towards the cabinet and came back with a pregnancy tes

ake it,"

s she took the pregna

told him as she placed

shoved it toward her

take the pills after we slept together. How could I be pregnant?" Ze

st," he insisted,

g the test from him. She raised her eyebrow a

t to see y

ttle, she was already tired with the whole day. Zelda peed on

the counter, not bothering to check it. She kne

er to the counter, inspecting the test.

tive," he

ce flat. "I didn't want you to know this, James, but..." She trailed off, knowing

made sure to take more than enough precautions to ensure she wouldn't get pr

walked outside. Zelda stayed inside, her weariness w

ed today. I want you to look for her necklace. She was wearing it at the hospital, so if you don't find it

greed, as James ended the call and stood there in t

dow, feeling numb as the gap betw

er. Still sleepy, she reached for it on the nightstand,

e news?" Jian's voice wa

rubbed her eyes,

rday. It's all over social media. James has been away for three months with her, a

d been lurking in the back of her mind, now screamed at her. James had been with Susan t

urned to play his role as her husband for a night before going back to Sus

whispered, he

oing to do?" Jian aske

way. Instead, she stared at the sun

er voice steady with resolve. "I'm don

e other end of the line

know how much y

it and I am sure. I

. You deserve so mu

d to hersel

Zelda stood up to get herself ready for the morning. That is w

watched herself in the mirror. The gestur

*

divorce papers in her bag. She had dressed simply, her hair pulled back, her face calm, though

she was just his assistant, quietly managing his affairs behind the scenes. It

from both the job and the man sh

some of her co-workers noticed th

ving us?" one of th

forcing a smile.

appened?" an

her head. "I just need to focus on my

a wave of speculation

you?" one of them asked blunt

oot blanks?"

in bed. Men nowadays have be

ering to correct their assumptions. It didn't matt

iar figure standing nearby. James had been liste

er with slow, d

s voice low, "can I

wed James into his office. He shut th

es narrowing. "You told them I wasn't satisfying you, that I was

lied evenly. "They were specul

en aback. "This is ridic

placing the resignation letter on

rce papers and set them

uments, disbelief and a

the hell ar

I don't want anything from you. You've given me every

crossing her arms,

, the one who would endure anything for the sake of their marriage. She was desperate to have his name attac

she repeated, her voice fi