Chapter 8
Liam sat on the ground, numb with emotion as he unlocked his phone. He opened up the chat window between him and Mireille, scrolling through their message history. Her messages were filled with a one–sided display of care and concern.
“When do you finish work? I made your favorite dishes tonight.”
“Do you have another dinner meeting? Can we celebrate your birthday when you get home?”
“It’s getting colder. I bought you a new coat- try it on when you get back.”
“Could you come with me to visit my mom tomorrow? I want to bring her a bouquet of
1/5
Chapter 8
+ 5 Points
flowers.”
Each line cut through him like a knife. These daily details he’d brushed aside hit him squarely in the chest for the first time. He realized how much she had given him, how much she had cared while he had remained indifferent. Tears cascaded down his face uncontrollably. He tried to wipe them away, but they only fell faster.
When his tears finally dried, he turned to the lawyer standing before him. “Can you help me trace where this divorce agreement was printed? I have no idea what else to do. Please… just help me.”
My plane had landed. I was in a foreign country now, eight hours behind home. The cold bit into my skin as I noticed the sparse number of people on the streets. Quickly, I pulled out a coat from my bag, slipped it on,
2/5
Chapter 88
+ 5 Points
and stepp out of thehairairport to hail a ca toto the apartment I hadare needed.
FiFinally alone, I began unpackcking, only to bebe interrupted by the loud robblingf of my ststomach–an uneaten dayacatohahing up to
mme.
LeLeaving home had blurred my senseses, nunumbing hunger and thirst. The driveve to lejeave had overridden all other needsdblovov orom the other side of the globe, my imagagad sasatisfaction felt hollow. I shrugged ohon mynyccoat once more and ventured outut. Dowvanstairs, a lively restaurant bustling wit youthful energy caught my eye, making ge feet tesesal alone.
I still cotddidn’t taste the food before me, but laughter bubbbbled from the freedom I felt. M laughter trailatedfoff as a commotion sparke activity in thehasestaurant.
3
Chapter 8
+5 Points
A young couple, caught in the swirling snow outside, were on a date when the man proposed. Their friends circled them, cheering for a kiss.
Instinctively, I reached for my phone to capture the moment but stopped when my eyes fell on the wedding photo on my
screen.
It took me two minutes to change the wallpaper. By then, the proposal was over, and everyone was celebrating. I tapped along to their rhythm, letting their joy fill the air.
The restaurant owner, caught up in the excitement, declared that everyone in the group could eat for free tonight. It’s amazing how the kindness of strangers can unravel even the tightest emotional knots. The
4/5
Chapter 8
+ 5 Points
emotions I hadn’t felt in three years came so easily here.
The girl, overwhelmed with happiness, cried in her boyfriend’s arms. Watching them, tears streamed down my face unbidden. There will always be people who find happiness. No matter what happens next, at least they have this moment of joy.
Since leaving, I had avoided news from home, but Thorne Corporation was too prominent to ignore. Updates always found their way to me.
In the latest, Liam had a major dispute with the Wellingtons. He reneged on the hotel and company shares he had promised to transfer to Seraphina. Naturally, the Wellingtons wouldn’t let such a considerable loss go uncontested.
