My heart rips out of my chest as her tears soak my cotton shirt, and it’s a hard battle to pull away from her. But I do, because it’s inevitable. I walk to the vanity and grab the envelope I’d slipped into this room earlier.

Autumn’s lips quiver as I amble back up to her and place the divorce papers in her hands.

“I’ve signed them. You sign whenever you can.” I place a kiss on her forehead, but I don’t feel as confident as I thought I would.

What the heck am I thinking? I’m doing this for her.

I pull away and am ready to leave, not only the suite but the inn, this town, when she asks, “So you’ve decided?”

I look over my shoulder, her words halting my steps. “It was always decided, Autumn.”

“Of course it was. By you. By my parents.” She wipes her tears and carelessly places the papers onto the bed next to her. “I didn’t choose this, Lukas, and I refuse to sign.”

“What do you mean?” My legs shake as I hold my ground.

“I don’t want an out in this marriage. I like being your wife, and I won’t divorce you.”

For a second, there’s such a loud thunder in my chest that I can’t hear anything else.

She likes being my wife.

“But I want it, dammit.”

“And I’m tired of doing what others want,” she snaps, and I’m taken aback by her anger. “I’m tired of not following my heart.” She wipes her tears angrily. “Four years back, my grandparents told me I should marry you. You and my parents decided we could get an annulment. It didn’t happen, and I was tied to you. You placed this ring on my finger and left.” She raises her hand, where my mother’s ring sits tight. “Then you decided it was best that no one knew you’d moved to St. Peppers.”

My heart twists at every word and accusation.

“But then”—she glances at my shoulder where I was hit—“I was asked to rush to St. Peppers. Do you know how nervous, how scared, I was that day? I didn’t know what to expect. I packed a bag with our marriage license, all your letters, and your dog tag because I didn’t know if someone would even believe me. I thought you were injured in war and brought to St. Peppers for treatment.”

Fuck! I run a hand through my hair. I’d unknowingly put her through all this.

“Then my family decided it was good for you to move in with me. And now you’ve decided to end this.” She flops back onto the edge of her bed. Her elbows rest on her knees as she hides her face between her hands.