That evening. I didn’t return home until nearly midnight. I’d spent hours walking through the city, thinking about my future and o didn’t include Felix Reel
When I finally entered nur apartment, I found Felix waiting for me in the living room, bis expression a misture of anger and concern
“Where have you been?” he demanded, standing up as I came through the door. Tve been rabbing you for hours
I looked at him wearily, too exhausted for amber light. Ineeded mene nit.“
“You’re pregnant, Drielle You can’t just disappear without telling anyone where you’re going. His voice carried that familiar tone of controlled authority that he used in business meetings.
“Since when do you care about my whereabouts? I asked, setting my purse down. “You were too hosy with Melody to notice I was gone.
Telis ran his hand through his hair in frustration “This has to stop. The jealousy, the accusations–it’s getting out of hand.”
“Jealousy?” 1 laughed butterly. “Telix. I’m not jealous. I’m done.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I turned to face him fully, and for the first time in months, I felt completely calm. “It means I’m accepting the job offer from AeroTech. It means I’m moving out. 11 means I’m done pretending this marriage is anything more than a business arrangement.”
Felix’s face went pale. “You can’t be serious.”
Tve never been more serious about anything in my life.” I moved toward the bedroom to start packing. “You can have your company, your international contracts, and your precious Melody. I’m building something of my own.”
“What shout the baby?” Felix’s voice cracked slightly.
I paused in the doorway, my hand instinctively moving to my helly “The baby will be fine, Better than fine, actually. They grow up knowing that their mother chose dignity over desperation.”
“Drielle, please. Let’s talk about this rationally-”
“Rationally?” I turned hack to him, feeling five years of suppressed anger finally surface. “Rationally would have been discussing Melody’s hiring with me before making the decision. Rationally would have been treating me like an equal partner instead of a convenient assistant. Rationally would have been keeping your promises instead of breaking them the moment something better came along
Telax was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was harely above a whisper. “I never meant for it to happen this way.”
“But it did happen this way,” I said softly. “And now we both have to live with the consequences”
I went into the bedroom and began pulling clothes from our shared closet, the symbolic act of separation feeling both devastating and liberating
behind me, I heard Felix make a phone call
“Melody1
Yes, I know it’s late. Can you come o
There’s been a development with the situation at home.”
Even now, even in the middle of our marriage falling apart, his first instinct was to call her.
I smiled sadly to myself as I fulded my clothes logo a suitcase. Some people never learned.
But I had learned. I’d learned that love without respect is just another form of servitude. De learned that compromise has limits. And nd learned that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away.
As I packed the last of my belongings, I felt the baby move inside me a gentle reminder that I wasnt just making this choice for myself anymore.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, placing both hands on my belly. “We’re going to be okay.
Outside, I heard Melody’s voice as she arrived, heard Felix explaining the situation in hushed, urgent tones.
Chapter 39
I didn’t listen to the details. It didn’t matter anymore.
I was finally free.
