2 The Final Goodbye


    2 The Final Goodbye


    The morning sun cast a warm glow as Emma packed her belongings, her mind reying the harsh


    words of her mother–inw from earlier that morning. For years, she had shouldered all the me, all


    the aspersions cast on her by her loveless mother inw, thinking she was the problem in her marriage


    to Alex. She had bent over backward to please his family, losing pieces of herself in the process.


    She sent Alex a text, giving him a two–hour ultimatum to meet her, or she would expose all evidence of


    his affair with Be. Alex arrived about 30 minutester in his Ferrari. His face was a storm of


    emotions, unused to being cornered like this. He stormed into the mansion and met Emma in the living


    room.


    Emma, herposure unshakable, asked, “Do you have the divorce papers?


    Alex, visibly ruffled, retorted, “Why must you create such a drama? I told you when we married – your


    ce is secure in this family. But there are things I can’t give you right now, no matter what you


    sacrificed to be my wife. Can’t you just ept it?”


    His words,ced with mockery, stung Emma to the core, but she remained stoic. Showing weakness or


    pain in front of Alex was a No–No.


    “Our marriage has always been a one–sided story, Alex. Your version. But I’m done with excuses.


    Finalize this divorce today, or Be’s career is over,” Emma dered, her voice unwavering, her gaze


    icy.


    Alex scoffed, not believing Emma had any real leverage. But then, Emma produced the fat brown


    envelop containing the hardcopy pictures from nowhere and handed it to Alex. Alex paused, looked at


    therge envelop, hesitated before taking it from Emma. When he opened it, a stack of photos almost


    fell out to the floor. He could not believe his eyes as he saw that these photos revealed intimate


    moments between him and Be, moments he thought were only between both of them with no third


    party present. The images were too revealing and held the power to ruin Be’s reputation forever.


    “I have more where these came from. Still think I can’t push this divorce through?” Emma challenged.


    Alex, his face twisted with anger, crushed the photos. “How could you stoop so low to smear Be’s


    name and secure your status? Where’s your dignity? Where’s your honor?”


    Emma, unfazed, walked into her bedroom, with Alex following in a rage.


    “Where did you get these photos?” he demanded in a shaky voice,ing to rest just inside the door


    of Emma’s bedroom.


    But Emma had no energy left for exnations. She wanted to cut ties with this toxic rtionship and


    unkind man once and for all.


    The Final Goodbye


    217


    Unknown to both husband and wife, Be herself had sent Emma these photos, silently narrating this


    story of betrayal. Emma had always been the one overshadowed, while Be enjoyed the limelight.


    She had never thought about the repercussions such action would have on her career.


    Emma knew Alex would take zero steps when it came to the divorce. So early that morning, after the


    call with Alex’s mother inw, she had secured the divorce papers from herwyer and kept it on her


    vanity table. When Alex followed her into her room, Emma pointed to the papers silently. Alex nced


    over at the table, came closer to check them out, and stiffened when he read the content of the papers.


    “You can’t be serious, are you?” Alex looked strangely pained. “Have you thought this through? If I sign


    these papers, there would be no going back.” Emma didn’t say a word, but pointed to the ballpoint pen


    by the side of the divorce papers. He got the message.


    Reluctantly, Alex signed the divorce papers, convinced Emma would regret this decision. But for


    Emma, this was a liberating moment.


    won’t wish you happiness. I just hope you never get what you truly want,” She said, her smile


    radiant with freedom.


    Alex, taken aback by her venom, realized he had underestimated the depth of her resentment. He spun


    around on his heels


    and marched out of Emma’s room, silently gloating.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    After Emma left the mansion with the signed papers, Alex nced at the settlement papers, his own


    copies. She hadn’t imed any assets, leaving everything behind. What type of woman would do this,


    in this day and age? Women in Emma’s position would have tried to take as much as they possibly


    can, just to enrich themselves. But Emma did nothing of the sort. She had always imed she married


    him for love, not for his money. But Alex had always scoffed at the idea. Could it be true?


    He sneered, misjudging her intentions. Little did he know, in their three years of marriage, Emma had


    never depended on his wealth. She had maintained her independence, refusing to even use the


    allowance he provided.


    Marrying Alex was never about gaining wealth for Emma. It was a pursuit of love, a love that was never


    reciprocated.


    As Emma returned to the mansion after seeing herwyer, she overheardughter from inside. It was


    her mother–inw and Be. Both were in a room off the living room, but the door was slightly ajar so


    Emma could hear every word that was said by the women. Some people eavesdrop, while


    eavesdropping is sometimes thrust on people. Emma belonged to thetter category. She paused to


    hear what was being discussed.


    “This morning, Emma said she’s divorcing Alex! As if she would let go of our wealth! If only things had


    been different, Be, you would be the one in this family, not Emma,” her mother–inw mused.


    Be replied, “Emma and Alex always seemed so loving and well–matched.”


    Emma almostughed at Be’s words. Loving? She wondered what version of their marriage Be


    had been observing.