The Returning Ex

The question took her by surprise, but she smiled. “I don’t really want to ask. You must have been dying to get this divorce, and I could feel it.” Sophia was already prepared for this ever since they were married.

She knew their married days were numbered, but it came a bit quicker than she’d imagined. It hadn’t even been two months since Old Mr. Constance’s passing, and John was already getting the divorce.

John was surprised by her answer, but only for a moment, then he snorted. The lack of explanation made Sophia think she hit the bullseye. John puffed a few more times and put out the remainder of his cigarette in the ashtray. Instead of continuing the topic, he asked, “What’s your plan now?”

Sophia pondered. “Plans? Nothing for now. I just want to go around for some sightseeing.” She was worried about what would happen after the divorce, for everyone would laugh at her, especially when the reason she was married to him in the first place was rooted in superstition.

She was married off to the Constance Family as a ward. Old Mr. Constance was declining, so he forced John to marry her in a desperate attempt to bring luck and overturn his condition. Sophia remembered that John was unwilling to do this, but because he was fettered by his morality and familial ties, it was impossible for him to reject this outright.

John resigned to his position and married her reluctantly. A human ward was superstition, of course, and in the end, all it did was delight Old Mr. Constance, but it didn’t help with his condition. He suffered a lot longer than he had to, and in the end, he passed anyway. It hadn’t been a year since then, so Sophia could imagine the mockery she had to endure. Going into hiding is a good idea. She looked down at her glass of water. “I’ll come back in a couple of months to pay my respects.”

about it. “Call Zack if you need anything. He can help you.” Zack was John’s assistant who had been working for John for a long time now. He was

didn’t know what to say. They didn’t communicate much in their short-lived marriage, aside from the occasional after-dark fun on the

to have much appetite, so he stopped after a few bites, but Sophia ignored him and kept on eating. The impulsive order earlier came to bite her in

and rang for the waiter.

famous figures, so it was rare for someone to pack their food up. The waiter was surprised about this request, but John said, “Pack

a minute.” The waiter felt

take the packing box, John stared

he asked, “I never asked you this, but why

she added, “But then I thought there are a lot of