My Grandmother’s Ashes, My Wife's Divorce Paper novel Chapter 1

I spent the entire night handling my grandmother's funeral arrangements, sitting in the living room, thinking everything through.

By the time evening came, Ava walked through the door.

She stopped when she saw me sitting there.

"Lucas, why aren't you in bed? You've been up all night?"

I stayed calm, my tone stiff.

"Can't sleep."

"Must be because I'm not around to be your sleeping pill."

Ava sat next to me, crossing her long, smooth legs against mine.

I noticed she wasn't wearing the black stockings from yesterday.

She rested her head on my shoulder.

"You're a grown man, and you're losing sleep because I'm not here?"

"What are you, a child?"

Her breath reeked of alcohol and smoke—disgusting.

I frowned and stood up, moving to the couch across the room.

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong with you?"

I gave her a cold smile.

"You didn't come home last night. Where were you?"

"Just a work dinner, you know how it is."

"The client was out of town, I had to meet them."

"The stockings from last night are torn."

"Maybe buy better quality next time."

"That's for you!"

"Seven years of marriage, and I've never worn a watch, you know that."

I mocked her with a cruel laugh.

"Come clean, Ava. Where were you last night?"

Her face turned pale. She started stammering.

"I-I was at a restaurant."

"Restaurant, or a hotel? You think I'm dumb?"

"I can smell the alcohol and smoke all over you."

"Those stockings didn't tear, did they?"

I stood up, my tone heavy.

"Ava, let's go to the courthouse tomorrow. I'm filing for divorce."