01: Shock

"Mr. Radcliffe, these are the divorce papers from your soon-to-be ex-

wife. Just a minute to sign them and they'll be finalized today."

Eric had his eyes raised in their sockets from where he was standing at the door. Mr. Snow, the Juvenile and divorce attorney didn't even offer him a seat, he dropped the news right before Eric could shut the door behind him. Earlier, he had received an urgent call from the family lawyer.

"Come again, Mr. Snow. Perhaps I misheard," Eric neared the man's executive wooden table, with a confused frown spreading across his face.

"Fine," Mr. Snow adjusted his thick glasses and pointed at the files that sat on his desk, "Your wife, Claudia wants to end the marriage with you, as you two aren't on the same track anymore and she's currently far above your level. Her words; staying married to someone like you is worse than rubbing dirt in her name."

This was like a punch in Eric's gut, to the extent he zoned out for a couple of seconds as he replayed and digested the awful, heart-skipping news.

"I am worse than dirt?" Eric scoffed after eventually recollecting himself and then put his hand against his mouth because the more the words sank deep into his brain, the more they stung with pain and made his chest bubble with amusement.

"Who would have thought she would think this low of me, someday," He muttered and shook his head.

The divorce attorney was a bit flabbergasted at this remark. As he had expected Eric to be downcasted and broken.

Eleven years ago, an eighteen-year-old Claudia was drunk driving in the night and accidentally hit two people with her car, causing the middle-aged man and his son's sudden death. And when she panicked and freaked out, Eric, who was a dispatcher at that time, risked his own life by taking the blame. He claimed to be the car owner who caused the accident, just so he could save Claudia. And so he was given seven years jail term since he committed an offense and turned himself in.

Fast-forward to eight years later when he was out of jail, the Michaelson family took pity on him and made him marry their daughter, Claudia. And even when Claudia's father was caught embezzling funds from the company where he was a mere financial manager, Eric volunteered to work the nastiest and hardest job at the company to cover the debts owed, just to save Claudia's father from going to jail. He dedicated three years and nine months just to helping his wife's family.

And that wasn't all.

Eric also supported his wife's pursuit of acting and modeling with the money he could provide. Going around sharing flyers with directors and movie producers. He worked extra just so he could raise money for her auditions across the country.

And when Claudia rose to stardom and began earning millions of dollars, a divorce was her payback?

"Mr. Radcliffe?" The divorce attorney's voice rang out, jerking Eric from his torturous flashbacks.

"Claudia is divorcing me?" Eric blinked in absolute disbelief as he stiffened in his standing spot.

"Thankfully you're back to your senses, Mr. Radcliffe. I was thinking you developed a sudden stroke from the shocking news." Relief flashed through Mr. Snow's face.

Eric remained silent.

"Listen, Mr. Radcliffe, Claudia is a versatile woman who has quickly risen to fame. As an actress and model, she's distinguished above others. She's now the most sought-after woman and the talk of the country. Being married to an impoverished and pitiable man like you will only taint her reputation, make her lose fans, or even her blossoming career. Claudia has so much ahead of her and you're not fit anymore to be part of her life." The Divorce Attorney stopped to catch his breath.

Eric didn't respond to this. He just pursed his lips.

Mr. Snow, however, continued.

"Of course the news is devastating, your stunning, celebrity wife wants a divorce because she doesn't want to get tied down to you since she has her whole life ahead of her. In fact, she's willing to compensate you for all the troubles you suffered for her sake."

"I was a plaything to her the entire time. A toy she could use and toss aside when she gets bored," Eric pushed his hands through his pockets and took in calm breaths to keep his temper in check.

"We shouldn't press this further, Eric. Claudia has a cheque of five million dollars for you to start life afresh."

"I don't want her money, damnit," Eric's nostrils flared in anger, "Why is she using you to pass this information? She could have approached me by herself."

"As a law practitioner, she wants me to handle things in her care, while she's away filming the fifth episode of the English most popular series, Madison's Playbook." Mr. Snow reminded him with a forced smile.

"Like I care," Eric gritted out, waving this off.

And suddenly, the door creaked open.