Chapter 2

I went to the office to complete my resignation paperwork with HR, then got ready to leave.

My hand was on the door handle when I heard voices just outside — colleagues passing by.

"Seven years of marriage and she just walks away like that. What's Eve trying to prove?"

"Didn't someone say the divorce was because of cheating? You don't think it was her, do you?"

"Had to be. She must've done something behind Lawson's back. That's why she caved so fast today."

"I heard Lawson even gave her shares as compensation. He's honestly too decent for this..."

I stood there with my eyes down, not moving.

The HR rep shot me an uncomfortable look.

"Ms. Eve, they're just talking — please don't take it to heart..."

Whether it was "just talking," I knew exactly what it was.

I could even guess whose mouth it had come out of.

To give Mia's arrival a reasonable explanation.

To protect his girl from the backlash.

He chose to push me out front, to let me take the hit for her.

Seeing that I hadn't responded, the HR rep forced a smile.

"Everyone knows how much you gave to stand by Lawson's side. You came from nothing together, built everything from the ground up — people genuinely admired what you two had."

"They don't know anything. They're just running their mouths."

"I'll report it to their manager right now and make sure they're spoken to."

That made me go quiet again.

I was willing to go through the hard times with Lawson because, back then, he really was good to me.

He'd buy me the newest clothes without thinking twice, while refusing to replace his own jacket that he'd worn for two years straight.

He remembered my birthday, our anniversary — but could never keep track of his own.

Our wedding was held in the countryside.

It wasn't extravagant, but it was proper. The best that little town had to offer.

He always gave me the best of what he had.

So on our anniversary, with the dim, intimate lighting glowing around us — he'd sat staring at the two little figurines kissing on top of our cake and said:

"Eve, do you ever think... is this really the life we want?"

That was why it hit me so hard.

I wasn't ready to give up. I still believed he loved me.

I kept holding onto that belief until I'd ground us both down into something bitter and broken — two people who could barely stand the sight of each other.

I held on until he started trying to pay me off.

Only then did I let myself give up.

I came back to the present and shook my head at the HR rep, then shoved the door open.

The colleagues who'd been whispering outside immediately went silent, heads dropping carefully to avoid my eyes.

But their reaction wasn't because of me.

It was because of Lawson and Mia, walking toward us from the far end of the hallway.