TER

IA'S

As I slowly opened my eyes, the unfamiliar surroundings momentarily disoriented me. But then

pe of woman to engage in a one-night stand, let alone with a complete stranger. But the pain and heartbr

night. A part of me wondered if he even noticed I was gone. The realization that our marriage had d

y brooding thoughts. I glanced at the clock, panic rising in my chest

mbling to answer the call. "Hello

oncerned voice cut me off. "Mrs. Jane has

at my father's company, West Enterprise, where I worked. She had never been a

d, my voice trembling slightly. "Tell M

ed to take drastic action because of my tardiness? The thought of losing my job, the one thin

my stomach twisted in knots. As I pulled into the parking lot, I took a de

ver to me, her expression grave. "Amelia, Mr

wing hard. "Okay

dozens of eyes upon me. Whispers and hushed conversations seemed to follo

or, giving me an apologetic look. "Good

then took a deep b

ed voice called fr

pacious office, my palms sweating. The older woman wa

finally join us," she said, h

diness," I said, trying to keep my

e been consistently late and your performance has been subpar.

zation dawned on me. "Mrs.

cold, calculating eyes. "I'm afraid we've decided to relieve yo

y father's company, the one thing I had dedicated myself to for years - it

r's company," I protested w

ger in charge, Amelia. The majority of the shareholders have decided that your l

pilling over onto my cheeks. "No, this ca

"Your personal difficulties are not my concern. No

ew there was nothing more I could say. Defeated,

s happening. First Jason's betrayal, and now losing the one thing that had given my life pur

moved on with his new girlfriend. But to my surprise, he was t

an I had heard it in weeks. "I, uh...I

et his gaze. "Well, you got your wish, Jason. I

ough his hair. "I'm sorry to hear that, Ame

"Spare me the fake concern, Jason. We both know

ing. "That's not true. I may have...made some

face. "You cheated on me, Jason! You _betrayed_ me, and now you'

re. "Look, I know I've messed up, and I'm sorry. But

. Divorce? After everything we had been through

No, I won't sign those papers, Jason. I won't le

Amelia, please. This is hard for me too, but we bo

I move on when my whole world is falling apart? First my job

ly. "I know this is difficult, but maybe...maybe it's

oice laced with anguish. "Someone who won't _b

pping to the floor. "I...I'm sorry, A

flowing freely once more. "But you found s

ilt. "I...I didn't mean that, Amelia. I w

, congratulations, Jason. You managed to destroy _everything_ that wa

. "Just...just give me the damn divorce papers. I'll sign

n the hall, returning a moment later with a stack of documents. I snat

ly severing the bond that had once held us together. As I handed the papers back to Jason, I

"It's done. I hope you and your _g

r, heartbreak, devastation - they all swirled within me, threatening to overw

what the future held. With my job and my marriage both gone, I felt utterly a

take root. I wasn't going to let Jason and the world's cruelty break me. I had to find a

w, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. I may have lost everything, but I