Chapter 3
When I walked into the office, I handed my resignation letter to my boss, Emmanuel. He didn’t bat an eye, his expression serious as he said, "Sophia, every couple hits rough patches. If you both meet halfway, things can work out. Aren’t you worried Gavin might not forgive you if this blows up?" That’s when it hit me—Gavin had already talked to him.
"He told me to let you know he’s blocked you and won’t be coming home tonight. He wants you to think things through."
Gavin and I had fought plenty, but we’d always kept our battles private. This was his way of flexing control. In the past, the fear of losing him would’ve paralyzed me, making me swallow my pride and beg for another chance. But now? His games just felt exhausting.
I made it clear to Emmanuel that this breakup was final, and I’d thought long and hard about quitting. He raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You’ve loved Gavin for years. Are you really ready to let go?"
I nodded without hesitation. Only then did he sigh and process my resignation.
Back at home, I was shocked to find Gavin there. Paloma was spinning around in a brand-new Victorian-style dress, her face lit up with excitement. "Gavin, how do I look?" she asked, twirling.
"Stunning. Our Paloma is the fairest of them all," he replied, his voice dripping with charm.
As I walked past, Gavin shot me a sharp glare before turning his full attention to Paloma, his tone flirtatious. "Hey, Paloma, your zipper’s undone in the back. Let me fix that for you."
Paloma threw me a smug look, pretending to hesitate. "Gavin, isn’t this a little too intimate? Maybe your ‘wife’ should help instead."
Gavin snorted. "Wife? What wife?"
Ignoring me completely, he zipped up her dress and casually draped an arm around her shoulders, leading her out the door like they were the only two people in the world.
I knew he was trying to rattle me. Before, seeing him cozy up to Paloma would’ve sent me into a rage—maybe even made me step in his way. But now? An odd sense of calm washed over me, and I just let it go.