After My Divorce, His Enemy Claimed Me.

Changing the locks

(Sloane)

I woke up the next morning to seventeen missed calls from an unknown number.

Vaughn. He'd probably gotten a burner phone or was calling from the hospital. Either way, I wasn't answering.

I rolled over and stared at the ceiling, my mind already racing with everything I needed to do today. The divorce papers had been served yesterday. By now, Vaughn would have received them. And knowing him, he wasn't going to take it well.

I got up, showered, and got dressed. I had the day off, which was rare, but I'd requested it specifically for this. I needed to make sure Vaughn couldn't waltz back into my house whenever he felt like it.

But first, I needed to pack his things.

I spent the morning going through the house, throwing his clothes, shoes, toiletries, and personal items into garbage bags and suitcases. Four years of marriage meant he had a lot of stuff. His side of the closet was full of suits and scrubs. His dresser was packed with clothes. His bathroom counter was covered with his cologne and skincare products.

I packed it all. Every single thing that belonged to him.

By noon, I had ten large bags and three suitcases lined up in the garage, along with a few boxes of his books, his golf clubs, and some random things he'd accumulated over the years.

Good riddance.

Next stop: the locksmith.

I drove to the hardware store and explained what I needed. The guy behind the counter nodded like he'd heard this story a thousand times before.

"Divorce?" he asked.

"How'd you guess?"

He shrugged. "You're not the first woman to come in here needing new locks in a hurry."

"Can you do it today?"

"I can have someone at your place in an hour."

"Perfect."

The locksmith showed up on time and replaced every lock on the house. Front door, back door, garage. Even the side gate.

When he finished, he handed me a set of shiny new keys. "All done. Your ex won't be getting in without breaking a window."

"Thank you."

I stood in my living room, holding the new keys in my hand. It felt good. Like I was finally taking control of my life again.

But I knew Vaughn wouldn't let this go quietly.

And I was right.

Around three in the afternoon, my doorbell rang. I looked through the peephole and saw him standing there, his face red and angry.

I didn't open the door.

"Sloane!" he shouted, pounding on the door. "Open up! We need to talk!"

I stayed silent, my arms crossed over my chest.

"Sloane, I know you're in there! Your car is in the driveway!"

He pounded on the door again, harder this time. "This is ridiculous! You can't just lock me out of my own house!"

"It's not your house," I said through the door, my voice calm. "It's mine. I bought it before we got married. My name is on the deed. Not yours."

There was a pause. Then, "You changed the locks?"

"Yes."

"Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious."

He kicked the door, and I flinched. "You can't do this, Sloane! I have a right to my things!"

"Your things are in the garage. All of them. I packed everything. I'll open the garage door for you. Take your stuff and leave."

"I'm not leaving! This is my home too!"

"No, it's not. And if you don't take your things and leave in the next ten minutes, I'm calling the police and having them remove you for trespassing."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

I walked to the garage and hit the button to open the door. Then I went back inside and watched through the window.

Vaughn stood there staring at the pile of bags, suitcases, and boxes. His entire life with me, packed up and waiting for him like garbage on the curb.

His face turned even redder.

He stormed into the garage and started grabbing bags, throwing them into the back of his car with more force than necessary. It took him three trips to get everything loaded.

When he finally finished, he pulled out his phone. Mine rang a second later. Unknown number.

I didn't answer.

He tried again. And again.

On the fourth call, I picked up.

"What?"

"This is insane, Sloane! You can't just throw me out like this!"

"I can, and I did. You cheated on me, Vaughn. Multiple times, apparently. You don't get to live in my house anymore."

"Our house!"

"My house. Check the deed."

"I don't care about the damn deed! We're married!"

"Not for long. You were served yesterday. Sign the papers and we can both move on."

"I'm not signing anything!"

"Then enjoy a long, drawn out divorce. Either way, you're not coming back here."

"Sloane, please. Just let me come inside so we can talk about this like adults."

"No."

"I love you!"

"You loved screwing that nurse more."

I hung up.

My phone rang again immediately. I sent it to voicemail.

Finally, I heard his car engine start. I watched from the window as he pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the street.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

It was done. He was out. All his things were gone.

I grabbed my phone and texted Rebecca.

*Vaughn came by today. Changed the locks and gave him all his stuff. He wasn't happy but he left. Documenting everything.*

She responded almost immediately.

*Good. Keep records of any contact he tries to make. If he shows up again, call the police immediately.*

I put my phone down and sat on the couch. My hands were shaking, but not from fear. From adrenaline.

I'd done it. I'd stood up to him. And it felt amazing.

But I knew this was just the beginning. Vaughn wasn't going to give up that easily.

The next morning, I went back to work. I needed the distraction, needed to focus on something other than my crumbling marriage.

When I walked into the hospital, I could feel people staring at me. Whispers followed me down the hallway. News traveled fast in a place like this, and I had no doubt that everyone knew about Vaughn and the nurse by now.

I kept my head high and walked straight to the locker room.

Mara was there, changing into her scrubs. She looked up when I walked in and gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Hey, Sloane. How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," I said, opening my locker.

"I heard about Vaughn. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm better off without him."

She nodded. "For what it's worth, I think you're handling this like a boss."

"I don't have time to fall apart," I said, pulling on my scrubs. "I have patients who need me."

I finished getting ready and headed to the surgical floor. I had a consult with a patient this morning, followed by a surgery this afternoon.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw Kieran coming out of his office. He was in his usual dress shirt and tie, his white coat hanging over his arm. When he saw me, he stopped.

"Sloane. Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure."

He motioned for me to follow him into his office. I stepped inside, and he closed the door behind us.

"I heard about what happened yesterday," he said. "Vaughn showing up at your house."

I raised an eyebrow. "How did you hear about that?"

"He came to the hospital last night. Made a scene in the parking lot. Security had to escort him off the premises."

I groaned. "Of course he did."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I changed the locks, packed all his things, and kicked him out. If he shows up again, I'm calling the police."

Kieran nodded. "Good. If he gives you any more trouble, let me know. I'll make sure he stays away from you."

"I can handle Vaughn."

"I know you can. But you shouldn't have to do it alone."

There was something in the way he said it that made my chest tighten. Something protective and genuine.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

He smiled. "Anytime."

We stood there for a moment, the air between us charged with something I wasn't ready to name.

Then my pager went off.

I glanced down at it. "I have a consult."

"Go. We'll talk later."

I nodded and left his office, my heart pounding harder than it should have been.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I met with my patient, reviewed the surgical plan, and prepped for the afternoon surgery.

By the time I finished, it was almost six in the evening. I was exhausted, but it was a good kind of exhausted.

I changed out of my scrubs and headed to the parking lot. The sun was setting.

As I walked to my car, I saw Vaughn standing next to it.

My stomach turned.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, stopping a few feet away from him.

"We need to talk," he said. His voice was calm, but I could see the anger beneath.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Yes, there is. You can't just kick me out of my life, Sloane. We've been together for four years. That has to mean something."

"It did mean something. Until you cheated on me."

"I made a mistake!"

"And I'm done paying for your mistakes," I said, unlocking my car. "Move."

He didn't. Instead, he stepped closer, blocking my path.

"Sloane, please. Just listen to me."

"No. Get out of my way, Vaughn."

"Not until you hear me out."

I pulled out my phone. "I'm calling security."

His expression darkened. "You're really going to do this? Humiliate me in front of everyone?"

"You humiliated yourself when you screwed a nurse in your office."

Before he could respond, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Kieran walking toward us, his expression hard.

"Is there a problem here?" Kieran asked, his eyes locked on Vaughn.

Vaughn's face flushed. "This is none of your business, Ashford."

"Actually, it is. Sloane is one of my surgeons, and if you're harassing her in the hospital parking lot, that makes it my business."

"I'm not harassing her. I'm trying to talk to my wife."

"Ex wife," I corrected.

Vaughn glared at me, then at Kieran. "This is your fault. You've been poisoning her against me."

Kieran took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Leave. Now. Before I call security and have you banned from this hospital permanently."

Vaughn looked like he wanted to argue, but something in Kieran's expression made him think twice. He turned back to me, his eyes full of anger.

"This isn't over, Sloane."

Then he turned and walked away.

I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling.

Kieran turned to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Thank you."

He glanced at my car. "Are you sure you're okay to drive home?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I just need a minute."

"Take your time."

We stood there in silence for a moment.

"He's not going to stop, is he?" I asked.

"Probably not. But I'll make sure he doesn't get near you again."

"You can't protect me forever, Kieran."

"Maybe not. But I can try."

I looked at him, and I felt that same sense of safety I'd been feeling more and more around him lately.

"Thank you," I said again.

He smiled. "Anytime, Sloane."

I got into my car and started the engine. Kieran stepped back and watched as I pulled out of the parking spot.

As I drove home, I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw him still standing there, making sure I got out safely.

Something about that made my chest feel warm.