When Evelyn woke up in the hospital again , she was met with Graham's cold accusation . " Evelyn ! Why did you set Sophie on fire ? Are you really so unable to tolerate her ?" Graham demanded . A chill ran through her . Even the pain in her wounds receded , replaced by a numb , bitter irony . " Sophie told you that ? If I actually started that fire , why are my injuries worse than hers ? " Graham's expression hardened , threaded with disappointment . " Because you got clever this time . You knew a martyr act would shift suspicion , didn't you ? " " Evelyn , you can't keep using your youth as an excuse to hurt Sophie again and again . I've tried to teach you a lesson , and you still don't learn . " Her heart felt as if it had been nicked by a blunt knife - too numb to bleed . She looked at him and found she had no strength left to argue . To punish her , Graham used his influence to have her sent to a correctional facility for a week of mandated labor . That place was no place for anyone . Ice - cold water soaked through her thin shoes , heavy bricks chafed her tender palms raw , and the stench from the animal pens made her gag . She bit back tears and held on . Because she behaved well , they released her two days early . When she walked out through those iron gates she was nearly skin and bone , but her eyes were unnervingly calm . As she passed the County Clerk's Office , the clerk who had helped with her paperwork caught sight of her and called out , pleasantly surprised . " Ms. Hart ! Perfect timing . Your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage was approved . I was just about to notify you . " He handed her two copies of the Decree of Divorce . Evelyn took the thin but impossibly heavy papers . For the first time in days , the dead stillness inside her stirred with the faintest ripple . She returned to the family housing at Evermont Base , packed the few belongings she owned , and left without a backward glance . She left Graham behind as well . Chapter 9 39.13 % From that moment on , however far she went , she only hoped she would never see him again . Meanwhile , across town , Graham had spent the week at the hospital , tending to Sophie with meticulous care . Sophie watched him peel an apple for her and warm her milk , her eyes soft with something like affection . When he brought her another cup of warmed milk , she suddenly leaned in , trying to kiss him . Graham turned his head away , his face gone hard . " Sophie , I'm married . " Sophie's eyes filled immediately . " Graham , you know I- " At that moment his aide Frank knocked and stepped in with a report . " General , your wife's detention at the correctional facility ended today . " Graham stood at once . " Rest . I'm going to pick her up . ' He drove to the facility and waited all day , but Evelyn never showed . A raw unease began to knot in his chest . Inside , staff told him , " Ms. Hart was on good behavior . We had no reason to hold her longer - she left two days ago . " She'd left two days earlier ? Why hadn't she told him ? Why hadn't she come home ? Panic tightened in Graham's throat . He sped back to the family housing at Evermont Base . He pushed open the door and found the house unnaturally quiet . The living room , the bedroom- every trace of Evelyn was gone . Her clothes were missing from the closet . The face cream she always used was gone from the vanity . Even the little cat - printed mug she drank from had vanished . The house felt hollow . On the living room table there lay a single document . He walked over , hands suddenly reluctant , and picked it up . It was the Decree of Divorce . At the bottom , the court's official seal glared up at him . Chapter 9 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!