"What is the meaning of this?" Alex shouted, standing from his seat so fast the chair crashed to the floor

"Exactly what I said, and careful, you don't want to break more things you'll have to pay for" I replied standing from my seat, "I'll stay at an hotel tonight, I want the both of you gone by morning." Before I could take another step, Mara rushed to my side taking my hand crocodile tears already flowing down her cheeks, "I don't know why you're doing this, but if it's because of the wine, I... I promise you I'll pay it back, even though I'm only an orphan and don't really have any money, I'll do everything I can to pay it back, pls don't divorce Alex"

I snatched my hand away from hers cleaning it with a table cloth and dumping it on the ground. Alex immediately came to her side holding her with steady hands as she cried and begged for me to stay. I nearly laughed at her acting skills, why was she wasting her talent here and not in the entertainment industry? I'm sure she would make waves there. "Are you really angry because of a bottle of wine?" Alex asked, clearly pissed at me, "I always knew you were arrogant and selfish, but this is a whole new level, do you think I'll beg you to stay? Fine let's get divorced, let's see who comes crawling back, you've chased after me for years, everyone knows you're nothing without me, I wouldn't have married you in the beginning of you had not threatened to commit suicide."

Commit suicide? Me? What the hell was he even saying? But before I could ask him what he meant, he already signed the papers and flung it at me. Mara kept sniffing beside him, begging me to stop being stubborn and apologize.

"If you apologize now," Alex said, his nose in the air, "I might consider forgiving you and taking you back, count it as me saving your life"

I didn't even bother answering him, only took the divorce paper and left. I checked the time, 10:45 pm, it wasn't too late, but cabs were really scarce because of the weather and I'd given my driver the day off. I walked down the tarred road, shivering slightly. I was almost tempted to go back home and rest in the comfort of my warm bed but the mere thought of being under the same roof with those two without committing murder seemed impossible. But maybe murder would be better than freezing to death, the nearest hotel was still an hour away, and no car had passed. I was on the verge of giving up and trekking back home when I saw a black Rolls-Royce Phantom, coming down the road, I quickly stood in front of the road, waving both hands as fast as I could. The car slowed down and I ran quickly to it knocking the window.

The glass rolled down to reveal a young man seated comfortably at the back of the car, he was hot and radiated that 'don't come near me' energy that I'd seen only on TV. If I wasn't desperate, I wouldn't even come close to someone like this let alone think of entering his car. But I wasn't about to freeze to death. "Can you please give me a lift?" I asked, my hand holding on to the glass in case he wanted to wind it back up. He looked at me for a minute without any expression and then signalled to his driver. I heard the door click and thanked him as I opened the door and got into the car. The window wind back up as the driver drove off and I shivered at the feeling of warmth on my skin.

"Thank you so much" I said again when he dropped me off at the hotel, and before I could say another word, he drove off. Looking at the fading view of the car made me think of the young girl I met earlier, what on earth was chasing them? Maybe I look terrifying.

I shrugged my shoulders and went into the building. Checking in was fast and within minutes, I was in a soft bed with a soft robe wrapped around me. I took out my phone scrolling through the contacts. No one. No one I could call, no one I could talk to, only contacts of people from work, Alex's contact and his mother's number.

I never realised how lonely my life was. It was practically wrapped around Alex. I sighed switching off the phone and shutting my eyes, exhaustion taking over me. I'd expected a sleepless night, but I was drawn into the darkness within seconds.

Alex wasn't gone when I got home the next morning, which I already expected, and that was why I was currently sitting down watching as the men I hired dragged out his belongings one by one.

"Let's see how far you can go without me" he screamed as the men dragged him and Mara out, the fake actress sniffing as she begged, "Sister-in-law please reconsider, don't do this to yourself"

I didn't understand why he was so sure I couldn't live without him, was it because I'd chased him for three years? Or because I'd spent the last five obeying his every word? I didn't care whichever, all I knew is that they were no longer part of my life.

"Clean up the house" I said to the maids who were back from their day off, "and throw out everything they've used, down to the last grain of sand" I gave one of them my card "change everything in my room too, including the bed, throw it away, you can keep whatever you want and burn the rest, I don't want to find any trace of their existence when I'm back"

"Yes ma," they chorused and I stepped out of the house. My driver, David was already waiting for me, opening the door with a bow. I rested my back against the seat as he drove off, the blur of the city a reflection of how the last fifteen hours had felt.

"Good morning, Miss Hale, everyone greeted bowing slightly before going back to their work. I nodded as I walked to my office, my heels clicking behind me. Lily, my assistant, briefed me on my schedule for the day, following me into my office and placing a document on the table when I sat down. "This is the list of ongoing projects and important clients you asked me to draft. It is concise enough for Mr. Voss to understand in one glance" she paused and looked at me "Are you really leaving ma? I mean I know you want to try for a baby, but you don't have to..."

"Don't worry" I cut her off smiling, "I'm no longer leaving, and..." I gestured towards the document "I'll no longer be needing this"

She froze for a moment, realization dawning on her, "are you...?" She shook her head taking back the document, "it doesn't matter, I'm just glad you'll be staying. Should I push back your meeting this morning?"

I smiled, shaking my head, "No, I'm ok, let's go ahead with it"

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. In between meetings and piles of documents, I had no time to think about anything else. But my peace was broken by an unwelcome visitor.

"I'm sorry, Miss Hale, I couldn't stop her" lily apologized as Alex's mother stormed in, yelling loudly about it being her son's company and complaining about being stopped.

"Thank you lily," I said, "you can go"

She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. I turned to my ex-mother-in-law. "What exactly do you think you're doing?" I asked

"I should be asking you that," she replied fuming, "Divorce? You want to divorce my son? Do you think you're a position to do that?"

I smiled, leaning back on my chair, "And what position exactly am I in?"

She scoffed, wrapping her hands under her bossom, "Do you think I don't know you can't live without my son? You should be grateful my son even took in an orphan like you, without your money you're not even worthy of cleaning my son's shoes"

"I don't think your son needs anyone to clean his shoes" I retorted "what he needs is a better cock sucker"

"What do you mean by that?" She fumed

"I think you'll have to ask your son that yourself" I replied "he seems to have soft spot for pitiful orphans"

She opened her mouth to say something else but I cut her off, "please, while I'm still showing you any respect, I'd advice you leave quietly. Unless you preferred to be carried out the way your son was"

"How dare you..."

I cut her off by calling the security "Come up. Yes. Now."

"Do you really think I'm scared?" She continued, "I want to see what you are..."

She was cut off by the securities rushing in. They grabbed her immediately, leaving her kicking and shouting as she cursed and swore. Like mother like son. The audacity. But why on earth did they keep thinking I almost killed myself to marry Alex? I was infatuated with him, yes, but not crazy enough to even think of committing suicide. So where exactly was the accusation coming from?

I shook my head and went back to work. They could think what they like. But if Alex thought I was going to take him back, he was very wrong.

Lily came in moments later, wearing an excited expression she was trying very hard to contain. "Mrs. Hale" she started "this feels like a wrong time, but we've finally been able to schedule a meeting with Mr.Vale, and he says he'll only be available for thirty minutes this evening. Will you be able to.." she paused, looking at me hopefully.

I smiled, "of course I can, what time?"

She sighed a breath of relief, "Around 6:30 pm. His assistant says he has another engagement by 7:00 so we'll have to be very brief"

I nodded, thirty minutes was tight, but enough for us to pique his interest and hopefully schedule another meeting. I checked the time, 5:45 pm. Too early. But, better earlier than later.

"Do you have the location?"

She nodded, "yes"

"Ok" I said, "get you things ready, we'll leave in 10 minutes"

She smiled, "ok ma"

By the time we got to the hotel lobby, it was already 6:20 pm. He was not around yet, exactly how I wanted it.

I kept checking my watch.

At exactly 6:30 pm, polished shoes came into view, perfectly tailored suit, and clean hands with long perfectly manicured fingers. I took his outstretched hand, my eyes settling on a familiar face as he took his seat. Recognition flashed through my eyes.

What the hell!