Chapter 9
The next morning, I was getting ready for work.
I opened the front door–and there was Jordan.
Still in yesterday’s wrinkled suit, looking like hell.
I tried to walk right past him.
But he grabbed my wrist.
His grip hurt, and I frowned.
“Chloe, I messed up.”
“Let’s not fight anymore, okay? Just come home.”
I tried pulling away, but he held tighter.
“Let go!”
In the struggle, my sleeve ripped–revealing a jagged scar on my arm.
“Your hand…”
Jordan’s eyes widened. Something clicked. His face went ghost–white.
“You done staring?”
His eyes turned red.
I pulled my arm back and buttoned up my cuff.
“Stop chasing me. It’s exhausting.”
He froze, completely speechless.
Because that–those exact words–were what he used to say when he wanted me to leave him alone.
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia–Too Bad I’m Not That Generous
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Chapter 9
After that, I didn’t see Jordan again for a few days.
But every day, the front desk at work was swamped with flowers and gifts.
The receptionist looked overwhelmed.
I told her to toss or keep whatever she wanted–I didn’t care.
I tried tuning out every bit of news about him.
But Olivia made that impossible.
She flooded my DMs with “updates” that were really just thinly veiled bragging.
Jordan was still taking her to fancy restaurants, charity galas, black–tie events.
And the media couldn’t shut up about their upcoming wedding.
Meanwhile, I was still waiting on him to sign the damn divorce papers.
He should’ve done it by now.
Was Olivia not pushing hard enough?
Or maybe… Jordan didn’t actually want out.
His texts started coming in.
“Babe, when are you coming home? I miss you.”
“I already had Olivia transferred out of the company.”
“I swear, I’m done with her–for good.”
But I already knew the truth.
My coworkers had filled me in.
After I filed for divorce, Olivia tried to move into the Bennetts‘ mansion-
Jordan kicked her and her bags straight back out.
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Chapter 9
Then came the pity plays.
One night, one of his buddies called me.
“Chloe, Jordan’s totally wasted. Can you come get him?”
I yawned and said flatly, “Call Olivia.”
His friend sounded panicked.
le’s crying and begging for you.”
I hung up and turned off my phone.
Last time he got drunk like that, Olivia called me too.
Said I should come pick him up.
When I walked in, Jordan was playing spin–the–bottle with Olivia while his friends chanted for them
to kiss.
Yeah. No.
Not playing that game again.
The next morning, I opened my front door-
Jordan was passed out cold on my porch. Pale as a corpse.
I called 911 and had him taken to the hospital.
since someone needed to front the bill, I was stuck riding along.
He came to in his hospital bed just as I walked in with the payment slip.
His eyes welled up. He reached toward me, weak as hell.
‘Babe… I knew you still cared…”
I shoved the hospital invoice in his hand.
“Twelve hundred bucks.”
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia. Too Bud Do Not That Cenérous
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Chapter 9
“Have your assistant wire it to me after discharge.”
He blinked, stunned.
Reached for me again.
I stepped back.
He lost his balance and fell off the bed.
I stood there, stone–faced.
Didn’t lift a finger to help.
“Chloe, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I was wrong, okay?”
“I shouldn’t have let some stupid fling get in the way of us.”
“I shouldn’t have said what I did after the miscarriage.”
“I should’ve had your back when it mattered…”
“But I still love you. Please. Just one more chance.”
He was choking up.
Even the nurse beside him looked like she might cry.
But I?
Just stared. Cold.
Not a flicker of emotion.
“It’s too late, Jordan. Loving you was my choice. Not loving you is too.”
“There’s still hope!”
His voice cracked–then he coughed and spit up blood.
Whatever image he used to have–Mr. Powerful, Mr. Untouchable–was gone.
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia–Too Bad I’m Not That Generous
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Chapter 9
All that was left was this broken, desperate man.
People don’t feel your pain until it’s theirs to bear.
The hurt he gave me–it finally came back around.
That’s just how karma works.
Like when he let Olivia pour boiling water over that old oak tree in the backyard-
That was the cause.
Now he’s got insomnia so bad it’s wrecked his nerves–needs lifelong treatment.
That’s the effect.
I didn’t stop to comfort him.
I left.
I filed for divorce through the courts.
One month later, I had the papers in hand.
I also turned in my resignation.
My boss looked surprised.
“You quitting to avoid me telling you how I feel?” he asked, half–joking.
I smiled.
“Just got out of a bad marriage.”
“I need to breathe for a while.”
“Maybe I’ll come back when my head’s clear.”
I heard Jordan replanted the dead oak tree at the Bennetts‘ house.
Watched over it like it was sacred.
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia–Too Bad I’m Not That Generous
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Chapter 9
Waiting for it to come back to life.
Maybe it will.
But love doesn’t work like that.
He knows it-
He just doesn’t want to believe it.
I never believed in second chances anyway.
Because when something’s broken, the only way it gets “fixed”
….is by one person bending themselves into pieces.
Life’s too damn long to live it half–swallowed.
And I’m done shrinking for anyone.
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia–Too Bad I’m Not That Generous
