Chapter 2: The Divorce Agreement

The morning sun stung June's eyes.

She was propped up against stiff hospital pillows, staring at the screen of her phone.

The headline on an entertainment news website glared back at her.

The Golden Couple of the Compton Empire.

Beneath it was a high-resolution photograph from last night's gala.

Cole and Alycia were laughing together, their heads tilted close.

They looked happy.

Perfect.

Untouchable.

The door to the private hospital room suddenly slammed open.

It crashed against the wall with a loud bang.

Cole strode inside.

He was still wearing the dress shirt and tuxedo pants from the previous night.

His tie hung loose around his neck.

The sharp scent of expensive scotch mixed with Alycia's floral perfume clung to his clothes, filling the sterile room.

He didn't glance at the medical chart hanging at the foot of the bed.

He didn't look at the IV line attached to June's pale hand.

His jaw was clenched tightly.

He stopped beside her bed and glared down at her.

"Are you done throwing your little tantrum?"

His voice dripped with venom.

"Using an emergency room to get my attention? You've reached a new low, June."

June slowly looked up at him.

The face she had loved for four years suddenly felt completely unfamiliar.

"Get out," she said.

Her voice was weak.

But her tone was pure ice.

Cole's eyes narrowed.

He was accustomed to her silence.

Her patience.

Her forgiveness.

This sudden resistance felt like a challenge.

He leaned forward and grabbed her chin.

His fingers dug painfully into her skin.

"You are my wife," Cole sneered.

"I have every right to be in this room."

"Don't touch me," June whispered.

Cole laughed.

A dark, mocking sound.

"You staged this entire drama to drag me here from the biggest night of my year."

"Don't pretend you didn't want my attention."

Before she could react, he shoved her back against the pillows.

The movement was rough.

Punishing.

Intentional.

Panic shot through June's chest.

"Stop!" she screamed.

"I just had surgery!"

But Cole's prejudice blinded him.

To him, this was another performance.

Another manipulation.

Another attempt to control him.

He shifted his weight.

His knee pressed heavily into the mattress as he leaned over her.

The sudden pressure transferred directly to her abdomen.

A horrifying pain exploded through her body.

June felt something tear.

"Ah!"

Her scream echoed through the room.

Her back arched.

Her face drained of all color.

Cole froze.

For one brief moment.

Then he looked down.

A dark red stain was spreading rapidly across the front of her hospital gown.

Blood.

Fresh blood.

It soaked through the fabric and stained the pristine white sheets beneath her.

For a fraction of a second, shock flashed across Cole's face.

Then it disappeared.

Replaced by cold indifference.

He stepped back and adjusted his cuffs.

"Is this what you wanted?" he scoffed.

"To make a scene?"

"You're pathetic."

His phone buzzed.

A custom ringtone.

Alycia's ringtone.

He answered immediately.

The harshness vanished from his expression.

"Hey, Alycia," he said softly.

Turning his back on June.

"The doctors say it was just a minor scare."

"She's being dramatic."

"I know."

"I'm leaving now."

"I'll be right there."

He ended the call and glanced over his shoulder.

"Clean yourself up," he ordered.

"Stop embarrassing the Compton name."

Then he walked away.

The heavy door clicked shut behind him.

June lay motionless on the bed.

Her breathing came in short, painful gasps.

The physical pain was unbearable.

But the disgust twisting inside her stomach hurt even more.

She felt sick knowing she had once loved that man.

She slammed her hand against the nurse call button.

A nurse rushed into the room moments later.

The woman's eyes widened at the blood-covered sheets.

"Doctor!" she shouted into the hallway.

"Get a doctor in here now!"

The room instantly erupted into chaos.

Doctors and nurses flooded inside.

"She's hemorrhaging again!"

"Apply pressure!"

"Get the crash cart!"

"Page Dr. Evans immediately!"

Medical staff worked frantically around her.

But June remained silent.

She stared at the ceiling.

Her eyes had changed.

The softness was gone.

The hope was gone.

Only cold determination remained.

Hours later, the bleeding was finally under control.

The doctor delivered a stern warning.

"You need strict bed rest for at least one week."

"Any sudden movement could be fatal."

June nodded.

The doctor left.

The room became quiet once more.

Every muscle in her body screamed with pain.

She ignored it.

Slowly, she reached into the small handbag beside her bed.

Her fingers pulled out a folded stack of papers.

The divorce agreement.

She had prepared it weeks ago.

Back when she still hoped she wouldn't need it.

Back when she still believed Cole could change.

Now she knew better.

Without hesitation, June ripped the IV needle from the back of her hand.

A small drop of blood welled up and landed directly on the signature line.

She picked up a pen.

Her hand trembled violently.

Still, she signed her name.

Right over the blood.

Then she looked at her wedding ring.

The massive diamond suddenly felt heavier than ever.

Like a shackle.

Like a chain.

She pulled it off her finger.

The ring slid free with surprising ease.

June placed it directly in the center of the divorce papers.

A final goodbye.

A final burial.

Then she picked up her phone and sent a text message.

To Vera.

Her best friend.

Three simple words.

I'm done. Help.

A response arrived almost instantly.

I'm coming.

For the first time all day, June allowed herself a small breath of relief.

Ignoring the doctor's orders, she climbed out of bed.

Pain shot through her abdomen.

She bit down hard on her lip to stop herself from crying out.

One step.

Then another.

She changed into her own clothes.

Each movement felt like torture.

But she kept going.

Minutes later, she slowly made her way through the hospital corridors.

No one stopped her.

No one noticed.

When she finally pushed through the hospital's sliding glass doors, cold New York air hit her face.

She paused.

Looking back at the building one final time.

Then she made herself a promise.

A promise written in blood.

She would never bleed for Cole Compton again.