Chapter 2

Charles replied almost instantly: [You finally made up your mind?]

I stared at the screen for a long moment before finally typing: [Yes.]

After sending the message, I started packing my things.

Halfway through packing, Andrew walked in.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching me for a moment before finally saying, "Are you seriously going through with this?"

"When have I ever not meant what I said?" I shot back.

"Tanya, don't threaten me with divorce," he said.

I kept packing my clothes into the suitcase, without looking up. "Don't worry. This time, it's not a threat. I'm letting you know."

He came over and put his hand on the suitcase lid. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

I looked up at him.

Three years of marriage, I stuck it out with him, watching him go from a board-controlled heir to the undisputed boss at Riverpoint Health.

I could read every expression he made.

Right now, he was impatient.

Because he thought I was being unreasonable.

Because deep down, he believed that no matter how badly he treated me, I'd always end up calming myself down.

Suddenly, it hit me that these three years were nothing but a joke. "Andrew, answer me one thing.

"If it were my ex who showed up today instead of Vivian, would you let him stay here?"

He went quiet.

That silence was uglier than any answer.

I let out a bitter laugh. "See? You know the answer."

He let go of the suitcase lid, his eyes hardening. "You know she's different."

"Different how?" I pressed on, "Is it because she walked away from you, or because you never moved on from her?"

His face went cold. "Tanya, enough."

"What? Struck a nerve?" I zipped up my suitcase, my voice barely above a whisper. "Andrew, I used to think you didn't know how to love. But now I realize it's not that you can't, it's that you never wanted to give your heart to me."

He stared at me, his lips pressed into a tight line.

After a long pause, he finally said, "You're overthinking it."

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess I was overthinking. So I won't anymore."

I dragged my suitcase out the door.

At the door, he suddenly grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?"

"Wherever I need to be," I replied.

"Tomorrow's the board meeting, the overseas launch is the day after, and you're handling all the media stuff. You're seriously walking out now?" he said.

I almost felt like applauding him.

Even at a time like this, all he could think about was work.

"Don't worry. I'll send the files to my assistant tonight," I said.

"Tanya," he said, his voice getting firmer. "Don't be so unreasonable."

I turned to face the man I'd loved for five years. "I'm the one being unreasonable?

"You bring another woman into our home, let her wear my clothes, use my cup, sit in my seat, and still expect me to keep everything together for you and your company.

"Andrew, if I stayed today, that wouldn't be me being reasonable. That'd mean I deserve whatever comes to me."

I shook off his hand and dragged my suitcase downstairs.

As I walked through the living room, Vivian spoke softly, "Andrew, maybe you should go comfort her. I don't mind moving out."

She said she'd leave, but her eyes stayed locked on me.

She was making sure she'd come out on top.

I didn't spare her a glance.

The moment I stepped outside, the night breeze hit my face, and for once, I felt free.

Charles was waiting for me downstairs.

He leaned against the car, took my suitcase, and raised an eyebrow. "You really going through with it?"

"Yeah, for real," I replied.

"Can you really let him go?" he asked.

I opened the car door and got in, and before I closed it, I said one thing. "I used to hold on because I couldn't let go, but now I think it's filthy."

As the car drove out of the neighborhood, I looked back.

The master bedroom light upstairs was still on.

That was where I'd lived for three years.

And for the first time ever, I didn't want to go back there.

Charles dropped me off at an apartment he owned.

It wasn't big, but it was quiet.

By the time he sent the divorce agreement to my email, it was already one in the morning.

I sat on the couch, going through each clause and making changes.

I didn't want the property.

I didn't want the car.

Not a single piece of jewelry from the Reed family was coming with me.

I only wanted two things.

First, I wanted the credit for the Shipcorn project I led at Riverpoint Health.

Second, I wanted the 1.1 million dollars I lent to Riverpoint Health after we got married. Every cent, plus interest, was paid back in full.

After Charles read through it, he called me. "That's all you want?"

"That's enough," I replied.

"Tanya, you know the money you brought in for Andrew these three years is way more than that."

"I know."

I gazed out into the night, a soft smile on my lips. "The rest? I'll chalk it up to experience."

Charles paused for a moment before saying, "If you're not ready, I can hold off on sending it."

"Send it." I closed my eyes. "I'm afraid I'll change my mind once the sun comes up."

But when morning came, I didn't regret it.

Instead, I felt more clear-headed.

*****

At eight in the morning, the divorce agreement was delivered to Andrew's office.

At nine-oh-five, I got a call from him.

"Tanya, what do you mean by this?" he asked.

"Exactly what it says," I replied.

"You're really asking for a divorce over this?"

"This?"

I let out a short laugh. "Why don't you walk me through everything you did yesterday, and I'll tell you if it's worth divorcing you over?"

He went silent for a couple of seconds. "I told you, Vivian's staying here temporarily."

"And I told you, I don't want you anymore," I said.

"Tanya, don't make it so final."

"Is it final?"

I leaned against the window, my voice steady. "When you let her move in, you should've known this day would come."

Andrew was barely keeping his temper in check. "Where are you? I'm coming to find you."

"No need," I said.

"You have half an hour," he said.

"Mr. Reed," I cut him off. "Starting today, you don't get to decide my schedule anymore."

With that, I hung up.

It didn't take long before Riverpoint Health blew up.

First, Andrew's assistant, Lucas Miller, called me, asking if I was really not coming back for the meeting.

Then, the heads of the brand and PR departments kept messaging me, saying they were totally lost without me for the overseas launch.

I didn't reply to a single one.

At 10:30, I packed up all the project files and sent them to Lucas, with Andrew copied on the email.

On the last page of the attachment, I left one sentence. "Handover complete. Effective immediately, I am resigning as Brand Director of Riverpoint Health."