I could win her back, she was planning her escape.
How the fuck did she pull all of this off in just a few days?
Fucking Griffin.
I opened the handwritten letter like it was a bomb.
Benjamin,
The keypad code to the front house is 5375 and if you need help remembering that just spell JERK.
Don’t call me.
-Melanie.
20-Melanie
Penelope: He’s been served, and the PI is on scene to monitor how he reacts.
Me: Thank you. The plane is about to take off.
Griffin looked up from his laptop when I set my phone down with a small sigh of relief.
