That afternoon, once I sobered up, I hit up a lawyer and got the divorce papers ready.

Good thing we had no kids. Just assets. Cutting him off would be clean.

When I got home, Derrick called—said he was heading out on a business trip.

That night, I got an anonymous message.

A flood of pics.

Derrick and Sabrina.

Hot tub at a lakeside cabin. Skiing together like some cheesy couple's ad.

Didn't take a genius—she sent them.

Still, I felt nothing.

We'd done all that before. Over ten years, we hit Rivera, Paryss, even chased the northern lights in Eirland.

Every trip, Derrick said the same thing—he wanted me by his side to see the world.

Now he was doing the same with someone else.

Truth is, we'd been together forever. Teenagers to now. A whole decade.

Maybe he just got bored of me. Guess that makes sense.

I told myself that. Tried to make it hurt less.

But it still ached.

Of course it did.

He was the only guy I ever loved.

***

Derrick finally showed up on day three.

Brought a gift.

Classic move—a fancy diamond necklace.

Anytime he missed dinner or ghosted for work, he'd pop in with something shiny. Called it a peace offering.

Said it made up for being MIA. That he had to earn me back.

I used to smile, act touched.

Now? I couldn't even fake it. Just muttered, "I like it."

He didn't notice.

Or maybe he was just too wiped from playing house with Sabrina.

"You like it, that's all that matters. I'm gonna shower," he said.

He disappeared into the bathroom.

By the time he came out, I was already in bed, facing the wall.

Silent.

He wrapped his arms around me.

Same bed, totally different worlds.

***

Then came my birthday.

Derrick threw his usual party—surprises, cake, the works. Picture-perfect.

Our friends laughed, clapped, gave their usual congrats.

But just as I was about to cut the cake, I caught one of Derrick's friends talking to him in Garmenian.

"You cut off the side piece yet? You were with her nonstop. Surprised you didn't drop dead. Your wife cool with that?"

Derrick let out a lazy puff of smoke. "I haven't touched Audrey in months. Sabrina's insane in bed—I'm not done playing with her yet. Sucks she got pregnant. Audrey doesn't want kids, so I gave Sabrina some cash. She'll give birth overseas."

My fists clenched. Tears slipped down without a sound.

Derrick glanced over. "What's wrong?"

I smiled. "The cake you made is amazing. I'm really touched."

In that moment, I hated that I understood Garmenian.

Derrick grinned when he saw me like that.

He went in for a hug, tried to kiss my cheek—I turned my face.

I was already done with him, just wasn't the time to blow it all up.

We were grown. I still had my pride.

So I lied. "Emergency at the hospital. I gotta run."

His smile faltered.

"But it's your birthday. Can't you chill for once?"

I reached out, smoothed his brow like old times. "It's fine. Just remembered—I left your gift at work."

Our anniversary and my birthday fell on the same day. We'd made this dumb pact to swap gifts every year.

I always designed him a suit. This year was no different.

Before the cheating bomb dropped, I'd already drawn it up. Took me three months to finish.

Derrick sighed but gave me that soft look. "Can't ever win with you. At least blow out the candles first—I made ice cream cake. It's gonna melt."

I nodded.

He grinned, pulled me over. We blew them out together.

Then he yelled, "I wanna be with Audrey forever! I'll stick by her side for life!"

Cue the crowd going wild.

"Derrick, give it a rest! You're making us all jealous."

"Almost ten years and still this cute? Ugh, I can't."

I stiffened.

Not ten.

Eleven.

This was year eleven.

And he'd already checked out.

I slipped my hand out of his and kept it calm. "I'll grab your gift. It's late—I'm not coming back. Enjoy the party."

Then I walked.

After finishing up at the hospital, I headed back to the clubhouse with the suit.

Eleven years. Wrapped up. Done.

Felt like the final page.

I hit the stairs and spotted Sabrina slipping into the private room.

My fingers clenched around the gift bag.

Seriously, Derrick? Couldn't even wait?

Already had her on speed dial?

It hit me like a sucker punch—sharp, breath-stealing pain.

I leaned against the wall, eyes burning.

Pulled out my phone.

"Zara, I'm in. I'm joining the research team."

Our hospital had this top-secret program way out northwest—only the best docs got picked for a brain tumor study.

My dad died from one. Mom followed not long after—grief just crushed her.

That's why I went into medicine. Beating brain cancer became my thing.

But once you signed up, there was no backing out.

Minimum commitment? A few years. Max? Over ten.

I'd stalled before—couldn't bring myself to leave Derrick.

Zara, my best friend and a fellow doctor in the program, didn't hold back. Called me love-blind.

So when I suddenly said yes, she was floored.

"Wait, for real? What happened to can't-live-without-Mr.-Stratton?"

I bit my lip. "Guess I figured it out. We're supposed to live for ourselves, right?"

I didn't tell her what Derrick did—she would've lost it.

After we hung up, I stayed there, pressed to the wall, trying to catch my breath.

When I got home, I started sorting—what to keep, what to ditch.

Once I'd packed, I grabbed the old photo album I used to cling to and cracked it open.

Eleven years of me and Derrick.

Back then, he was head over heels for me.

There was a time a car came flying at us—he didn't even flinch. Just shoved me out of the way and took the hit.

Got thrown clear across the street.

He was in a coma for a week.

When he finally woke up, I cried harder than anyone. Told him I'd never leave, no matter what.

But feelings shift. Fast.

And cheating? That's a line you don't come back from.

I tore up every photo, one by one, and chucked them in the trash.

"What are you doing?!"

I hadn't even heard Derrick walk in.

He looked at the shredded photos, eyes glassy. "Why'd you tear them up? Are you mad?"

I wasn't ready to let him know I knew, so I played it cool. "Made a new album. Just ditching the old one before it turns yellow."

That settled him. He hugged me. "If you're happy, I'm happy."

Once I locked in plans with Zara, I booked my flight.

Three days.

Spent the next two erasing him from my life.

The rings. Every photo. Old love notes.

Gone.

Lucky for me, he was too busy playing house with Sabrina to notice the place getting emptier by the hour.

***

The day I left, Derrick showed up.

I was just about to head out with my suitcase when he stopped me. "Audrey, where are you going? Why didn't you tell me?"

I set the bag down, smooth as ever. "Was just about to. There's a rare case at the hospital—I need to do surgery on-site. Chill, I'm not running away."

He let out a breath but still stepped in closer. "Let me come with you. You've been so distant these past two days... what if you don't love me anymore?"

"You're overthinking. How could I not love you?" I said, light and easy.

Then I pulled a document from my bag, covering the title just right.

"Hey, babe. Sign this for me—it's a surprise I planned for you."

I handed it over, my tone full of fake excitement.

Did the same thing years ago when I "gifted" him a star. He'd signed without even looking.

Maybe he remembered, because his face softened. Smile kicked in as he signed without blinking.

"What's the surprise this time? Can I see it?"

Before he could flip it open, his phone buzzed.

He checked the screen. "One sec. Gotta take this."

He stepped out to the balcony.

I didn't move. Just watched.

I'd already seen the caller ID.

Sabrina.

And he looked thrilled—grinning like an idiot.

I just stood there, staring.

Hadn't seen that look on Derrick's face in ages...

The call ran five, maybe six minutes. When he came back in, he said, "Audrey, be careful on your trip, okay? Something came up at work—I need to head out."

Didn't wait for a reply. Just walked out.

I didn't hesitate either. Rolled my suitcase right out the door.

Right before boarding, I got a message from Sabrina—a sonogram.

[I'm pregnant with Mr. Stratton's child. Can you let us be happy?]

I didn't answer.

Just forwarded it to Derrick with a note:

[Your chick sent this to me herself. Don't you think you should deal with it?]

[Oh, and since you already signed the divorce papers, once everything's processed, go pick up the divorce decree.]

Then I chucked my phone in the trash.