Chapter 34
**TITLE: Terms Were Unspoken by Mark Twain 34 p>
**Chapter 34: Officially Divorced p>
“Wani waless of my circumstance, nothing changes between us. So why delay the inevitable?” Serena’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion as she fixed her gaze on him, her eyes like empty vessels. “Let’s just get this over with p>
Nathaniel could see the toll that the day had taken on her. The weight of her heartbreak from Ale had shattered her spirit, but this moment felt different. Serena’s eyes, once vibrant with life, now seemed to lack any glimmer of hope or joy. It was as if a heavy fog had settled over her, dulling her essence. He felt a pang in his chest; it was unsettling to witness her so distant, her mind and soul seemingly adrift in an ocean of despair.
The atmosphere around them felt thick with unspoken words, and Nathaniel couldn’t shake the feeling that they were both trapped in a moment that stretched beyond time. It was the silence that unnerved him the most, the absence of the laughter and lightness that had once filled their lives.
The clerk’s voice broke through the heavy silence, “If we don’t get our certificates now, we will have to wait another month. You don’t want that, and I don’t want that either p>
Serena’s shoulders slumped, and she swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to the floor. When she finally looked up, there was a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “Just promise me you will continue to look for Alice,” she implored, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nathaniel felt the weight of her request pressing down on him, and it took every ounce of strength he had to nod in agreement. Together, they made their way to the desk, the distance between them filled with a tension that was almost palpable. “We would like to finalize our divorce and get the marriage certificate,” he stated, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
As they waited, they sat side by side, both lost in their thoughts. Serena’s gaze drifted into the distance, her expression vacant. She didn’t look at him or anything around her; she seemed to be staring into an abyss, a place where he couldn’t reach her.
She pulled her coat tightly around herself, as if trying to shield her fragile self from the harshness of the world. Her movements were slow, deliberate, almost robotic, and Nathaniel felt a chill run down his spine. It frightened him more than he cared to admit.
“Do you feel cold?” he asked gently, leaning in closer, desperate to break the spell of silence that surrounded them.
Serena nodded, her expression still blank.
“Maybe you’re getting sick,” he suggested, instinctively reaching out to feel her forehead and then her neck. But she remained unresponsive, her eyes glassy and distant.
With a soft touch, she pulled his hand away. “I’m fine. I just feel a little cold,” she replied, her voice lacking conviction.
The silence returned, wrapping around them like a heavy blanket, pressing down on Nathaniel with an ache he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge.
“Mr. Nathaniel Thome? Your divorce certificates are ready,” the clerk announced, breaking the tension in the air.
Both Serena and Nathaniel stood up simultaneously, their movements synchronized as if they were two marionettes controlled by the same invisible strings. They approached the counter, receiving the documents that would forever change their lives.
As they studied the certificates,
Nathaniel felt a wave of finality wash over him. It’s all good,” Serena said, her voice flat. She was the first to
sign the acknowledgment fo
her
pen gliding across the paperike a ghost. Then, without a word she turned away, her back to him, and walked out into the hallway.
“Wait. Serena, wait!” he called out, rushing to catch up with her. “Serena p>
She turned, her expression as lifeless as before. “What p>
“Take care of yourself, Serena,” he urged, his voice cracking slightly, betraying the calm facade he desperately tried to maintain. “And it’s not like we won’t see each other again. I’ll update you when we find Alice p>
She nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting a world of pain. “Or Gavin can update me,” she replied, her tone detached.
For a moment, she paused, looking at him one last time, and the weight of her gaze felt like a farewell. “Goodbye, Nathan p>
.n
As she walked away, the ache in Nathaniel’s chest deepened, a familiar yet unbearable sensation. They had exchanged goodbyes countless times before, but this one felt different. It left a heaviness that he couldn’t quite articulate, a sorrow that would only reveal itself in the days to come.
After obtaining her divorce
UT
certificate, Serena headed straight to the Hartleys’ villa, her heart heavy with the weight of her recent decision. She found Lena, Alice’s mother, anxiously waiting fornews.
Mr. Hartley and his son, Landon, were still at Riverbend Point, desperately asking around if anyone had seen Alice.
So far, every lead had turned cold.
Over lunch, the two women sat together, the air thick with unspoken worries. It was during this meal that Serena finally mustered the strength to share the news of her divorce. “I finalized things with Nathaniel,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s a shame,” Lena responded, her brow furrowing with concern. “I really thought you and Nathan were so much in love p>
Serena felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her as she considered the past. “It was all a lie. He and Vanessa Holt are getting married,” she said, bitterness creeping into her tone.
“Are they?” Lena asked, surprise etched across her face.
Alice’s mother bore a striking resemblance to her daughter, with her dark hair and fair complexion. She shook her head, disappointment flooding her features. “I guess things on the surface don’t always mean what we think they do. But, Serena, will Nathan continue to help us find Alice p>
Serena’s heart sank at the thought of Nathaniel moving on while she remained trapped in this cycle of loss. The uncertainty of their future loomed over her like a dark cloud, and she could only hope that the bonds forged in the past would not fray completely in the face of their new realities.