Chapter 21
Ian had even gotten the idea that Sage was demanding a divorce because she was throwing a tantrum over what had happened that day.
Even if it was unnecessary, she still couldn’t help asking, “Since you knew that was the fifth anniversary of our first meeting, you must’ve known how important it was to me. Why did you still leave with Ivy?”
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Ian looked calm. “To me, it was no different from any other day.”
Of course. Since he didn’t love her, what did any sort of anniversary matter? All of this” was nothing but her single–sided expectations.
Sage muttered self–deprecatingly, “I wonder where I found the courage to think I could move you one day.”
Ian didn’t hear her properly. When he turned to look at her, her expression had already gone back to normal. “I’m not throwing a tantrum or kicking up a fuss. I’m serious. about wanting to divorce.”
She was still going on about the divorce! Ian’s expression darkened. “Do you think marriage is a game? Do you think you can get married and divorced whenever you want?”
Sage found this funny. “What, don’t you want to get rid of me as soon as possible so you can get together with your lovely Ivy?”
Ian despised Sage’s tone. She sounded harsh, contemptuous, and uncaring. “That’s my business. You have no right to use Grandma to force me into getting married when you want, then demand a divorce just because you want one!”
“What do you want, then?”
“Since you’ve tormented me for so long, you have to wait until I’m done tormenting
you!”
“You’re nuts.” Sage put down her cutlery and stood up. “There’s more than a month left until Grandma’s birthday. Once it’s over, we’re getting divorced. I’m not waiting a second longer!”
“Don’t you even dare think about it, Sage!” Ian was steely–faced now. “You love being Mrs. Holcomb, don’t you? You can keep that identity until I’m sick of you!”
He flung his cutlery onto the table and left.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Ian?” Sage shouted at his back.
Just a few days ago, he’d been desperate to get rid of her. Today, he was saying that she had to stick around until he was sick of her. Hadn’t he gotten sick of her ages ago?
“Go get your head checked if something’s wrong with it!”
But no matter how loudly Sage shouted, Ian didn’t turn to look at her. He opened the front door and strode out of the house, leaving Sage fuming along in the dining room. Just then, her phone rang. The ringtone was one she’d recorded specially for lan to use, but he’d scorned it. So, Sage set it as her own ringtone. She figured there was a chance Ian would use it once he was used to it.
God, how could she have been such a hopeless romantic in the past?
Sage answered the phone. “Hey, Tiana.”
“Did someone step on your tail or something? Why do you sound so mad?” Tiana Ford asked.
“It’s nothing. I got bitten by a dog.” Sage sighed in exasperation. “Why are you calling me instead of spending time with your precious?”
“He’s on the night shift,” Tiana said sweetly. “It’s almost his birthday, so I was thinking of heading to the mall to pick out something for him. Are you free tomorrow? Can you come with me?”
Sage looked at the black card before her. “Sure!”
Not only would she go shopping with Tiana, but she would also swipe the hell out of Ian’s card to vent her frustrations.
The next day, Tiana and Sage met up at the mall.
Tiana said teasingly, “My, my. It’s only been half a month since we’ve seen each other, but you look so spirited now. Has lan finally been showering you with his love?”
Sage had stopped dieting recently and was taking her meals regularly. Plus, Wanda had been making her nutritious meals every day. How could she not be more spirited?
“Don’t even mention him. I don’t want to get in a bad mood.” Sage said, “I’m a natural beauty who doesn’t need any bastard’s love.”
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Tiana asked uncertainly, “Is the bastard you’re referring to…
“It can’t be your precious Dr. Tate, right?”
“But-”
Ian?”
“No buts.” Sage knew what Tiana wanted to say–it had to be something about how much she loved Ian. She linked arms with Tiana. “Let’s go shopping. We can talk while looking around!”
Their first stop was at a jewelry store. Sage pointed at the most expensive pieces in the store. “I want this one, this one, that one, that one, and that one. Wrap them all up for me!”
The sales clerk’s eyes lit up at her words. She was this close to getting on her knees and kissing Sage’s feet.
On the other hand, Tiana was stunned. “What’s gotten into you, Sage? You may have money now, but this isn’t the way you should spend it!”
Sage said, “It’s the bastard’s money. I might as well use it instead of letting it go to waste!”
Even if she didn’t spend the money, it would end up in Ivy’s pocket. There was no way she would let Ivy get her hands on a single cent!
“Has anything caught your eye? I’ll buy it for you!” Sage said after paying for the things she’d picked out.
Tiana shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m gonna check out the discounted items in the men’s section.”
She didn’t actually need to buy discounted items; with William Tate’s salary, she could spend several thousand dollars in a single shopping spree without batting an eyelid. There was no way she could afford to splurge as Sage had just done, though.
The jewelry Sage had purchased was too valuable for her to carry around in the mall, so the sales clerk offered to have it delivered to her home.
As Sage and Tiana made their way to the men’s section, Sage stopped to buy several luxury items like clothes and shoes.
Tiana gaped at her. “Are you really okay, Sage?”
