The Divorce Bracelet

The hardest year of Oliver's career had come.

In my desperation, I sold the bracelet my mother, Miranda Bullock, had left me.

Oliver Pettyfer had sworn to me that once he got back on his feet, he would buy it back.

But after seven years of marriage, that bracelet had ended up on the wrist of his mistress, Lillian Miller.

I still remembered the day I overheard Lillian's innocent voice asking, "Aren't you going to give this back to Scarlett?"

Oliver's gaze softened as he replied, "It's just a worthless bracelet. She won't mind."

*****

I had grown accustomed to cooking for myself; it was a habit formed from years of neglect. After finishing the last spoonful of soup, I opened WhatsApp and found Oliver's chat.

The last message I sent him asked if he was coming home.

He never replied.

Just as I was about to distract myself with some short videos, something in the local recommendations caught my eye.

There it was—my bracelet, being toyed with by Lillian, Oliver's assistant.

That bracelet was a piece of my mother's legacy.

I had sold it in agony to help Oliver rise again, but for seven long years, he had insisted he hadn't found it.

The caption accompanying the photo read: [A little gift from the boss.]

The location tagged Oliver's company.

My heart sank, a heavy weight settling in my chest.

That was my bracelet.

I called Oliver, desperate for an explanation, but he rejected my call.

By eight that evening, I found myself standing outside his office building.

I made my way straight to the CEO's office, but before I could even knock, I heard Lillian's cheerful voice ringing out.

"Thank you, Mr. Pettyfer! You're so kind!" she chirped, her tone grating on my nerves.

"But didn't you say this was Scarlett's? Isn't it a bad idea for me to take her things?" she continued, feigning innocence.

Oliver's voice, calm and collected, pierced through the air.

"It's just a worthless bracelet. She won't care."

That was it. I could no longer hold back. I pushed the door open, my heart racing.

I forced myself to keep my voice steady. "Oliver, say that again?

"Why didn't you tell me you found the bracelet?"

Inside the office, Lillian was snuggled up against him, carelessly playing with the bracelet on her wrist.

When our eyes met, a smug smile danced across her face, a challenge in her gaze.

Oliver replied nonchalantly, "Why? Because Lillian likes it. Just let her have it."

He knew exactly what that bracelet meant to me, yet he dismissed it as if it were nothing.

He slowly nudged Lillian to stand up, then glanced at his phone. "Did you call me?

"I don't respond to your texts, which means I don't come home for dinner. After all these years, you still don't get it?"

I ignored his question and extended my hand.

"Give it back."

He frowned, irritation flashing across his face. "Scarlett, can you stop being so petty?

"If you want something more expensive, I'll buy it for you. Why make a scene?"

I maintained a calm exterior, but inside, I was falling apart.

"Oliver, is this really how you want to play it?

"Just because I warned you to be careful around her, you're going to retaliate like this?"

I couldn't comprehend how the man I had loved for seven years had turned into someone so callous.

Sensing the tension, Lillian put on a faux-innocent expression.

"I'm sorry, Scarlett. I'll return it right away.

"It's my fault! I'll give the bracelet back. Please don't fight with Mr. Pettyfer!"

I caught a flicker of malice in her eyes, and by the time I realized it, it was too late.

"Oops!" Lillian exclaimed, her grip slipping, and the bracelet fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, Scarlett..."

Before I could respond, Lillian was already in tears.

I remained silent, crouching down to gather the broken shards, my gaze instinctively shifting to Oliver.

His expression was a mix of shock and disbelief, as if he hadn't seen this coming.

Tears fell onto the cold floor as I desperately searched for the remnants of what had once been a cherished keepsake.

My vision blurred through the veil of my tears. The last memento Miranda had left me was now gone.

I felt as if I had become nothing more than her final relic.

The pain in my chest was suffocating, and I looked at Oliver with an empty heart, void of any lingering affection.

"Oliver, we need to get a divorce."