Just as I hung the phone up, Samuel walked through the door, looking drained. His eyes were heavy, and his shoulders slumped. I knew he had been working long hours, but I also knew that he was only acting because a few hours ago, he was laughing with Samantha.

I wanted to call his bluff, but thinking that it would be exhausting to argue with him, I decided not to say anything. I watched him drop his bag on the floor and stretch. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

'I'm tired. Long day. You know how it is," he told me, running a hand through his hair.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I wanted to ask him about his long day with Samantha, but I held back. What good would it do? So, I turned away, pretending to clean up the kitchen, but the scars on my arms and neck that hadn't healed fast enough yet caught his attention as they were still red and angry, remnants of the attack.

"What happened to you? Why do you have those?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"Just a little mishap on my way home. No big deal," I said lightly.

He frowned. "You called me a few times. Was that the reason why?"

"Yeah, but like I said, it wasn't a big deal," I answered with a shrug and continued to clean.

Samuel had always thought of himself as perceptive, so he somehow sensed that something about me felt off today. He watched my every move, absentmindedly letting his fingers tap on his phone.

He knew that even though I answered his question, my voice was flat and devoid of the warmth he expected. It was like talking to a wall, instead of someone who was completely enamored by him. He leaned forward, trying to catch my gaze, but I completely ignored him.

“What’s your problem?” He finally asked, his voice low but firm.

"I don't have one." I shrugged again—a gesture that felt like a dismissal.

"Oh, really? Because it looks to me that you're upset about something," he said, scowling for good measure.

"If that's what you want to believe, then that's what you want to believe," I told him, staring at him directly in the eye.

Just as he was ready to push harder, his phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at it and immediately looked relieved by the distraction.

"I’ll take this."

Samuel hurriedly walked toward our home office and locked himself in as he took the call. Emotionally drained and mentally exhausted, I trudged toward the bedroom with heavy footsteps. The weight of the day pressed down on me like a thick fog.

Each step felt like a reminder of my chaotic life, but as I passed the office, I heard Samuel's voice. It was sweet and soft, almost like a lullaby. My heart sank because it didn’t take long for me to guess who was on the other end. Samantha.

She was everything I wasn’t. Charming, fun, and apparently, the center of Samuel's attention as of the moment. I felt a surge of anger mixed with sadness. Hearing him talk to her, the laughter in his voice shattered my resolve. I was done.

I was ready to escape. Home felt like a place of safety, a refuge from the mess my life had become. I didn’t care how upset Samuel would be. I needed to prioritize myself for a change, so I pulled out my phone for the final time and texted my father. 'I’m coming home sooner than we talked about.' It was a simple message, but it held a weight of its own.

Morning came, bringing clarity. I packed a small bag, ready to leave. I felt lighter already. The decision to go home ignited a spark within me. I was tired of being the one left behind. I wanted to go back to a place where I could start anew, where I could find out what Tamara wanted, apart from the shadows of Samuel and the baby I could've had.

I walked into Samuel's office to tell him that I was leaving. But as I stepped through the glass doors, I felt the air shift. People were whispering. Their eyes darted toward me like I was a puzzle they couldn’t figure out. I tried to shake it off.

As I walked further to Samuel's office, I bumped into Ashley, Samuel’s secretary. She was usually a beacon of support for me. But today, her face was tight, her smile forced. It seemed as if she didn't want me to be here.

"Hey, Tamara," she said, her voice low and shaky. I could sense there was something more beneath her words. "What brings you here?"

I took a deep breath, wondering what the hell was going on. "I need to talk to Samuel. It's urgent."

I glanced around the office, noticing the way others stiffened, their conversations halting immediately when I approached. "What’s going on, Ash? You look worried, and why is everyone staring at me?"

Ashley hesitated, looking back toward Samuel's office. "I don’t know how to say this."

She bit her lip and looked as if she wanted to run away, but couldn't. She then pulled me aside and leaned closer. "There have been strange things happening here. Samuel’s been acting… different. People say he’s been having an affair with someone here in the office."

"And that's not all. Everyone thinks you guys broke up, so we're surprised to see you here," Ashley admitted.

"An affair huh? With who?” I pressed, even though I already knew who it could possibly be.

"I can't tell you, but you shouldn't go inside his office," she warned.

"Why?" I asked.

When Ashley didn't speak, I decided I had to confront him. I pushed past Ashley, heading toward his office. I needed to see for myself why I was being asked not to disturb him now. I didn't care if he was in a meeting or doing something important. I barged right in without knocking, the door creaking open with a loud bang as it hit the wall.

I stepped into the room, my heart racing. It was like walking into a scene from a story I never wanted to read. Samuel stood there, caught in a moment he clearly didn’t expect me to walk in on. Samantha was perched on his desk while Samuel stood closely in front of her.

The moment their eyes landed on me, Samantha's expression was a mix of surprise and annoyance, realizing who I was, she immediately pushed Samuel away, like a child shoving a toy back into the box.

I crossed my arms and stared daggers at both of them. It wasn't surprising to see them this way anymore, but what I was upset about was the fact that he didn't have to cheat on me. He could've just said he wanted to get out of the relationship instead of embarrassing me like this. Samantha slowly slid off the desk, her demeanor shifting from playful to serious.

"Tamara, wait. It’s not what it looks like," Samuel stammered, his voice rising in pitch when he saw the look on my face.

But I didn’t need him to explain. I had seen enough. I didn’t care about their antics anymore. The tension hung thick in the air, and I raised my hand to silence them. He immediately shot his mouth and didn't say another word. Just like that. I could see the confusion in Samuel’s eyes and the irritation in Samantha's. But I wasn’t here for their drama. I had come to discuss something crucial; my freedom.

"Samuel, I don't need to hear what your excuse is for getting caught in a compromising position. I'm here because we need to talk," I said firmly. The words hung there, waiting for a response.

The silence was thick in the air as we all waited for Samuel's response. However, Samuel, being Samuel, immediately declined and told me that he was busy and was about to have a meeting with important clients. Of course, I didn't believe him because why would he be in his office alone with Samantha if he was indeed about to have a meeting?

"The talk won't take long. I have something to tell you and it's very important," I argued.

"Fine, if it's that important to you, let's talk about it over dinner tonight. Just not now," he stated.

Normally, I would've demanded to hash things out without delays, but I didn't care anymore. I wanted to get this done and over with, so if he wanted to talk over dinner, then we could talk over dinner. I figured that it would also be a good opportunity to let him know about the baby we both lost.

"Text me when and where," I told him.

I turned to leave not wanting to cause any more scenes. It was enough that I somehow embarrassed them. As I was about to call for the elevator, Samuel caught up to me, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Why are you acting this way?" he asked.

It took everything in me not to laugh hysterically at him for even daring to ask the question. In the end, I simply raised an eyebrow at him and tilted my head.

"I just don’t see the point in causing more problems for you or me in front of everybody."

Samuel visibly tensed, but he didn't say anything. He simply watched me get in the elevator and waited until the doors slid shut. I took a deep breath steadying my nerves, and once I reached the lobby, I quickly got out of the building and headed back home.

Later that evening, I stared at my phone, the screen glowing in the dim light of the restaurant. It was just past seven. Samuel was late. He had texted earlier, confirming our dinner plans. I glanced around, noticing that I was the only customer left.

As the minutes dragged on, I checked my phone again. No new messages. Just the same text from Samuel about the time and place. Anger washed over me when I decided to look at social media. There it was—a post from Samantha, all smiles and celebration, her caption announcing her promotion. And right there in the background, I spotted Samuel, laughing and raising a glass of toast. They were out together, and I was here, waiting for someone who didn’t care enough to show up.

I tapped out a message to him, my fingers flying over the screen. 'Looks like you missed your chance. We’re over.' I hit send before I could second-guess myself. It felt liberating, like shedding a heavy cloak. I pushed my chair back and stood up. The waiter approached, but I waved him off. I didn’t want dessert or an after-dinner drink. I wanted to leave this place behind.

I walked to my car, each step feeling lighter. The reality of my decision washed over me. Samuel had chosen Samantha over me. I had given him so many chances to make things right. I thought about how I had supported him through his struggles, and how I had always been there when he needed me. And yet, he chose to disrespect me like this.

I quickly drove to the airport and booked the earliest flight back home. Once I was about to board the plane, my phone started vibrating. When I checked who was calling, Samuel's name flashed on the screen.

"Goodbye and good riddance," I muttered.

I turned my phone off and without thinking, I threw it inside the trash can.