The meeting dragged on from morning to late afternoon.
Even though Fredric’s mind was chaos,his face remained cold and composed.
After it ended, he returned to his office.
Deana walked in with a coffee cup in hand,her voice soft and sweet.“Fredric you look so tired.I made this just for you.”
His head was pounding Without looking up,he said, “Just put it down.”
She noticed his collar was damp with sweat. Remembering how he’d been frantically calling someone earlier,she grew uneasy.
Still she moved closer and tried to unbutton his shirt for him. “You really should rest.Let me help you.”
But her hand trembled.
The cup slipped and hot coffee spilled across his white shirt.8
“Ah!Fredric,I’m so sorry!“she cried grabbing tissues in a panic.
Fredric instinctively pushed her away,his voice ice–cold as he yelled,”Enough. Don’t bother me right now.”
He got up himself and headed to the sink to clean up.8
The hot stain and the sticky scent imitated him.
He couldn’t help thinking.If it were Brittany,this wouldn’t have happened.
I knew he hated scented detergents,so I always picked the lightest ones.
Even my coffee was brewed just how he liked it.
His fingertips trembled as he remembered it all, while Deana stood frozen,her eyes stinging
He had never been like this with her before.
In the past,even when she acted spoiled or messed up he would just smile and say“It’s okay.”
But now,his eyes were distant and cold,like she was just a stranger.
She bit her lip and walked out
In the pantry,a few coworkers gathered when they saw her. One stepped forward. “Miss Gilbert, don’t overthink. Mr. Gilbert’s just under a lot of pressure lately.“”
“Yeah, the Vice President’s gone and the Garrett Group pulled out. It could be said if the company is in chaos. He doesn’t have time to comfort anyone.”
art.”
“Seriously don’t take it to heart.”
Deana forced a smile as she said, “I just wanted to help him.”
The others exchanged glances but didn’t respond.
Everyone knew she was useless here. All she could really do was hang around.!
The only one who’d truly held this company up was the former Vice President, which was me.8
I was indeed elegant and gentle,but I was powerful,yet unshakable.
But now I was gone.
“Do you think the Vice President loved the President?” a new hire whispered.
“Who knows. But maybe she left because there’s areal wife’now watching over everything.”
Deana’s hands curled into fists. Her fingertips went cold.
Still,she didn’t deny it.
Everyone saw her as a burden.
She smiled through it but the bitterness in her chest kept rising.
In his office,Fredric stayed late into the night.
Papers were scattered across the desk,unread.
The farewell letter still lay there,heavy as a tombstone. And under it,the miscarriage report,pressing down on him like a boulder.k
I don’t want to love you anymore.
Those words echoed again and again.X
He stared at the letter reading it until his vision blurred. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking X
An hour passed,he hadn’t moved like a statue carved out of sorrow !
12
1:13 PM
An hour passed, he hadn’t moved like a statue carved out of sorrow.
His mind kept questioning,“Why?Why did she walk away?”
He couldn’t understand.
All these years,my kindness to him,my dependence on him,my perseverance in our marriage…was it all fake? If I didn’t love him anymore, why didn’t I tell him?”
Why should I get a divorce?!
Why should I leave him?
