Pierce let out a soft sigh. "Riley, even if we really do finalize this divorce, nothing will change the fact that I am Lory's father. I have visitation rights, and we are going to have family time together. Are you going to be this furious and resentful every single time?"
Riley was slightly caught off guard. She hadn't expected Pierce to be thinking so far ahead. It seemed he was genuinely starting to accept the reality of the divorce.
And he was right. She had been too narrow-minded. Visitation rights and time with her father were things Riley simply couldn't take away from her daughter.
"I understand. I'll try to do better next time."
The following morning, Riley purposefully woke up early to ensure she caught Pierce for breakfast. She didn't want him slipping off to work and dodging her all day.
At the dining table, she asked, "When are you free today? We need to go to City Hall to file the divorce application."
Pierce answered between bites, "I have a meeting this morning, a client at nine, and a business lunch. I have a thirty-minute window between ten and ten-thirty. We can go to City Hall then."
His absolute compliance threw Riley off for a second.
Noticing her silence, Pierce asked, "What's wrong? Are you busy then?"
Riley shook her head. "No. I'll wait for you outside City Hall at ten."
"Alright."
At ten o'clock, Riley waited at the entrance of City Hall. Ten minutes later, Pierce arrived.
They walked in together and successfully filed the divorce application.
As they walked out, Riley was about to leave when Pierce stopped her. "Could you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Tomorrow is Eleanor St. John's eightieth birthday. The custom gift I ordered for her has arrived at The Gilded Vault, but my schedule is packed, and I don't have time to go pick it up. Could you go get it for me?"
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