The Secretary in My Pajamas

I was fighting for my life in a hospital bed while my husband was lounging in Bora Bora with his secretary.

He didn't just abandon me; he let that woman move into our home while I was gone.

When I finally walked through the front door, I didn't scream. I just calmly handed him the divorce papers.

His little secretary stood there in my favorite silk pajamas, tears streaming down her face.

"Please, blame me if you have to, but don't leave Mr. Miller because of this," she sobbed.

Gavin comforted her for what felt like an eternity before he finally spared me a glance.

"Fine, we'll divorce. But don't you dare make life difficult for Luna."

......

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Gavin sitting at the mahogany desk in the living room, focused on his laptop.

Across the room, a woman was lounging on the designer sofa I had spent weeks picking out.

She was wearing my pajamas and using one of my expensive face masks.

Gavin looked up when he heard the door. He froze for a second, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

The woman scrambled to her feet and hid behind Gavin like a frightened kitten.

I knew exactly who she was.

Her name was Luna Vance, the secretary Gavin had hired a few months ago.

She was a fresh college grad, young and undeniably beautiful in that fragile, helpless way.

Gavin stood up, shielding Luna from my sight. His expression quickly shifted from surprise to annoyance.

"Finished with your little tantrum? I see you finally decided to come home," he snapped.

I wrapped my coat tighter around my thin frame and looked him in the eye.

He actually thought I had been missing for a month just to pick a fight.

He thought I was playing games.

In reality, I had spent every single one of those thirty days suffering in a cold hospital ward.

I had told him I was sick. I had called.

But he hadn't picked up once. Instead, he had brought Luna into our sanctuary.

He let her wear my clothes, use my things, and occupy my home like she owned the place.

Gavin took a slow sip of his coffee, looking down his nose at me.

"I didn't come crawling back to beg you, and yet here you are. Try to be more like Luna. Be sensible and stop making these scenes."

He always acted like this. He thought all he had to do was whistle, and I'd come running back like a loyal dog.

But the truth was, I was exhausted. I was done lying to myself.

I pulled the divorce agreement out of my folder and tossed it onto the desk in front of him.

"Sign it, Gavin. We're done."

He didn't expect that. For a split second, he looked genuinely stunned.

But his arrogance returned almost instantly, replaced by a sneer.

"With what money, Jada? If you leave me, you won't have a cent to your name. How are you going to pay for your paralyzed brother's care?"

The disdain in his eyes felt like a serrated blade twisting in my chest.

My family had been in a horrific car accident years ago. My parents died instantly.

My brother, Jace, had shielded me with his own body. I survived, but he was left paralyzed from the waist down.

His medical bills were astronomical. We weren't poor before, but the treatment had drained every penny of my family's savings.

I had given everything I owned to Gavin when he was a nobody trying to start his firm.

Once he became a titan in the industry, I figured we were a team. I didn't keep track of the money.

Without telling me, he had even submitted a resignation letter on my behalf, claiming he wanted me to be a "queen" at home.

"I'll take care of you," he had promised. "My money is your money."

Now, he was using that same money to keep me on a leash.

Luna stepped out from behind him and grabbed my arm, her voice trembling.

"Mrs. Miller, please. Gavin only took me in because he felt sorry for my situation. Don't be angry with him because of me."

I looked down at her hand, my voice cold as ice. "Let go."

She flinched and pulled back, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Mrs. Miller, please don't divorce him. It would break my heart to be the cause of this."

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

She played the "innocent victim" role perfectly, and Gavin fell for it every single time.

He pulled her into his side, rubbing her shoulder to soothe her.

"That's enough. She's just a kid out of college, Jada. Stop bullying her."

I was speechless.

I hadn't even said two words to her since I walked in, and yet I was the villain.

I picked up the papers and shoved them closer to his face. "If she's so precious, then sign the damn papers."

Luna squeezed out two perfectly timed tears. "I'll leave right now, Mrs. Miller. Just please, don't stay mad."

Gavin grew frantic at the sight of her crying. "Luna, honey, this has nothing to do with you."

Then he turned back to me, his eyes freezing over.

"You want the divorce? Fine. But you better not make things difficult for Luna."

I walked out of that house with only a few thingsDitems Luna hadn't touched.

The rest of it felt tainted. It made my skin crawl just thinking about her in my space.

The night air was biting, and the wind cut right through my coat as I wandered the streets.

My mind drifted back to a month ago.

It was the night of the company's big anniversary gala.

As Gavin's wife, I was supposed to be the guest of honor by his side.

But the gown he sent over was a size too small. I couldn't even zip it up.

With the event starting in an hour, there was no time to find a replacement.

I was panicking, but Gavin just looked at me with total indifference.

"Take it off and give it to Luna," he said. "She'll go in your place."

I stared at him, my heart dropping. "Are you insane? Every reporter in the city will be there. You're taking your secretary instead of your wife?"

He didn't even argue. He just made me hand over the dress.

When Luna put it on, I realized the truth.

The gown fit her like a second skin.

Every curve, every hemlineDit was tailored specifically for her body, not mine.

Gavin had done it on purpose.

He wanted a reason to bring her as his date.

That night, I curled up on the sofa and watched the live stream of them walking the red carpet together.

They looked like the perfect power couple.

I felt a toxic mix of rage and heartbreak, yet I still clung to the tiny bits of affection he occasionally showed me.

When he came home that night, he actually apologized.

He promised I could go with him to an event the very next day.

I was so happy I stayed up late prepping my outfit and doing my own makeup.

But when we arrived, I realized it wasn't a gala. It was a business dinner in a smoke-filled private room.

He didn't want a date. He wanted a distraction to help him land a contract.

I grabbed his arm and whispered, "Gavin, you know I have a history of stomach issues. I can't drink like this. Why would you bring me here?"

He just shrugged, his tone dismissive.

"It's just a few drinks, Jada. Since when are you so dramatic? This used to be what you were best at."

I felt like I had been slapped.

Back when Gavin was first starting his company, we were struggling to survive in the city.

I was the one who went to every dinner, handled every client, and drank until I was dizzy to close deals.

Gavin came from a fallen wealthy family; he was too proud and clumsy with people. He kept offending the wrong people.

So, the burden fell on me.

I grew up watching my parents run a business. I knew how to work a room and hold my liquor.

In the beginning, Gavin would stay by my side and take shots for me.

But as the company grew, he stopped coming. He just sent me out alone.

I endured the wandering hands of greasy executives and laughed at their crude jokes, all for Gavin's success.

Three years ago, during a massive deal, I pushed too hard.

I ended up vomiting blood right at the table.

In the ER, the doctors told me I had severe gastric bleeding from alcohol abuse.

They warned me that if I didn't stop, I was looking at a high risk of cancer.

Gavin cried back then. He swore he'd never let me touch a drop again.

He promised to love and protect me forever.

And for a few years, he did.

Until that night.

The way he spoke to meDwith such utter contemptDmade me feel like a piece of trash.

Like I was something he had picked up off the street and was now bored with.

That was the night something inside me finally snapped.

It's funny how you can love someone for years and then suddenly feel absolutely nothing.

But I still finished that dinner for him.

Gavin had paid for Jace's care for a long time, and I viewed this as my final payment to him.

Once this was done, we would be even. I wouldn't owe him a thing.

Halfway through the night, Luna walked in.

She was supposedly there to deliver some files, but the drunk executives immediately zeroed in on her.

"Mr. Miller, if your pretty little secretary has a few drinks with me tonight, I'll sign the contract right now," one of them leered.

I looked at Gavin, waiting for his reaction.

I honestly thought he'd agree. He'd done it to me a hundred times before.

But Gavin grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her behind his back.

"I'll drink as much as you want," he said, his voice firm. "But she's never touched alcohol. Don't push her."

The executive's face darkened. "Does that mean you don't want the deal, Miller?"

Gavin didn't flinch. "If the deal requires harassing my staff, then keep it. Don't think so highly of yourself."

I stared at him, my heart feeling heavy in my chest.

He was willing to throw away a multi-million dollar project just to save Luna from a single glass of wine.

But what about me?

He knew my stomach was a ticking time bomb, and yet he had dragged me here to be his sacrificial lamb.

Was I just a joke to him?

The room went cold. The deal was dead, and everyone knew it.

I couldn't help it. A short, sharp laugh escaped my lips.

Every head in the room turned toward me.

I stood up, glass in hand, and walked over to Luna. But my eyes were locked on Gavin.

"Mr. Miller, she's your secretary. Drinking is part of the job description, isn't it? After all, your wife has already had five rounds."

Gavin's face turned thunderous. "Jada, that's enough. Don't be a bitch."

Luna looked like she was about to faint.

She stepped out from behind him, her hands shaking as she took the glass from me.

"Mrs. Miller is right. It's my job. I'll do it."

She tilted her head back and downed the wine in one gulp.

Gavin immediately snatched the empty glass away, his face etched with worry.

He grabbed her hand right in front of everyone.

"I don't need you to sell your soul for a contract," he growled.

Then, he walked out of the room with her, leaving me standing there alone in the silence.

I felt like a clown.

I could hear the muffled snickers from the other guests as they looked at me with pity.

I wiped a stray tear from my face and made my decision.

I drained my own glass, slammed it onto the table, and walked out into the night.

The cold wind hit me, but I didn't know where to go.

As I walked, a sharp, searing pain exploded in my abdomen.

Then came the metallic taste of blood in the back of my throat.

I collapsed against a wall, coughing violently. Blood splattered onto the sidewalk.

It was late, and the street was deserted.

With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

At the hospital, after a battery of tests, the doctor gave me the news.

It was gastric cancer.

The only silver lining was that we caught it early.

"We need to operate immediately," the surgeon said. "The cost will be around thirty thousand dollars."

Gavin gave me a credit card, but he tracked every cent.

If I spent too much, he'd interrogate me like a criminal.

I had no choice but to call him.

The phone rang and rang. Finally, someone picked up.

It was Luna's voice. "Mrs. Miller? Gavin and I are in Bora Bora on a business trip. Is there something I should tell him?"

I froze.

A business trip to Bora Bora? Give me a break.

I had begged Gavin to take me there for years, but he was always "too busy."

He wasn't busy. He just didn't want to go with me.

"Tell Gavin I have early-stage cancer," I said, my voice hollow. "I need thirty thousand for the surgery. I'm taking it from the account. I'll pay him back."

Luna gasped and started rambling about how worried she was.

I hung up. I couldn't listen to her fake concern.

Three days later, I went under the knife.

The surgery was a success. As long as I managed my health, I'd be okay.

During my entire recovery, Gavin didn't call once.

A neighbor sent me a photo while I was still in the ward.

It was Gavin, carrying a young woman's suitcases into our house. It was Luna.

I expected to feel a crushing weight in my chest.

But there was nothing.

The fire had finally burned out.

After leaving our house, I stayed with my best friend, Sarah.

She was working overseas and told me to use her apartment as long as I needed.

Now, my priority was survival. I needed to make my own money.

I had studied design in college. I was goodDtalented and lucky enough to land a job at a top firm right after graduation.

But I had thrown it all away because Gavin gaslit me into becoming a housewife.

The industry moves fast. Even though I'd kept up with trends, a multi-year gap on my resume made it hard to get back into the big firms.

So, I decided to build something of my own.

I reached out to an old college friend, Caleb Vance.

He had mentioned wanting to start his own studio but couldn't find the right partner.

Back in school, our design philosophies were a perfect match.

I had turned him down back then because I was focused on trying to get pregnant for Gavin.

When I called him, Caleb was ecstatic. We set up a meeting immediately.

Over the next few days, we brainstormed until the sun came up. The studio started taking shape.

To fund my share, I used Gavin's credit card.

I wasn't the one who cheated. I had put all my savings into his company years ago.

Technically, I was an original shareholder. Taking his money was just collecting my dividends.

I wasn't going to be a martyr and leave with nothing.

I wasn't going to waste my youth and get nothing but a "thank you" in return.

Caleb and I worked well together. The studio was up and running within weeks.

He already had a solid client list, so we hit the ground running with a few smaller projects.

It wasn't millions, but it was a start. It was mine.

I worked so hard I barely slept, which helped me forget that I was still technically married.

That changed when Caleb took me to an exclusive private party.

The moment we walked in, I saw him. Gavin.

And of course, Luna was sitting right next to him.

I was surprised he had the nerve to bring his secretary to a private gathering like this.

Caleb knew the whole story. He knew about my health and what Gavin had done.

He spent the whole night glaring at Gavin like he wanted to punch him.

I patted Caleb's arm. "Don't bother. He's not worth the energy."

The party was full of the city's young elite.

When dinner started, we were seated at the same long table.

The host was a French businessman who didn't know the local gossip.

He raised a glass to Gavin and Luna.

"Mr. Miller and his wife... as they say in your country, you are a match made in heaven."

The table went dead silent.

Everyone in that roomDexcept the FrenchmanDknew exactly who I was.

They knew Luna was just the help.

The host noticed the tension and looked confused. His assistant whispered the truth in his ear.

The assistant explained that I was the real Mrs. Miller, and Luna was just a "friend."

The atmosphere was incredibly awkward until Caleb raised his glass to break the tension.

For the rest of the night, I turned down every drink.

I stuck to tea, and Caleb intercepted the rest for me.

"Jada has a sensitive stomach," Caleb told the group with a smile. "I'll be her designated drinker tonight. Don't give her a hard time."

Most people were cool about it.

Except Gavin. He raised his glass, his eyes mocking me.

"Oh, come on, Jada. You used to be the life of the party. Are we just not important enough for you to toast with?"

He was trying to humiliate me.

Caleb's jaw tightened. "Gavin, back off."

Gavin scoffed. "I'm talking to my wife, Caleb. This is none of your business."

He clearly thought Caleb and I were a thing, but I didn't care enough to correct him.

I didn't even look at him. I just kept my hand off my glass.

But Gavin wasn't finished.

He grabbed a glass of wine and tried to force it into my hand.

He was going to make me drink it whether I liked it or not.

Suddenly, Caleb slapped the glass out of his hand. It shattered against the floor.

"That's enough, Gavin! She just had surgery for stomach cancer! She can't drink a drop!"

Gavin's hand was sliced by a shard of glass. Blood dripped onto the white tablecloth.

He stood up so fast his chair flipped over, the noise echoing through the silent room.

He stared at me, his face pale with shock. "Cancer?"

He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first timeDactually seeing how thin I'd become, how the makeup was barely hiding my exhaustion.

He reached out for my hand, his voice thick with a mix of anger and guilt.

"Your friends knew? Everyone knew but me?"

"Jada, did you ever even consider me your husband?"

I looked at him and felt like laughing.

Even now, he was finding a way to make my illness about him.

"Gavin, I called you. I texted you. If you had bothered to check our messages once while you were in Bora Bora, you would have known."

"Don't act like a victim. If you cared, you would have noticed I was in a hospital bed for a month."

News travels fast in our circles. Even old classmates had sent me flowers.

But the man who slept in my bed didn't have a clue.

That only happens when someone goes out of their way not to know.

Besides, I knew for a fact I had mentioned it to his shadow.

"Actually, I told your lovely secretary all about it."

I turned to Luna, who was trying to shrink into her seat.

"Right, Luna? You remember that call, don't you?"

Luna couldn't even look at me. She just stared at her lap, silent.

Gavin turned to her, his voice rising. "You knew? Why didn't you tell me!"

Luna grabbed his sleeve, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Gavin, I told you she was sick! But you said she was just faking it for attention and told me to ignore her!"

Gavin froze. He shook his head frantically, looking back at me.

"No, Jada... Luna said you were just mad about the trip... I thought you were lying to force me to come home... I didn't think it was real..."

I looked at this man I'd known for a decade.

We shared a life, a bed, a history.

And yet, he chose to believe the word of a girl he'd known for three months over the woman who had built his empire with him.

Caleb didn't hold back. "You believe whatever that girl tells you. Is she your secretary or your mother?"

Gavin ignored him. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the adjoining room.

He was using so much force I couldn't break free.

Caleb tried to step in, but Gavin was acting like a caged animal.

He slammed the door and locked it, ignoring the pounding from the other side.

I ripped my arm out of his grip the second he let go.

"Gavin, stop. There's nothing left to talk about."

His face softened. He looked vulnerable for the first time in years.

"Jada, I'm so sorry. I messed up. Can we just start over? Please?"

He was apologizing.

But his tone was so entitled, like he expected me to just fall into his arms because he said the magic words.

I shook my head. "No, Gavin. It's over."

He looked genuinely confused.

"I said I'm sorry. I told you, Luna and I are nothing. I swear."

"I just thought of her like a little sister. You've had your tantrum, now let's go home."

See? Even now, he thought I was just throwing a fit.

He thought if he whistled, I'd come running back.

I looked him in the eye. "Fine. If she's nothing, fire her. Right now."

Gavin hesitated. His brow furrowed.

"What does that have to do with anything? She just made a mistake in communication."

"Besides, her family needs the money. Firing her now would ruin her life."

I didn't say a word. I just watched him.

He couldn't even see that he was choosing her over me again.

In his heart, Luna's well-being was more important than my dignity.

"Then we have nothing to talk about. Sign the papers. I'll see you at the lawyer's office."

I turned to leave, but he blocked the door.

When logic failed, he played the guilt card.

"Jada, think about your parents. Their dying wish was for us to grow old together. Don't let them down."

I felt a flash of pure rage. "If my parents knew what kind of man you've become, they would have told me to run the day we met."

Gavin's face darkened, but then he stepped closer and tried to wrap his arms around me.

His voice went soft, like it used to be in college.

"Baby, I know you wanted to go to Bora Bora. We'll fly out tomorrow. Just you and me. Our anniversary is coming up, let's make it a second honeymoon."

I pushed him away, my voice cold as ice.

"Our anniversary was three days ago, Gavin. You spent that night at the movies with Luna. I saw the credit card alert."

Gavin's face went pale.

It was obvious he had completely forgotten the date.

Years ago, he would spend months planning my gifts. He'd be so nervous I wouldn't like them.

Now, he didn't even know what day it was.

He went quiet for a moment, his brain working overtime to find an excuse.

Finally, he pulled out his phone.

"I've been so busy, Jada. It's end-of-year reporting, you know how crazy the office gets. I promise I'll make it up to you."

"I'm booking the tickets now. We're going to have the best trip of our lives."

I was about to tell him exactly where he could stick those tickets when a scream erupted from the other room.

A loud crash followed, then a chaotic commotion.

"Luna! What happened?" someone shouted.

Gavin's head snapped toward the door.

He didn't even look at me as he threw the door open and sprinted back into the dining room.

Luna was slumped on the floor amidst a mess of broken plates and crystal.

Her hand was badly cut, blood pooling on the expensive rug. It looked dramatic.

She looked up at Gavin and forced a weak, pathetic smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. My blood sugar just dropped... I lost my balance. I'm okay, really."

Gavin didn't hesitate. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

Luna shook her head, clinging to his arm. "No, please. Don't let me ruin your night with Mrs. Miller. I'll be fine."

Gavin didn't listen. He scooped her up in his arms, carrying her out of the house like a hero in a romance novel.

I stood there and watched them go.

I didn't feel angry. I didn't feel sad.

I just felt numb.

The party was ruined, but Caleb's friendDthe hostDwas incredibly gracious. He told us not to worry about it.

The next day, Gavin called. He told me Luna was really sick.

He claimed she had no family in the city, so he had to stay and look after her.

He offered a half-assed apology and promised we'd go to Bora Bora soon.

"Don't call me again unless it's about the divorce," I said, my voice flat.

He started to explain himself, but I hung up before he could finish.

The silence that followed was the most peaceful thing I'd felt in years.

He tried to call back immediately. I blocked his number.

Then my phone buzzed with a notification from WeChat.

It was a long message from him.

Honestly, if we weren't still legally married, I would have blocked him there too.

I didn't even read it. I just muted him.

I threw myself into the studio's work.

When you're busy, there's no time to dwell on the past.

I didn't think about Gavin at all. It was like he had been deleted from my life.

Until a week later, when I walked out of the office and saw his car parked at the curb.

Gavin was leaning against the hood. When he saw me, he crushed his cigarette under his shoe.

I stopped a few feet away. "Did you sign the papers?"

He looked at me with the eyes of a lost child. "Jada, I don't want a divorce."

"Then we have nothing to talk about," I said, moving to walk past him.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the back of the car.

He popped the trunk.

A cloud of pastel balloons floated out into the evening air.

The entire trunk was overflowing with hundreds of deep red roses.

Before I could process it, he grabbed my hand and slid a heavy jade bangle onto my wrist.

"Jada, this is my family heirloom. My mother said it's only for the woman I'm going to spend my life with."

"And these roses... I picked them out myself. Do you like them?"

I took a sharp step back, putting distance between myself and the flowers.

Gavin looked confused. "What's wrong? Don't you like them?"

I looked at the roses, then looked Gavin dead in the eye.

"Gavin, I'm allergic to pollen."

I reached down and yanked the heavy jade bangle off my wrist.

"And this? I saw this on Luna's Instagram three days ago. When exactly did you get it back from her?"

It was one thing for him to be distant.

But it was another thing entirely for him to forget that his wife of several years had a literal medical allergy.

Back in college, he had surprised me with a huge bouquet for his confession.

I ended up in the ER before I could even say yes.

He had cried that day, terrified that he had hurt me. He swore he'd never forget again.

After that, he always bought me preserved flowers for every occasion.

He used to say that even if I was allergic, I deserved to have beautiful things.

But I couldn't remember the last time he'd bought me flowers.

Lately, his gifts were just random luxury items his assistant picked out at the mall.

And now, when he finally tried to be romantic, he brought me something that would put me back in the hospital.

As for the bracelet...

Luna had posted a selfie with it, bragging about how "special" it was.

I knew immediately it was the Miller family heirloom.

His mother had never even mentioned it to me, but she'd apparently handed it right to Luna.

Gavin started stammering, his usual cool facade crumbling.

"My mother gave it to Luna to bring to you! I swear, I had no idea she actually wore it."

I shook my head. "You don't have to explain. I don't care who you give it to."

I wasn't being petty. I truly didn't care anymore.

Gavin saw my indifference and panicked. He lunged forward and pulled me into a hug from behind.

"Jada, being away from you has made me realize how wrong I was."

"I love you. The house feels like a tomb without you. I can't stay there another second."

So what?

Was I supposed to be touched? Was I supposed to just forget everything and go back to being his doormat?

His grip was too tight. I couldn't break free, so I just went cold.

"Gavin, I just want the divorce. I want us to go our separate ways. Maybe one day we can be polite strangers, but right now, you're making me hate you."

I felt his body go rigid. "Jada... what are you saying..."

"I'm saying let's end this with some dignity," I said.

Gavin suddenly lost it. He spun me around and smashed his lips against mine.

The kiss was desperate and aggressive. I could barely breathe.

I fought him off, finally getting enough leverage to shove him back.

I swung my hand and slapped him across the face as hard as I could.

"Don't you ever touch me again. You make my skin crawl."

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and walked away without looking back.

I thought my message was clear enough to keep him away.

But the next morning, I opened my apartment door to find him leaning against the wall.

He jumped to his feet and held up a brown paper bag.

"Jada, I went to that old bakery in the North End. I got those everything bagels you love."

The North End was near our old campus. I used to live for those bagels.

Back in the day, he'd wake up at 5:00 AM just to get them fresh for me.

But that was a lifetime ago.

Last year, I had asked him to pick some up on his way home, and he'd called me high-maintenance.

He told me a bagel was a bagel and he wasn't driving across town for bread.

I hadn't asked for them since.

Seeing him stand there now with that bag felt pathetic.

"I already ate," I said.

His face fell, but he forced a smile. "That's okay. I'll come earlier tomorrow. Or tell me what you want, and I'll cook for you."

I looked at him, and for a split second, I saw a ghost.

I saw the college version of Gavin who actually loved me.

But ghosts aren't real.

The things he did with Luna were like cracks in a mirror. You can glue it back together, but you'll always see the fractures.

"Don't bother," I said.

"If you don't want bagels, I can make those breakfast sandwiches you like. The ones with the spicy aioli?"

"Gavin, I said no."

"Oh, and you shouldn't have coffee with your stomach. I'll bring oat milk instead."

I couldn't take it anymore. I reached out and literally covered his mouth with my hand.

"Gavin, stop with this self-indulgent performance. I don't love you anymore."

"Nothing you do is going to change that. So please, stop stalking me."

Gavin's eyes turned red.

His whole body started to shake, like he was fighting back a breakdown.

"You... you really don't love me?"

He looked like a child who had just realized he'd broken his favorite toy.

"I don't," I said, my voice firm and certain.

He looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He just stood there, staring at me in silence.

It took him a long time to find his voice. When he finally spoke, it was a raspy whisper.

"The papers... I'll sign them. I'll let you go."

A week later, we stood in front of the courthouse. The divorce was final.

Before we parted ways, he asked me if I'd ever regret this.

I told him no. Not for a second.

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but leaving him was the smartest thing I'd ever done.

He offered to drive me back to my office, but I just pulled out my keys.

I pressed a button, and a sleek new SUV chirped nearby.

Gavin looked stunned. "You bought a car? You're driving yourself now?"

I looked at him one last time. "You always told me I couldn't survive without you. It turns out, I'm actually doing a lot better without the dead weight."

He didn't have a comeback for that.

I didn't stay to chat. I got in my car and drove to work.

Two years passed.

Caleb and I turned the studio into a powerhouse firm. We were partners in every sense of the wordDprofessionally and personally reliable.

Not long ago, Caleb got married.

His bride is a close friend of mine. I was actually the one who set them up.

Seeing them happy made me realize how far I'd come.

After the wedding, I walked down the street, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face.

I finally felt comfortable in my own skin.

No more chains. No more gaslighting. Just me, free like a bird.

I knew that from here on out, life was only going to get better.