Chapter 8: They Say Breaking Up is Hard To Do

"Have you left this bedroom all day?" Hwasa asks as she stands in the doorway of the guest room in her apartment. I sit up and run a hand over my eyes trying to pull myself out of the final moments of my second nap of the day. "Are you just planning to sleep the next ninety days?"

"It's been one day, give me a break," I whine as I fall back into the pillows. Although the idea of sleeping through the next three months doesn't sound like a bad idea. I wouldn't mind fast forwarding through this time without Jimin. It has been one day since I left Jimin's apartment and I already hate it. True to his word, Jimin had already found me a lawyer that worked at his father's firm to represent my case. I would be meeting with him tomorrow to draw up papers and then they would be served to Mark. Day one is tomorrow.

"Three months is not that long, Y/N." I glare at her and she shoots her hands up in defense. "I just mean it might give you some clarity. The space might do you good! Give you some time in between Mark and Jimin. It's not healthy to jump from one relationship to another so quickly. You're coming off of an eight year relationship and a five year marriage, let yourself decompress. Jimin will be there after you've gotten yourself together."

"Since when did you become so wise," I grumble.

"I just don't want you jumping feet first into this relationship with Jimin and... it blow up in your face."

"It won't! I love him, Hwasa. You know I do."

"You loved Mark too at one point."

"That's not fair," I say, shaking my head at her and pulling my covers over my head as I try to block out the world- and Hwasa's logic.

"I don't know what about this situation makes you believe that life is fair," she says sitting down next to me and yanking the covers from over my head. "Come on, let's go get margaritas."

"What about my attire leads you to believe that I want to leave this apartment," I say, throwing her sarcasm back at her.

"Your love for tequila? Come on, Y/N... you haven't left this bed in almost thirty hours except maybe to... shower? Tell me you've showered."

"Fuck off, I've showered." I frown before turning my back to her to face the wall. I feel the covers being pulled from me again and sent off the bed and I sit up giving her a glare. "I don't want to."

"I don't give a shit, you're staying at my house you have to do what I say."

I roll my eyes and hop out of bed. "God, it's like high school all over again," I say before I head into the bathroom to try and fix the rat's nest that is my hair.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I can't escape the giggles that are coming out of me as Hwasa and I take on our second pitcher of margaritas. Okay, maybe I did need this. Time with my best friend and tequila and tacos. Three of my favorite things. "So who's bigger?" Hwasa asks and I almost spit out the drink in my mouth.

"Hwasa!" I say, my cheeks getting hot and I don't know if it's from the alcohol or my best friend's line of questioning.

"What? If you can't tell me, who can you tell?"

I look around, to make sure no one is listening and not only is there hardly anyone in earshot, but no one is paying the two drunk girls in the corner any mind. "Jimin... by a long shot."

"It's been so long since I've gotten dicked down, I think I've forgotten what it feels like," Hwasa complains as her head finds the table.

"Well I'm about to be in the celibacy boat right along with you."

"Jimin will find a way to see you over the next ninety days, don't be so dramatic!"

"That's the opposite of trying to lay low, Hwasa. And... who knows maybe space will do us good. You even said that I should let things settle before I go jumping into another relationship..." I trail off.

"I love Jimin more than anything, and I want to be with him," I say, swirling the straw in the lightly colored drink in front of me. "But I would be lying if I didn't say I might need some time to breathe. I don't want to go from being so reliant on one man to another." I'm silent as I look out at the traffic passing us by. "I hate the idea of being alone," I say and I wince hearing myself say the words out loud for the first time.

"And I hate that I feel that way. Yes it stems from Seven and... all of the issues with my mother and her multiple husbands but I'm twenty-eight." Fuck, I'll be twenty-nine next week. Happy fucking birthday to me.

"I'm a fucking adult, I should be able to... stand on my own two feet," I say the tears welling in my eyes as I feel myself on the edge of a breakthrough... or a breakdown.

"Tequila- the best truth serum," she says, raising her hand up towards the waiter who I assume is behind me. "We're going to need another one of these," she says pointing at our pitcher that is nearing the end. "Y/N... everyone needs to feel safe and loved and protected. There is nothing wrong with needing someone. Hell, we all need someone to lean on sometimes."

"Please don't quote old school songs to me right now."

Hwasa's mouth drops open and she smiles. "That's a great song."

"If you start singing, I will get up."

"Lean on meeee," she starts and my eyes widen as I look around at the people around us.

"I'm serious, Hwasa."

"When you're not strong..." she continues and I put a hand over my eyes trying not to make eye contact with anyone in the direct vicinity. "I'll be your friend."

"Hwasa..."

"I'll help you CAAARRY ON!"

"God, what did I start?" I say rolling my eyes.

"FOR it won't be long, till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on!" She stops and I burst into giggles.

"Are you done?"

"Yes, thank you," she says looking around. "Thank you all, you've been a beautiful audience."

I sigh and shake my head. "I can't take you anywhere."

"I'm serious though, Y/N. No one is faulting you for needing someone to be there for you. I just don't want you to get hurt by moving too quickly."

"I feel like it's inevitable though, right? I cheated on my husband, why do I get to walk away from this scot-free?"

"Because although you did something bad, you're not a bad person." Is it bad that I needed to hear that? As annoying as she can be, Hwasa always knows what to say. "And Mark isn't totally innocent in all of this anyway. I mean come on, how many times did he make you feel unimportant... unloved..."

"Is that a reason to cheat though?" I ask, suddenly doubting all of my decisions of the last four months. "Maybe I should have just left Mark the second the feeling to fuck Jimin was getting too great."

"Look you and I both know this is bigger than the fucking. If you just fucked Jimin once or twice, you could probably tell Mark, he'd be mad and maybe not trust you for a while, but he would get over it. And you guys could move forward. You didn't end your marriage because you cheated on your husband and you just couldn't live with the guilt. You ended it because you fell in love and you can't live without another man that's not your husband." She shrugs. "It sucks, but it's the reality of the situation. This is so much bigger and deeper than the physical act of penetration."

I sigh letting her words sink in as she gets up to use the ladies room. I pull out my cell phone and I'm not shocked to see the text message alert from Jimin.

I wish I was coming home to you tonight.

I press the green button on my phone to place a call, needing to hear his voice more than our flirty text banter. "Beautiful," he says, answering the phone after the first ring.

"Hi," I say soft and breathy and I can almost hear him groan over the phone.

"Should I be naked for this conversation?" he asks and I smile, the number of times we've had phone sex in total coming to my mind.

"Where are you?" I ask, trying to calm my libido that has been sparked both by the alcohol and the visual of Jimin naked.

"In my office... I have a session in a few minutes. Where are you?"

"Getting margaritas with Hwasa," I hiccup.

"I see, and how many of those have you had?" he asks but I can hear the humor in his voice.

"A lot."

"How are you getting back to Hwasa's?"

"An Uber... I don't think either of us are in any place to drive." I giggle.

"If she's anything like you, then no, neither of you should be driving." I giggle. "I mean it, Y/N."

"I know. I won't, I promise."

"Good. Now go have fun with Hwasa and call me later, okay?"

I nod, my drunk mind not recognizing that he can't actually see me. "Yes, okay!" I say.

He chuckles. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Who do you love?" Hwasa says coming around the table and sitting across from me.

I hang up the phone and give her a look. "Who do you think?"

An hour and a pitcher later, Hwasa and I got the bill. I had to fight her to let me pay, given that I'm staying at her apartment it was the least that I could do. The waiter comes back to the table and I take it from him expecting to see the familiar receipt under my card when I just see my card and I look up at him confused. "Ma'am... I'm sorry... but.. Your card has been declined."

"What?" My vision is a little blurry, but I know I could find my card in my sleep. I put the card close to my face and sure enough it's the one I was trying to use.

"There must be some mistake, this card has no limit," I smile. "Can you try again?"

"Yes ma'am," he says before walking away.

"So weird," I say shrugging as I take a sip of the remainder of my drink.

A few minutes later, he comes back. "Still didn't go through, ma'am. Do you have another card?"

"That's impossible. I use this card all the time? What... Okay, sorry. Not your problem. Let me grab you another one," I say. I hand him another card and surely enough he's back within moments telling me the same. "Are you sure your machine is working? I've never had any issues with these cards before."

"Ma'am... I... don't know. Maybe? I can try another machine?"

I sigh. "No, it's okay. Umm, here," I say, pulling out my bank card.

"That's so weird? Why would none of your cards be working?" I shake my head confused when he comes back again and at this point I am furious. What the fuck? "Just let me pay, and then we can figure out what's going on?"

I nod as Hwasa pays the check and my heart sinks when he comes back with the receipts for her to sign. "Why would-" I start when I have a sobering thought. Mark has access to all of my cards. "He wouldn't," I say and Hwasa's eyes widen understanding where my mind is going.

I pick up my phone and dial the number on the back of my card. "Thank you for calling, can you please tell me who I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

"L/N Y/N."

"Hello Mrs. L/N, what can I help you with?"

"I- ummm am trying to use my card and it won't go through." I chuckle. "Very embarrassing... can you tell me what might be going on?"

"Of course, Mrs. L/N, I do apologize for the inconvenience. Can you please provide me with the last four digits of your social security number?

"Four Three Two Zero."

"And the last four digits of the card you are calling about? I do see a few different cards here."

"Three Zero Zero Five."

"Okay, yes I see here that the account holder has canceled this card. I see a notation that you have misplaced your card and we are actually in the process of sending you another."

"That's... not possible. I'm looking at my card right now."

"We got a call earlier today from the cardholder and we were told to cancel this one."

"That's impossible, I'm the cardholder."

"Well... ummm... can I place you on hold, for a moment?" she asks.

"Don't bother," I say. "Just tell me- this cardholder, was it Mark Tuan?"

"I'm not at liberty to say who called, ma'am."

"Unbelievable," I chuckle. "Thank you for all of your help." I hang up the phone and look at Hwasa. "That asshole canceled all of my credit cards"

"Do you have any cards in your name?" she asks.

"Yes, one I think..." I say rubbing my forehead. "Unless I canceled it. What the fuck?" I growl.

"So what, he's just going to take everything?" I say my eyes welling up with tears. "I mean... I guess I can't expect him to be supporting me. I just thought he'd at least tell me first I guess. Am I not allowed that courtesy?" I say the tears welling up in my eyes as I think about the fact that I don't have a dime to my name. I haven't had a job the entire time we've been married, and what little bit of savings I had going into this marriage I put in our joint account. And then the light bulb goes off in my head. Joint checking account. Well if that's how you want to play things, Mark.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

I've crawled my way into bed after the multiple margaritas and the shots I consumed when we got back to Hwasa's and pull out my cell phone "I was wondering when I would hear from you," he says sleepily and only then do I notice that it's well past 1 a.m.

"Shit, I'm sorry it's so late," I say as I lay down.

"Don't be, did you have fun with Hwasa?"

"Yes... I wish you could have been there."

"Me too, baby."

I debate telling him about my plan for tomorrow but decide against it knowing that he would probably offer to give me anything I need. "So will you be at your father's office tomorrow?"

"When you meet with your lawyer? It's probably not the best idea."

"Does your father know?"

"He knows that you are a... close friend of mine. I think he's probably connected the dots. I just wanted you to file before I tell him everything."

"Everything meaning?"

"The house, you, me... everything."

"Your family isn't going to like me very much are they?... If your brother was any inclination," I murmur.

"They'll love you once they meet you and get to know you."

"Mmmhm," I say, feeling myself on the precipice of sleep. "I love you," I say before I feel myself being pulled into sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'm sitting across from my divorce lawyer; Min Yoongi, as I sign my name on the dotted line. I had no idea that filing for divorce was that simple.

"Well this is only the first step, Mrs. L/N. Once your husband is served these papers is when the hard part comes like the negotiations, the back and forth... the deciding what it is you both think you should be walking away from this marriage with. Mrs. L/N We are just citing irreconcilable differences. I was told that this should be at the top of my priority list, so it is. You must have some friends in high places." Or boyfriend's father's in high places. And I am praying to God that I don't come face to face with said boyfriend's father while I'm here.

"Now there was no prenuptial agreement, and because you haven't worked for the entirety of your marriage you could very well be entitled to half as well as a recipient of some hefty alimony payments."

I shake my head. "I don't want half of everything. I told you what I wanted."

"Yes, your..." he looks down at his notes. "car, and all of the gifts that Mr. Tuan has given you over the course of your marriage. Gifts are a given, Mrs. L/N." He removes his glasses and tosses them across the table. "Frankly Mrs. L/N, you will probably be leaving this marriage a very wealthy woman or at very least extremely comfortable. Are you familiar with the phrase "just and equitable division of property, assets and debts?"

"I can guess what that means."

"No judge will grant your husband everything, after you haven't worked, thereby leaving you destitute. To be honest, you may be granted your home, even though he purchased it and makes the monthly mortgage payments. Any property that you bought with money that has been earned during the marriage is community property. Each party's income during the marriage is community property. Fortunately, for you, Mrs. L/N you had no income. So you have nothing to lose from this divorce, only gain. Anything that was bought during your marriage, belongs to you both. It does not matter what paycheck was used- and in this case all major purchases were done by your husband, correct?"

"Yes."

He nods. "But these are all things that will be discussed once he is served the papers. Now in the meantime, since you don't have access to your credit cards, do you have any idea what you are going to do for money now? Do you have access to your joint checking account?" It's like this man can read my mind.

"Yes."

"I see. And are you going to do something about that?" he says looking over his glasses. I bite my bottom lip, looking to the right out of the window. From the window, I can see Jimin's apartment building. I wonder what he's doing. Is he in a session? Is he thinking about me? I talked to him this morning, after I woke up with my phone next to my ear alerting me that I probably fell asleep with him on the phone. But we didn't talk for long as I was rushing out the door to meet my lawyer.

"Yes."

"I would say that's wise. How much are you considering taking?"

"I don't know, what do you think? You're my lawyer."

"Well based on his records," he says looking down at my husband's bank statements, credit card statements, investments, stocks, bonds. "I would say fifty thousand is a nice round number."

I let out a breath, and raise my eyes to the heavens. "That's a lot. I was thinking more like ten?"

"Mrs. L/N. You probably only have one shot at this. Once he realizes that you've taken money, he will probably at least attempt to move it or perhaps freeze the account so that neither of you have access until the divorce is finalized. Do you know if he is the primary account holder? Or did you open it together when you got married?"

"We opened it together."

"Perfect," he says as he slides the papers across the table that my husband will be served within the hour. The words Summons and Petition of Divorce stand out at me as if they're written in bright red bold print and not basic black print. "This is your copy. His copy is on his way to him now as we speak."

"You are serving him at work?"

"Yes Mrs. L/N, we are very discreet though. We are aware that he has his own office."

I nod, hoping that he's alone and thereby not embarrassed in front of his very conservative partners. "I have another question," I say, taking a deep breath.

"Yes, Mrs. L/N?"

"Well... anything we talk about here is confidential, correct?"

"Yes ma'am. Nothing you say here can be spoken outside of these four walls. Attorney, client privilege."

"Okay," I breathe out as I prepare myself to open up another can of worms. "Mark believes that I'm having an affair."

"He believes..? Or he knows for a fact?"

"He believes. He doesn't know anything."

"So there is something to know then..." he trails off.

The tears flood my eyes and I nod. "Yes."

"I see," he says, grabbing a pen from his jacket pocket and jotting down some notes on his memo pad. "Once? Twice?" I bite my bottom lip and he raises an eyebrow. "More than twice?" I nod. "Okay, better question, how long has this affair been going on?"

"Four months," I whisper.

"Are you still engaging in this affair?"

"We decided to stop... until after my divorce is final."

He looks at me over the tops of his glasses that have resumed their place back on his face. "Or until one of you breaks down."

"Mr. Min..." I trail off. "He doesn't know, and I plan to keep it that way. But... say he finds out... what does that mean?"

"Well Mrs. L/N due to the "no-fault" divorce clause, the court does not consider which spouse "caused" said divorce and given that you are filing and not him it has nothing to do with how property is divided. The court may consider your conduct if you're demanding certain assets but it won't affect much else. Are you sure that he doesn't know?"

"No... he has no idea."

"You've been having an affair under your husband's nose for four months and he didn't notice? Damn, no wonder you're getting divorced," he says leaning back in the chair and I laugh nervously at his lawyer humor.

My lips form a straight line and my eyebrows raise to my hairline. "Yeah."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It's been about an hour since I've left my lawyer's office, and I've been sitting in the parking garage for the full hour, worried that I don't have the ability to operate a vehicle yet, as I hold my copy of the summons with shaky hands. I'm ending my marriage. I'm getting divorced. I'm supposed to be going to the bank and withdrawing a lump sum of money from our joint account. But as angry as he makes me, I can't bring myself to do it. Regardless of the fact that he's attempted to leave me without anything, taking money from him just feels... wrong. No, Y/N. This is money that you deserve. Stop being such a wuss. Take what's yours! I try to quiet the voices in my head as I hear my phone whirl to life.

"Hi Mark," I say quietly. I pull my phone out, remembering the lawyer's warning that I should be recording all conversations with Mark going forward. I press the record as I hear his words move through my Bluetooth.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" He says so low and menacingly my blood runs cold.

"What- what are you talking about?"

"Don't play fucking stupid, Y/N. You had papers delivered to my office? DO you have ANY idea how that makes me look? Everyone has been staring at me for the past hour! They know that I was served, you heartless bitch!"

The tears well up in my eyes. "I... I didn't know they were going to serve you at work."

"Why did you file at all?"

"I told you I was going to..." I say quietly. "What did you think I was kidding? Or did you think that you could bully me into coming back by canceling my credit cards and attempting to leave me with nothing?"

"Didn't think it was fair that you got to throw your little temper tantrum on my dime," he snarls.

"It's not a temper tantrum, Mark. If so, it's an expensive one as the lawyer is billing me four hundred and fifty dollars an hour." Not one hundred percent true. I think the case is being handled pro-bono thanks to Jimin but regardless, I'm sure they see me as a cash cow based on my circumstances.

"I am going to fight you, Y/N. On everything. Every single fucking thing. If you think that I am just going to roll over and accept these bullshit terms just because I didn't fuck you every night you have another thing coming. You aren't entitled to half of everything just because I didn't have the foresight to make you sign a prenuptial agreement. If I knew you were such a vindictive, spiteful whore, trust me, I would have. I will never forgive you for this, Y/N. Just remember, karma is a fucking bitch," he says before I hear a click.

I'm almost shaking as I turn the recorder off on my phone. I feel the tears welling in my eyes, and as much as I want to break down, I can't. There is something I need to do first.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

With a certified check for fifty thousand dollars in my purse from our joint checking account, I make my way to a different bank and deposit it. I'm sitting in the parking lot of the bank, the thoughts of what I just did running through my head. Before I took Mark's phone call, I did feel bad about it, but after hearing his words- his hatred towards me and remembering the fact that he attempted to manipulate me into staying by canceling my cards, I didn't think twice about taking what was rightfully mine. Go ahead Mark, be pissed. Make my fucking day. Not a court in the world will make me give it back. What am I even going to do with that much money anyway? Maybe I should donate it? Or maybe take a trip. A divorce-moon. Go see the Pyramids in Egypt, go swim in the Mediterranean Sea..." My thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. L/N?" I hear and I recognize my lawyer's voice.

"Yes Mr. Min?"

"I assume you've been to the bank?"

"Yes sir," I whisper.

"Splendid. I've just heard from your husband's attorney. I will be in touch with you about a meeting by the end of the week."

That soon? "The end of the week?" I whisper.

"Yes ma'am. Is that a problem? The sooner we start the sooner we can end it. Frankly Mrs. L/N, they want to play hardball but this is going to be a pretty open and shut case."

"Do you think we can get this resolved sooner than ninety days?"

"I do think the negotiations and the agreement will be done within ninety days, but you still need to wait the full three months for the divorce to be final."

I sigh. "Fine."

"This boyfriend of yours waiting for you?"

"You could say that," I say.

"Lay low, Mrs. L/M. You've got the upper hand, don't let your hormones ruin that."

"I know."

"Good. Are we going to find anything in your phone records?"

"No sir."

"Good. I want no surprises, understood?"

"Yes."

"So there's nothing I need to know before I meet with his attorney?"

"No."

"You're sure?" I furrow my brow as I try and wrack my brain for anything that Mark and his lawyer may be able to use against me. "Mrs. L/N?" He pushes as I assume he's taking my silence as guilt or withholding information.

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"Alright, I'll be in touch."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"God, you are so beautiful" are the first words out of Jimin's mouth when our video call connects. I smile and reach my hand to the screen as if it'll be the warm skin of his face and not the cold hard screen of my computer.

"Hi." I shoot him the smile that's been only reserved for him for months and I'm granted with a smile to match mine.

"I heard you filed."

"I did," I nod.

"How do you feel?" he asks, cocking his head to the side sexily.

"Free."

"I'm really proud of you. I know it's not easy.. Especially being together for so long."

"In the end, it really wasn't that hard. Even if you weren't in my life..." I recall my conversations with Mark earlier today and I know without a shadow of a doubt that any man that felt that it's okay to talk to a woman like that regardless of the situation was not the man for me. My mother would have a fit. Not that my mother has provided me with the best examples of how a man should treat a woman. But I know one man that wouldn't dare ever talk to me like that. And I'm looking at him.

"A lot happened today..."

"Oh?"

"I don't want you to panic."

"That's not the way to start things off."

"Okay so... I told my lawyer about you."

"About me specifically?"

"No, just that I had an affair."

"And what did he say?"

"Not much... just to lay low."

"Okay, why would I panic about that?"

"I'm working up to that."

"Mmmhm," he says, staring at me skeptically.

"Mark canceled my credit cards,"

"He did WHAT?" His eyes widen.

"Are you that surprised? I mean of course I was surprised in the moment when I was trying to pay for dinner last night, but I'm really not all that surprised."

"So he didn't even tell you?"

"No."

He runs his hand through his hair. "Do you have any card that is in your name?"

I shake my head. "No," I whisper. "I thought I still had one, but I canceled it a while back."

"So he has access to all of your cards?"

"I guess that's what happens when you don't work," I say sadly. "Note to self, don't do that again," I say to myself.

"I would never do that to you," he says and I realize how that must sound to the man that wants to marry me and share a life with me in the near future.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean it like that, I just..."

"No I get it... I'm going to have to pay for some of his mistakes."

"NO!" I shriek. "No... I'm just..."

He interrupts me. "Going to be more guarded."

"I would say, more careful."

"You don't need to be careful with me... but... I'll prove that to you. I just hope you give me a chance to do so."

"Of course I will."

"You say that now, but it's easy to think that I'll do to you what he's done."

I bite my lip unknowing what to say. Does he think he's capable of doing that? "I think... I just want to know that I can stand on my own two feet. And that has nothing to do with you. I would think as a marriage counselor you can understand that."

"I do. And I admire it. I am proud of you Y/N. Your strength is remarkable."

"You're shrinking me," I groan before giving him a smile.

"Okay, sorry. What else? Wait first, what are you doing about money? Are you okay? Do you need money?" I knew it.

"No," I smile. "I don't. But thank you... I withdrew money from our joint account."

"A lot?"

"More than I initially wanted, but he called me before I did it and he pissed me off."

"How much?"

"Fifty thousand... it's what my lawyer suggested."

"It's what I would have suggested as well... baby why didn't you call me?"

I shrug. "I don't know... I'm already your problem in so many ways," I chuckle. "I didn't want to add financial burden to the list."

His brows furrow in anger and he leans forward. "Don't you ever let me hear you say something like that, again. You're not a problem at all. I love you and I want to protect you and take care of you. Let me."

"Okay," I nod. "So anyway he called," I say softly. "After he got the papers."

"How did that go? I hope you recorded it."

"I did... it... went how you'd expect," I say reaching over to grab my phone. "I sent the file to myself and forwarded it to my lawyer. Do you want to hear it?"

He nods and I play the recording. I watch as the man I love grows more and more agitated hearing Mark speak to me in such a hateful tone. He shakes his head before running a hand over his mouth. "Fucking dick."

"So..." I take a breath. "Yeah. My lawyer is meeting with his lawyer tomorrow and we are all meeting on Friday."

"All of you? Like you and Mark in the same room?"

"Yes."

He nods. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, I'll be fine."

"Mark is trying to set up a session with me," he says.

"Oh?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "Is that ethical?"

"You're questioning my ethics now? Jesus Christ, Y/N. Really?"

"I just... you're not our marriage counselor anymore. We are no longer working on our marriage," I shrug. "I figured your job was kind of done."

"As I mentioned, there is post-marital counseling."

"And you think you're the right person for the job?" I say, narrowing my eyes at him.

"It is if I want a session with his wife as well," he says before running his tongue over his bottom lip causing me to shudder with lust.

"Weren't we supposed to be laying low?"

"This is true, but I am a professional, Mrs. L/N."

"Mmmhm" I giggle. "Don't agree to it yet."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not sure I trust you not to kill him and that would be a huge tip off," I say matter-of-factly.

"Fine. For now, I'll keep him at bay." I go to pull my shirt off, wanting to get to the fun part of our video call sessions when he stops me. "Wait."

"What?"

"I hired a private investigator."

"Why?" I ask, wondering who he could possibly be following.

"To look into your stepfather's whereabouts."

"Oh... yeah I think the last thing Mark told me last week was that he was still on the East coast somewhere."

"He hasn't located him yet, but... I just wanted you to know that I have someone on that."

I nod. "Thank you." I smile knowing that Jimin really will protect me just as fiercely as Mark. Probably more. "I really appreciate that," I say, being moved to tears as I think about my lover already possessing the traits I need in a husband.

He nods before pressing his fingertips to the screen. "Please don't cry."

"I just wish you were here," I sniffle before I wipe under my eyes.

"Me too, baby." He shoots me his panty-dropping grin. "So you wanna show me what's under your shirt now?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It's the following day and I'm waiting to hear from my lawyer about how the preliminary meeting with Mark's lawyer went when my phone rings. I lunge for it, fearing the worst and put the phone to my ear shakily.

"Hello?"

"This is going to be easier than I thought," he says and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"That's great!"

"They don't have a leg to stand on."

"Wonderful, the sooner the better."

"Only thing, you didn't tell me you saw a marriage counselor?"

"Oh... I didn't realize that was necessary. It's not like he helped," I chuckle. Well not in the way he should have.

"Seven months is quite some time. We'll need his testimony."

"For what?"

"It's pretty standard for a counselor to be called into question for divorce proceedings. We'll summon him sometime next week."

I rub my hand over my jaw. "Okay...do Mark and I need to be there?" I have a fleeting thought that maybe I should divulge to my lawyer that he's the man I'm having an affair with but I decide against it. I mean he's a marriage counselor, and Min Yoongi is a divorce lawyer. Conflict of interest much? Surely they could cross paths again. So I'll just keep this little bit of information to myself.

"No no, we'll meet with him separately. We would need his impartial evaluation without you two staring at him awkwardly." Awkward indeed.

"Great. So I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, 11:30."

"Sounds great."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"WHY THE FUCK would I give her my house?"

"Because you purchased it together."

"Correction, I purchased it and she lived there," Mark growls. We've been going back and forth for the past hour and a half, and just as Mark said, he's argued with us on every little thing down to our frequent flyer miles. God this man is petty.

"If you purchase something while you're married and there is no prenuptial agreement in place it is community property and will be divided as such upon divorce," Yoongi says.

"This is horseshit," he growls.

"It's the law," Yoongi fights back. "Mr. Tuan, frankly you're wasting all of our time with your antics. This is all pretty standard." He turns to Mark's lawyer. "Honestly, Jackson, I thought you prepped your client better than this."

"Piss off, Yoongi. Your client is wanting to take half of everything which everyone in this room knows she didn't rightfully earn."

"And that's our problem... how? Oh wait, it's not! Jesus, Jackson, where did you go to law school?" he says as he leans back in his chair like the smug bastard he is. Smug or not, he's one hell of a lawyer. "We have been more than fair, frankly he's getting off easy."

"Except the house that's worth the most!" Mark growls.

"I don't even want the house," I perk up. "We can sell it for all I care." There's another house across town where I would rather be anyway.

"Of course you don't care," he growls.

"I think what Mrs. L/N is saying," he says looking at me with a look to 'pipe down', "is that she isn't going to take your house if you have such strong ties to staying there. But maybe it would be a good idea to sell. The market is doing better, and it's in a prime location. It could be sold by the spring. You could probably make double what you paid, due to the renovations and updates that Mrs. L/N did."

"With my money," Mark growls.

"Semantics! Mr. Tuan, if that is your only argument here, then we have nothing more to talk about. As far as the law is concerned every dime that you earned during your marriage is just as much hers as it is yours. Now if I were you, I would not continue down this path of insinuating that you won't be coming up off of some significant money. Though my client doesn't want it, she IS entitled to it whether you like it or not. So your best course of action is to get on board, and get out your checkbook. The longer we drag this out, the more you'll be paying."

"This is bullshit," he says, leaning back in his chair and shooting me an angry look.

"Mark," I plead. "Please, I don't want all of this. I just... I just want a divorce. You can have everything."

"Except the fifty grand you took?"

"A drop in the bucket and you know it," I say wondering when on earth Mark became so stingy about money. Frankly before this started, he spent money like it was nothing. "The only reason you're so up in arms about fifty thousand is because you know that's all I need to start over and get my life together. I'm not a frivolous spender, and I never needed all of that shit. Sure I grew accustomed to the lifestyle and you started shoving it down my throat and while I appreciate everything, you and I both know I didn't need that. You cut me off because you thought I would panic about not having anything and come running back to you. I'm stronger than that, and you know it. Honestly, if you get out of this marriage fifty thousand less, I say you're getting off easy. But you're making this so difficult. Why? You don't love me. You don't want to be married to me."

"Says who?!"

"Your actions.. Your words. In the past week, I've been vindictive, spiteful, a whore, a bitch... and that's just what you've said to my face. Who knows what you've said behind my back? And you want me to just say okay never mind, let's stay together? Please!" I shake my head. "But you dragging this on is just ridiculous. Fighting me over our gym membership? When I'm the only one that uses it because you work out in your office gym? Fighting me over the artwork in our bedroom in the vacation house?"

"You know that piece is worth at least two hundred thousand dollars now," he argues.

"I'M AWARE! I stalked it for months. I did the research, I bought it!" I put my hand up. "And I swear to God, if you say with your money, I'll scream. Mark, I'm trying to be civil and patient and understanding because I know you're hurt, but you are testing my limits and testing how far my patience and understanding will go. If you want a fight, and a messy sticky divorce, we can do that. I promise it won't work out well for you," I say, crossing my arms.

"I'm not giving you anything without a fight," he says, standing up and buttoning his suit jacket. He looks at his lawyer. "You know what I want. Don't settle until we are all on that page. I don't want to see her again until then."

I nod my head. "Mature, Mark."

"Mr. Tuan," his lawyer says, trying to stop him. "You have to be here for negotiations."

"Well we are finished for the day, I need to get back to work."

"Of course you do," I murmur under my breath.

"What was that?"

"You can't even block out enough time to take me to dinner on my birthday, why should I be surprised. You couldn't give less of a fuck when it comes to me."

"I'm sorry, should I have cleared my schedule to come here and argue with you? Y/N I'm sorry I have shit to do. But hey why are you complaining... as long as I keep making money, it's more for you in the end, right?" he barks before he's out the door slamming it behind him.

His lawyer is grabbing his papers and heading for the door. "Jackson, don't waste our time again. Get your client in line, and tell him to watch his mouth around mine," he barks before Mark's lawyer has disappeared out the door as well, letting it close behind him.

Yoongi spins towards me and smiles. "This is going to be like taking candy from a baby."

"I don't want any of Mark's candy, Mr. Min."

"I know, Y/N. You're a good kid... you don't strike me as the gold digger type... your husband's kind of a dick, huh?"

"You don't know the half of it," I say, rubbing my head.

"Look, I know you don't want to take money you don't think you've earned, but think of it this way. All the time you've spent unhappy in this marriage? Think of it as a job. All the cooking and cleaning and taking care of your house... consider it back pay. The children he didn't want to give you? That comes at a price when you get divorced. So stop thinking of taking something from Mark that you don't think you deserve, and start thinking about what you've earned throughout this marriage. You and Mark both have stated on record that it was Mark that pushed you to quit your job when you entered this marriage. Mrs. L/N, that alone is cause for the salary you would have earned times the years you were married. You were an elementary teacher? That job starts roughly at about forty thousand dollars, and that's if you weren't promoted, received no bonuses or raises. Multiply that by five years and that's two hundred thousand dollars. So even if he were just to pay you that, after he forced you not to work... that's still more than what you're originally asking for."

I guess that does make sense. Damn two hundred thousand? Wow. My thoughts are interrupted when I hear his phone ring. I tune out his talking as I'm still in my head when I hear his voice next to me. "Did you hear me?"

"Oh sorry, what?"

"Another senior lawyer wants to meet with you."

"Oh?"

"Yes, apparently your case is the buzz amongst the partners, that and when husbands storm out during negotiations, it draws attention. He's one of the nicer ones, he probably just wants to make sure you're okay," he chuckles and I smile. Yoongi's a shark, but he's also one giant teddy bear. "I'm going to go to my office, you come see me before you leave."

"Okay." He exits the conference room and I hear him greet who's entering. Who I assume to be the senior lawyer that wants to talk to me. I stand up when he moves through the room and towards the table.

"L/N Y/N," I say, holding my hand out.

"I know who you are," he smiles before taking my hand. "Park Pil-woo." My heart sinks. Shit. "You are certainly prettier than your pictures."

I'm having a hard time reading him and it's stressing me the fuck out. "Mr. Park..."

"Call me Pil-woo."

"Pil-woo, I know that you don't think very highly of me..."

"On the contrary."

"What?" Oh, probably from Jimin.

"Yoongi has had wonderful things to say about you." Oh? "Says your husband is a dick," he says leaning back in his chair. "And here I thought my son was biased because he's been fucking you for the past four months." And there it is.

My cheeks turn bright red hearing his words and I reach for the glass of water that is in front of me as my mouth has gone dry. "I know how this looks but... I love your son very much."

"Hmm," he says, drawing a finger over his lips. "The first time I meet my son's girlfriend is during her divorce proceeding... you're not starting off very well, young lady."

I swallow and look down at my lap, the tears welling in my eyes. "I know," I say.

"Do you think I should trust you?"

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

God he's lawyering me! "Because," I shrug. "Your son does."

"My son is blinded by... well..." he waves his hand over me. "You're a very attractive young woman, Mrs. L/N. Who wouldn't be?"

"I-"

"I am giving you one chance, Mrs. L/N," he interrupts. "If you screw my son over, I will ruin you. You won't be able to talk your way out of it like you are with your moronic husband that didn't make you sign a prenuptial agreement."

I nod knowing that I've made my bed and now I have to lie in it. "I understand." I mean if I were Pil-woo or Jimin's mother I would be skeptical too, they're just looking out for their son. Gotta have thicker skin, Y/N.

"Good. That being said, there is someone here to see you."

"Me?" I ask my eyes widening.

"Consider your lawyer's office, a... free space," he says. "Attorney, client privilege, remember?"

My eyes dart to the door as I see Jimin walk through it and my eyes widen. The tears fill my eyes as the feeling of not seeing him for the past four days comes crashing down. Damn Y/N, four days? One of which didn't count? You still have 87 days left. You have got to get it together.

"Dammit, Dad. What did you do to my girl?" he says, shooting him a glare as I stand up and let Jimin pull me into his arms.

"We just had a little talk, right, Mrs. L/N?"

I nod "Yes sir." I feel Jimin's hands framing my face, his moving closer to mine, his lips descending on mine at any moment. I feel his nose rub against mine, his lips, a mere millimeter away from mine feeling his breath on mine. His lips haven't touched mine yet as his father is still lingering by the door.

"Now, don't be here all day. And open a window when you leave," he says, turning on his heel and closing the door behind him leaving me alone with my lover in an empty conference room.

________________________________________________________________________________

Author's Note: The divorce has officially started! Hopefully Jimin and Y/N will make it to the end safely....

I hope you enjoyed the appearance of Lawyer Yoongi ❤️, see you next week with chapter 9!

-Serendipity