Divorced At Eighteen

Chapter 02

MINAH could barely move her feet as she stepped into the morgue where her parents lay.

It was the first place she went to as soon as she arrived in Townsville. James had picked her up from the airport and was now by her side as they made their way to her parents.

She hadn’t had any proper sleep or food, but it didn’t matter. All she wanted was to see her parents. Not that she even had an appetite—her chest felt so heavy it made her feel full, like she couldn’t eat even if she tried. Just a sip of water felt like it was too much.

“Stay strong, Lady Minah,” James said gently, standing close by her side.

The white sheets covering her parents’ lifeless bodies hadn’t been removed yet, but it was already too much for her heart to take. It felt like someone was wringing her chest painfully tight.

This wasn’t how she had wanted to see her parents again.

Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes.

And as she tried to take another step, she suddenly lost her balance. James was quick to catch her before she could hit the floor.

Her body went weak, as if she couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Let’s go, Lady Minah,” James said softly, steadying her as they entered the morgue.

Two stretchers stood close together, and she instinctively knew that her parents were lying there.

She gripped James’s arm tightly as they stopped between the stretchers. Two morgue attendants lowered the sheets slightly, revealing the faces of her parents.

The moment she saw their lifeless bodies, it was like the air was sucked out of her lungs. Her knees buckled, and a wave of weakness overcame her. The sight of them—cold, motionless—was unbearable.

“Dad! Mom!” she sobbed uncontrollably, their names spilling from her lips over and over.

She released James’s arm and wrapped herself around her father’s body, now cold as ice.

They had just been taken out of the freezer compartment before she arrived, but their chill seeped into her skin.

“Dad, I’m so sorry,” she cried. “I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve come back sooner. I’m so sorry,” she said again and again, the words breaking her heart each time.

James quietly wiped away his tears as he stood nearby, overwhelmed by the sight of Minah’s grief and the loss of the Cowin couple.

“Mommy,” she whispered hoarsely as she moved to embrace her mother. “I’m sorry too,” she murmured repeatedly.

She pulled back slightly, her trembling hands brushing over her mother’s hair.

“You’re still together with Dad, Mommy,” she said through her tears. “I guess that’s the only comfort I have left.”

Her mother looked like she was only sleeping. But the marks of the accident—bruises, stitched wounds—were painfully evident.

If only her parents had lived long enough to pass naturally, perhaps she could have accepted it. But this car accident, this sudden tragedy, was too much to bear. They were still too young, not even sixty yet.

Minah hugged her mother tightly again, resting her tear-streaked face against her chest as she sobbed.

“You’re the best mom I’ve ever had, Mom. I love you so much. Even in another life, I’d still want you and Dad as my parents. I’m sorry, Mommy. For the past five years, I didn’t come home like you and Dad wanted. I had my reasons, but if I could turn back time, I’d set those reasons aside just to spend more time with you and Dad. Please forgive me,” she cried, her voice trembling with regret.

The crushing weight of regret bore down on Minah. She hugged her father again for the last time.

“I love you so much too, Dad,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’m sorry again. If only I had listened to you, if only I wasn’t so stubborn. I didn’t know that was your last plea for me to come home. I miss you so much, Dad. I miss you both so much. I wish this were all just a bad dream.”

If she could hold them forever, she would. But she couldn’t. It was time for her parents to be returned to the freezer until the funeral arrangements were finalized.

“I’ll make sure Mom and Dad have the most beautiful funeral service, James,” she told him through her tears. “Mom loved flowers—make sure there are plenty in the chapel when they’re ready for viewing.”

“I’ll see to it,” James assured her.

There were still legal documents to process, including their death certificates, so the funeral couldn’t proceed immediately. For now, her parents’ bodies had to be preserved in the freezer.

Minah’s tears flowed freely again as she watched their bodies, once more covered with white sheets, being returned to the cold chambers.

She wasn’t sure how she could survive this. Her heart felt like it had been hit by a storm, leaving her life completely shattered.

If only she could follow her parents into the afterlife, she would. It felt like her life had lost all meaning. She didn’t know how to move forward.

The people who had always been there for her were gone.

And her world, once vibrant and full of life, was now devoid of color. Even the simplest smile seemed impossible to muster.

James assisted Minah as they exited the morgue, her body still weak and her exhaustion exacerbated by the lack of proper sleep and food. Her gaze remained fixed on the path ahead as they walked. Suddenly, they stopped when a figure blocked their way.

Minah glanced at James, expecting him to confront the person in their path. When he didn’t, she reluctantly raised her tear-streaked face to look. Ready to lash out, her words caught in her throat when she recognized the face before her.

Her chest tightened again.

It was him.

Asher Moore.

She couldn’t mistake him, not even after twenty years. Why on earth was he here, of all places?

Damn him for still looking good.

If anything, he’d grown even more handsome and his build even more imposing.

“What is he doing here, James?” she snapped, turning to her father’s trusted assistant, trying to steady herself after the shock of seeing Asher again.

“L-Lady Minah—”

“It’s fine, James,” Asher interrupted calmly. “I’ll take care of her. Go ahead and handle what you need to.”

James gave Minah an apologetic glance before stepping aside, leaving her in Asher’s care.

Minah stared in disbelief, her mouth falling slightly open as James walked away. Before she could protest further, Asher took over, steadying her. His firm grip made it impossible for her to pull away.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed. “James!” she called out, desperate for backup.

“Lady Minah,” James said respectfully, stopping only briefly. “Your husband can look after you for now. I have important matters to attend to.”

The word husband echoed in Minah’s head, stunning her.

Asher Moore? Her husband?

They’d been divorced for years.

“James, he’s not my husband anymore!” she protested, her voice firm.

But James ignored her, continuing on his way.

She turned back to Asher, glaring at him. “Let go of me.”

“You need rest,” he said casually, guiding her out of the morgue as if her protests were irrelevant.

The nerve.

Here he was, showing up when she was at her weakest, as if nothing had happened between them. As if their divorce hadn’t occurred five years ago. The very man she swore she’d never see again was now right beside her, acting as though the past hadn’t left scars.

Why now?

Why did he have to appear when she’d just lost her parents? Her chest ached with grief and frustration.

Minah tried to push him away, but Asher stood firm.

How dare he act like this after everything?

She recalled how he had chosen to leave her, ending their marriage to be with his ex-girlfriend. For five years, she’d avoided mentioning him to her parents, trusting his promise to be the one to inform them about their separation. But now, here he was, acting like her support system during her most vulnerable moment.

The absurdity made her head spin.

Grieving and emotionally raw, Minah didn’t know what to think. But one thing was certain—having Asher Moore by her side was the last thing she needed.