Katherine’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel, her heart pounding in her chest. The city lights blurred past her car windows, but she hardly noticed. All she could think about was the divorce papers sitting next to her, a cruel reminder of Leonard’s betrayal. How could he do this to her? The man she had devoted herself to, the man she had married with hopes of building a life together, had shattered everything with just a few cold words.
The streetlights cast long shadows across her face, highlighting the set of her jaw and the intensity in her eyes. She was angry—furious even—but beneath that anger was a deep well of hurt. She had loved Leonard from the mont they had been introduced, despite the circumstances of their arranged marriage. She had always held onto the hope that one day, he would see her, truly see her, and love her in return. But now, that hope seed foolish, a childish dream that had been brutally snatched away.
The skyscrapers of New York City towered above her, their imposing structures reflecting the coldness she felt inside. As she drove towards Leonard’s office, her thoughts were a chaotic ss. She had sacrificed so much for him. She had done everything to support him, to stand by his side, and this was how he repaid her?
She shook her head, trying to dispel the bitterness that was settling into her heart. No, she wouldn’t let him get away with this. Leonard owed her an explanation, and she was going to get it.
When Katherine finally pulled up outside Leonard’s company headquarters, the building lood large and silent in the night. The parking lot was nearly empty, save for a few cars of late-night workers. The security lights cast a dim, eerie glow over the entrance, making the glass doors shimr like ghostly figures in the darkness. She parked her car and took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to co.
As she stepped out of the car, the cool night air hit her, causing her to shiver slightly. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, her heels clicking against the pavent as she walked towards the entrance. The massive glass doors slid open silently as she approached, the security guard behind the desk imdiately recognizing her.
"Good evening, Mrs. Ford," the guard greeted, his tone polite but curious. It wasn’t often that Katherine visited the office, especially not at this hour.
"Good evening," Katherine replied, her voice strained but controlled. "I need to see Leonard. Is he still here?"
The guard nodded, his brow furrowing slightly. "Yes, ma’am. He’s in his office. Should I call ahead?"
"No," Katherine said quickly, too quickly. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to remain calm. "No, that won’t be necessary. I know my way."
The guard didn’t question her further, simply giving her a respectful nod as he granted her access. The elevator ride up to Leonard’s office felt like an eternity. The quiet hum of the elevator, the soft glow of the buttons—everything seed too calm, too serene, for the storm of emotions raging inside her.
When the elevator doors slid open, Katherine stepped into the familiar hallway. The plush carpet muffled her footsteps as she walked, the soft lighting giving the space an almost cozy feel. But Katherine felt no comfort here. Not tonight. She clenched her fists, the cool, smooth surface of the divorce papers crumpled in her hand, a harsh contrast to the warmth of the space around her.
Leonard’s office was at the end of the hallway, its door slightly ajar. She hesitated for a mont, her breath catching in her throat. But then she pushed the door open without knocking, her anger fueling her steps.
The sight that greeted her was like a punch to the gut.
Leonard was seated on the edge of his desk, his shirt partially unbuttoned, and leaning over him, her hands resting on his shoulders, was a woman. Katherine recognized her instantly—Miranda, Leonard’s first love. They were locked in a passionate kiss, so engrossed in each other that they didn’t even notice Katherine standing there, her heart breaking all over again.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Katherine’s voice cut through the room like a blade, sharp and filled with barely controlled rage.
Leonard and Miranda broke apart, turning to face her with startled expressions. But while Miranda looked a little shocked, Leonard’s reaction was entirely different. He didn’t flinch, didn’t look guilty or apologetic. Instead, he looked... annoyed. As if Katherine were the one in the wrong, as if she was a nuisance just by simply being there.
"Katherine," Leonard said, his tone flat, almost bored. "If you knew anything about basic manners, you’d know it’s polite to knock before entering."
Katherine couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her chest tightened, her fingers trembling as she fought to keep her emotions in check. "Are you serious right now?" she spat, her voice shaking with anger. "I’m your wife, Leonard. Your wife. And I walk in on you with another woman, and all you can think about is whether or not I knocked?"
Leonard sighed, pushing Miranda away gently before standing up. He straightened his shirt, his movents slow and deliberate, as if he had all the ti in the world. "What are you doing here, Katherine?" he asked, his voice devoid of any warmth. "It’s late."
Katherine’s heart ached at his coldness, at how distant he had beco. But she forced herself to stay strong, to not let him see how much he was hurting her. She threw the crumpled divorce papers onto the desk, the pages scattering slightly.
"What the hell is this, Leonard?" she demanded, her voice cracking slightly despite her efforts to stay composed. "You send your lawyer to our ho—on our anniversary, no less—and have him give divorce papers? You didn’t even have the guts to tell yourself."
Leonard glanced down at the papers, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. He reached for his pen, which was lying on the desk, and placed it beside the papers, his aning clear.
"Why haven’t you signed them?" he asked, his voice calm, almost indifferent.
Before Katherine could respond, Miranda, who had been watching the exchange with growing confidence, stepped forward. "Honestly, Katherine," she drawled, her voice dripping with disdain, "I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss. It’s obvious to everyone that your marriage was over long before this. Leonard deserves soone who can make him happy. Soone like ."
Katherine turned to face Miranda, her eyes narrowing as she took in the other woman’s smug expression. Miranda had been a significant part of Leonard’s life long before Katherine had co into the picture. She had been the woman Leonard had once envisioned his future with. Now, as Katherine watched them together, the scene was like a cruel confirmation of all her insecurities and fears.
Miranda’s words stung, each one like a slap to the face, but Katherine refused to let her see how deeply they cut. Instead, she focused on Leonard, waiting for him to refute Miranda’s words, to at least show so hint of regret or guilt. But he remained silent, his eyes fixed on the papers on the desk as if they held the answer to everything.
"Happy?" Katherine echoed, her voice tinged with bitter amusent. "You think you’re what makes him happy? You think this—" she gestured between Leonard and Miranda, her hand trembling slightly "—is what he wants?"
Leonard finally looked up, his expression blank. "This is what’s best for both of us, Katherine," he said quietly. "You know that. We were never in love, and there’s no point in pretending otherwise."
Katherine stared at him, her heart breaking all over again. She had co here for answers, for so kind of closure, but all she had found was more pain.
"Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We’ll get a divorce. But don’t think for a second that I’m doing this for you. I’m doing it for , because I deserve better than this."
Miranda’s smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Well, it’s about ti you realized that," she said, her tone condescending. "I’ll take good care of Leonard, don’t you worry."
Katherine’s gaze shifted to Miranda, her expression hardening. She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "Enjoy my leftovers, Miranda," she said, her tone icy. "Because that’s all you’re getting."
Miranda’s smirk faltered, the confidence in her eyes dimming slightly as Katherine turned on her heel and walked out of the office, her head held high even as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. As the door closed behind her, the weight of everything that had happened crashed down on her, and she let out a shaky breath.
This was the end of her marriage, the end of the life she had once dread of. But maybe, just maybe, it was the beginning of sothing new. Sothing better.
And with that thought, Katherine walked away, determined to find out what that sothing would be.
Reviews
All reviews (0)