Kat evening. Läsdn’t return home until neatly midnight. I’d spent hound walking through the city, thanking about m
When I finally entered our apartment, 1 Found Telix waiting for me in the living room, his expressión al inixture of anger and concern
“Where have you been?” he demanded, standing up as I came through the door. “Tve been calling you for herr
I kicked at him wearily, too exhausted for another fight. “I needed some air
“You’re pregnant, Drielle. You can’t just disappear without telling anyone where you’re going” is volen carried that familiar tone of controlled authority that he used in business meetings.
“Since when do you care about my whereabouts?” Lasked, setting my puran down. “You were too by with Melly to notice I was gone.”
Felix ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “This has to stop. The jealousy, the accusations–it’s getting tot of hand”
“Jealousy?” I laughed bitterly. 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. It means I’m done pretending this marriage is anything more than a business arrangement ”
Felix’s face went pale. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.” I moved toward the bedroom to international contracts, and your precious Melody. I’m building something of my own.”
“What about the baby? Felix’s voice cracked slightly.
start packing. “You can have your company, your
I paused in the doorway, my hand instinctively moving to my belly. “The baby will be fine. Better than fine, actually. They’ll grow up knowing that their mother chose dignity over desperation.”
“Drielle, please. Let’s talk about this rationally-
“Rationally?” I turned back 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
Felix was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was barely 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.
-Melody? Yes, I know it’s late Can you come over? 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 folded my clothes into a suitcase. Some people never learned
But I had learned. I’d learned that love without respect is just another form of servitude, I’d learned that compromise has limits. And I’d 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 wasn’t 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 29
I didn’t lines to the details. It didn’t matter buymete
napier
Chapter 30
