PART 2 — THE MORNING HE WOKE UP TOO LATE
Marcus woke up to silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The kind that feels wrong.
His hand reached instinctively for Jessica’s side of the bed — empty. Still warm, but empty.
Then he saw it.
A white envelope.
On his pillow.
Next to her wedding ring.
His expression softened first — confused, almost amused.
“Jess?” he called casually, sitting up.
No answer.
He opened the envelope.
Three words:
DIVORCE FILED.
His smile disappeared instantly.
He stood up fast, knocking the lamp slightly.
That was when his phone lit up.
BANK ALERT:
ALL JOINT ACCOUNTS TRANSFERRED
Marcus froze.
Then another notification.
PROPERTY SALE CONFIRMED — WESTLAKE HILLS MANSION
His breath stopped.
“This is… not funny,” he whispered.
May you like
But the house didn’t answer.
Only Christmas lights blinking silently outside like nothing had happened.
