"Please, have a seat."

Entering the office, Corbin Murray greeted me as if I were a guest of honor. My eyes drifted to the sofa, which was overflowing with plush toys. The bookshelves had transformed into snack storage, and the door to the private lounge stood slightly ajar, revealing some disheveled women's clothing strewn across the floor. Corbin’s gaze, impossible to decipher, met mine, prompting me to avert my eyes, feeling somewhat out of place.

"Here's the paperwork."

Corbin handed me the divorce papers, watching intently as I went through them. "We've shared a long history; you won't be lacking. You can pick any of the cars or houses you prefer. If there's anything else on your mind, just say."

Was this meant to be some kind of recompense? That was the only thought that flashed through my mind, yet it didn’t affect my pace in reading. The agreement offered more than enough for a lifetime. Corbin had always been generous, never miserly in such matters.

"No need. Just this," I replied, "and the house I've been living in—that should suffice."

I signed the papers smoothly and handed them back to Corbin. He seemed ready to say more, his mouth opening only to shut again upon seeing my actions. He seemed shocked that we were done in less than five minutes.

I stood up.

"The divorce has a one-month grace period before it's final. I'll be in touch then."

With that, I turned to leave.

"Zainab."

"Yes?"

"Is that really all you have to say to me?" Corbin's brow furrowed, disbelief coloring his voice.

I looked at him, confused by the sincerity of his question. After a pause, I genuinely asked, "At this point, are you expecting me to wish you and Arianna a blissful and fulfilling life together?"

I've moved on, but not quite to that level.

"..."

Corbin was silent, his eyes revealing a depth of emotion. As I reached for the door handle, his voice found me once more.

"Zainab, in the end, I'm the one who failed you. I'll continue to take care of your mom's medical expenses."

Mentioning my mom stopped me in my tracks. If anyone wanted me to stay with Corbin Murray more than anyone else, it was certainly her.

Corbin and I started building our lives together when we were seventeen. In those tough days, we would share a single meal, and Corbin always made sure I got the roast beef. In the bitter cold of winter, he worked as a bicycle messenger, saving every penny. He wouldn’t spend a cent on himself but once managed to buy me a ring.

"Even though it's just a simple band now, one day I'll give you a bigger, brighter diamond," he promised.

We lived in a tiny basement apartment, barely a few hundred square feet. With no heat in winter, we kept warm by holding each other close. When summer came, it got so hot that Corbin took me to sleep in the park.

My mom saw all this, and it broke her heart. She sold everything she had to help Corbin start his business. When he earned his first fortune, he bought a luxurious condo downtown, with perfect climate control all year round. In front of my mom, he vowed to always take care of me.

My mom was moved to tears, managing to say only, "You two must look after each other."

I was hopeful then, thinking the future was full of promise. But in just a few short years, everything changed beyond recognition.

Corbin cheated. My mom was diagnosed with cancer. Her treatment costs tens of thousands each year. If it weren’t for Corbin covering the expenses, I might have lost her long ago.

But now...

"No need to trouble yourself. Thanks." I concluded the meeting politely, opened the door, and left.

As I stepped out of Corbin Murray's office building, I heard Arianna Anderson call my name.

"Zainab."

She quickly closed the distance between us, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a graceful motion.

"Thank you for stepping aside and letting us be together, for giving Corbin up," she said.

Her smile was bright and triumphant, as if she were a victor showcasing her prize.

"You're welcome," I replied with a faint smile, wishing she wouldn't end up in my shoes someday.

A little piece of wisdom from someone who’d been there before.

Arianna's smile wavered for a moment but then returned to its radiant form.

"How could I end up like you? You've already seen how Corbin feels about me, haven't you?" she asserted confidently.

She was referencing something from the past.

Back then, Corbin had brought Arianna to one of his friends’ parties. During the gathering, one of Corbin’s friends inadvertently mentioned my history with Corbin.

He blurted out, "Once Corbin came back late from a business trip, and Zainab was waiting for him outside, asleep on a garden bench, when a homeless guy bothered her."

Arianna, nestled in Corbin’s arms at the time, frowned in distaste and uttered, “Isn't that just pathetic?”

I couldn't tell if she was referring to my sleeping in the garden or the incident with the homeless man.

Regardless, the room erupted in mocking laughter.

That night, I was standing right outside the door.

I had intended to catch them in the act.

Unexpectedly, those words struck me like a cold blast, leaving me feeling both icy and fiercely burning, torn apart by my emotions.

But what truly stunned me was Corbin’s reaction.

He sat on the couch, holding Arianna, and amidst the careless jokes and laughter, he remained silent, his expression nonchalant.

As if they were mocking a stranger.

And not someone he had once cared for and protected.

And during the final game of the evening, Corbin happily took a drink from Arianna’s lips.

At her playful urging, he repeated the words, "Zainab, dirty."