Racheal's world falls apart on her 30th birthday when she comes home to find her husband, Jack, gone, leaving behind only a note that says, "I can’t do this anymore. I’m leaving you." Shocked and heartbroken, Racheal is thrust into a whirlwind of confusion and pain as she desperately seeks answers. She visits Jack’s cold, wealthy family only to be handed divorce papers signed by the man who promised her forever.

As Racheal tries to navigate the wreckage of her life, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, grappling with the betrayal of a husband she thought she knew. But when a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger named Jake pulls her into a night of distraction and unexpected connection, Racheal begins questioning everything about love, loyalty, and her future.

As she pieces together the truth behind Jack's sudden departure, including the secret affair he had been hiding for years, Racheal is forced to confront her deepest fears and find the strength to rebuild her life. Along the way, new relationships form, old wounds are reopened, and shocking revelations threaten to destroy everything she thought she knew.

CHAPTER ONE

RACHAEL'S POV

Sitting across from Amy, sunlight filtering through the café windows casting soft rays on our table, I was lost in our conversation reminiscing about the good old days.

“Remember that time we went to Ibiza for our birthdays?” Amy asks, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

“You almost missed the flight because you insisted on entering that store. “I laugh, shaking my head at the memory.

“Hey, I had to get those boots! They were gorgeous.”

Amy raises her glass, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“And now look at us. Thirty and still day drinking like we’re twenty-five.” I clink my glass against hers, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through me, not just from the daytime drinks but from the joy of spending this moment with my best friend.

We had been through so much together, from wild nights in college and spontaneous trips to heartbreaks and new beginnings. Today felt like a nod to our youth, but with a touch of something deeper and more meaningful.

“I can’t believe you’re 30,” Amy says, setting her glass down and reaching for her purse.

“I got you something.”

“Oh no, you didn’t have to. Your sparkling company is enough.” I tease.“

She rolls her eyes and pulls out a small velvet box. I blink, surprised, as she hands it to me. I open the box slowly, and there it is: the necklace. The one I had seen when I was young, the one I had promised myself that I would buy the minute I started making money but never did.

“Amy...” My voice trails off as I run my fingers over the delicate chain, as it twinkles in the sunlight. It was exactly as I remembered. Simple, elegant.

“I know how much you wanted it,” she says softly, watching me. “I thought it was time you had it.”

Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I blink back quickly, not wanting to get too emotional in public. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

After enjoying a few more sips of our drinks, I couldn't stop the excitement bubbling up inside me.

“You know, I have a feeling Jack’s up to something today. He’s been acting weird all week. I’m sure he’s planning some sort of a surprise party, and you’re in on it too, aren’t you?”

Amy looks innocent, but a guilty smile tugs at her lips. “Me? I have no idea what you’re talking about, Racheal. I haven’t seen Jack all week.”

“Oh, please!” I laugh. “You’ve been plotting this birthday lunch for days. I bet you’re just stalling me so he can get everything ready at home.” Amy shrugs, giving nothing away. We finish our drinks with a toast to the big three-oh.

“Happy birthday, my love,” Amy says with a wink as we hug goodbye. I leave the café a little tipsy, the necklace she had gifted me bouncing lightly against my chest as I walk to the car. My heart is racing with excitement, my mind spinning with thoughts of what Jack could have planned.

A party, maybe? Or a romantic dinner for two? I couldn’t wait to get home and find out whatever it was.

When I arrived at our penthouse, I practically flew through the front door, expecting to hear laughter, music, or at least some sign of life. But instead, I am greeted by dead silence.

I pause, standing still at the entrance, my heart full of hope. “Are they are hiding?” I smile to myself.

I tiptoe across the living room, my heels clicking softly on the wooden floor. I go to the kitchen and find it empty. Not a single plate was out of place. I head upstairs, my pulse quickening with each step, anticipating for the moment everyone would jump out with a loud “Surprise!”

But as I reach our bedroom, something cold and unsettling twists in my stomach. To my right, the closet door is open, and Jack’s side... it is empty. His suits, shirts, shoes, and everything that he owns are gone. I rush to the suitcase rack, and I notice my big suitcase is missing.

“Jack?” I call out, my voice trembling now. I turn and hurry to the bathroom, pushing the door open, I see it.

A note.

Stuck to the mirror, plain and unforgiving. The handwriting is his, unmistakable. My breath caught in my throat, I step closer, reading the few words scrawled across the paper:

*I’m leaving you. PS: Sorry to do this on your birthday.*

For a moment, I couldn’t move. The world seemed to tilt, and the silence that had filled the apartment was now echoing in my chest. I reach out and touch the note, the paper cold and sharp against my skin, like the words themselves.

I stare at the note for a few more seconds, a laugh bubbling up in my throat. “Okay, Jack! This is a good one. You can come out now.” My voice echoes through the apartment, but there is no answer.

My laughter grows, though it is more from being nervous than amused. This had to be part of the surprise. Some over-the-top, dramatic joke. Either way, Jack always had a flair for the theatrical. Maybe Amy was in on this too. The note is too ridiculous, right?

I step back into the hallway, expecting him to jump out from some hiding place or to hear footsteps, but the apartment remains eerily quiet. My heart starts to pound in my chest, faster than before. The uneasy feeling that had twisted in my gut earlier began to return.

“Jack?” I call out again, trying to sound more confident. “Come on, you’ve had your fun. Where are you?”

Still nothing.

I race downstairs, my heels clattering against the steps as I reach for my purse. My fingers fumble inside until I find my phone. Quickly, i swipe to Jack’s contact and press call, my pulse thumping louder in my ears.

The phone rings once, followed by the automated voice: “The number you have dialed is no longer in service.”

The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. I blink, staring at my phone screen, trying to process what I had just heard. “I must have dialed wrong.” I tell myself. I hit the call button again, more urgently this time.

“The number you have dialed is no longer in service.”

My heart sinks. I stand there, frozen, as the truth starts to creep in slowly. Jack wasn’t hiding. This wasn’t a joke. The note, the empty closet, the missing suitcase, it was all real.

I drop my phone into my purse, suddenly feeling dizzy. My legs tremble beneath me as I stumbled toward the couch and collapse into the cushions. I stare at the living room in front of me, at the photos on the wall, the small mementos from our life together.

He was gone.

CHAPTER TWO

This must be a twisted joke. It didn’t make sense. We were together for almost a decade. We’d been through everything together. The ups, downs, and struggles that you could think of that should have torn us apart somehow made us stronger. At least, that’s what I thought.

Jack and I had met during our first year of college, a whirlwind romance that turned into a love I thought would last forever.

We fell for each other fast. Too fast, some might have said, but we didn’t give a fuck what other people thought. He was my person. We navigated every stage of life side by side from graduating, getting our first jobs, moving in together, and finally, getting married. We went from being carefree young adults to responsible, mature people, taking on the world together.

I loved him more than anything. More than anyone. I thought he felt the same.

So how? How could this happen? Where had it gone wrong?

There were no signs, no arguments, no distance between us. If anything, I thought we were closer than ever. Sure, we had a few rough patches, but which marriage didn’t? We were partners in every sense of the word. There was no indication that he was unhappy, no hint that he was struggling.

This was too much of a surprise.

I still couldn’t move. My body felt disconnected from my mind, which was racing in a thousand directions, trying to grasp some sort of explanation or something that made sense. But nothing did. Nothing added up.

My hands tremble as I reach for my phone again, thinking I might have missed something. Maybe a message, an email, or something to explain what was happening. But as I scroll through, the only thing waiting for me is the note from Amy earlier: *Have the best birthday, babe! You deserve it!*

I put the phone down and stare at the empty room, my chest tightening with each breath. Jack wouldn’t just leave. He wouldn’t just disappear like this, not without saying something. But the note... it was his handwriting. The closet was empty. His number was disconnected.

A sob builds in my throat, but I swallow it down. Tears blur my vision, but I fight them. I couldn’t cry. Not yet. I had to get to the bottom of this. How had we gone from being in love to this? I always considered myself very intuitive, always aware of what was happening around me; therefore, this came as a shock.

There was no warning. No gradual drift apart. No fights about bills or kids we couldn’t have. Nothing that pointed to this moment.

My hands were shaking as I send the text. “Please come to the apartment as soon as you can.” I stare at the screen briefly before pressing send, hoping Amy will get here quickly. I couldn’t process this alone. I didn’t even know where to start.

The silence of the apartment was suffocating. Every second that passed seemed to stretch on forever, and the only sound was my shallow breathing. I stand in the middle of the living room, my eyes darting around. I need answers. Somewhere in this house, there had to be something that explained why my husband had vanished, why he’d left me with nothing but a note on my birthday.

With shaky steps, I gather whatever strength I could muster and start going through the apartment. Drawers. Cushions. Closets. I tear through every inch of our life, searching for anything, anything at all that could explain why Jack had done this to me.

I find myself rummaging through the trash bag, desperate now. It was disgusting, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was answers. As I sifted through crumpled receipts, empty takeout containers, and bits of discarded paper, something caught my eye, a receipt from a jewelry store.

I freeze, as I stare at it. If he was planning to leave me, why would he buy me a gift? A new wave of confusion washes over me. It didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense. I turn the receipt over in my hands, my mind clouding with more questions.

Before I could spiral any further, I hear a knock on the door. I nearly ran to answer it, my heart pounding in my chest I open the door and there was Amy standing on the other side, her face filled with concern.

“Are you okay, Rachael?” she asks, stepping inside. “Your text seemed urgent.”

“I think Jack has left me,” I whisper, my voice breaking as I try to hold back the tears.

“I came home and found all his clothes gone. I’ve looked everywhere for clues, and the only thing I could find was this.” I hand her the receipt, my fingers trembling as I do.

“He bought me a gift and then left?”

Amy stares at the receipt, her brows furrowing as she takes it all in. She sits down on the couch, too stunned to speak for a moment. The silence stretches between us, thick with uncertainty and disbelief. I sit next to her, my stomach in knots, waiting for her to say something, anything that might help me understand.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally speaks.

“What do you mean Jack left?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought you guys were happy.”

“Well, Amy, I thought so too,” I reply, shaking my head in disbelief.

“I don’t understand. What am I going to do?” My voice cracks, and a sob catches in my throat again.

Amy looks at me with wide eyes, then glances down at the receipt in her hand.

“Rachael could Jack be having an affair?” she asks slowly, as if testing the waters with each word.

“Maybe he bought the jewelry for her... and he left you for her?”

Her words hitting me like a punch in the gut.

An affair? My Jack? The Jack I’d loved for nearly ten years? My mind recoils at the thought, but at the same time, the possibility sneaks its way into my consciousness. Could it be true? Could I have missed the signs?

I stare at Amy, my mouth dry, unable to answer. My mind still spinning. Everything felt like it was crashing down around me.

"How can you say that to me, Amy?" I snap, the words sharper than I intended. "I think if he was having an affair, I would have known. No one is that good. He always came home, always answered my calls. He never did anything that would make me suspect something like that."

Amy bit her lip, looking like she regrets bringing it up.

CHAPTER THREE

“We need to find him,” I break the silence pacing the living room. “Call Ethan. Jack might have talked to him. They’re best friends. If anyone knows what’s going on, it’s Ethan.”

Ethan was Amy’s husband; the four of us had been friends since college. Jack and Ethan had been inseparable since childhood, going to the same schools and eventually meeting Amy and me around the same time. If Jack was in trouble or had something on his mind, he would have confided in Ethan. He had to have.

Amy hesitates; her face clouded with doubt.

"Rachael, if Ethan knew something, he would’ve told me by now. I don’t think we should involve him in this. It’ll just make things more complicated."

I stopped pacing and glared at her, my frustration boiling over. "Right now, Amy, I don’t care about complications. I’d involve the entire planet if that’s what it takes to get answers."

Amy sighs and reluctantly pulled out her phone. She dialed Ethan’s number and pressed it to her ear. After a few rings, she lowered the phone with a frown. "He’s not picking up."

I grabbed my car keys from the coffee table and headed toward the door. "We have to go see him now," I said.

"Rachael, wait!" Amy jumped up, following me. "You need to calm down. You’re scaring me."

"Are you coming or not?" I shouted, my voice trembling with desperation.

Amy’s eyes widened, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she snatched the keys from my hand.

"Okay, fine, but I’m driving," she says firmly.

We left the apartment in silence. The car ride to Amy and Ethan’s house took longer than usual, neither of us saying a word. I was too wrapped up in my thoughts, replaying every moment with Jack over the last few months, searching for some hidden clues that I had missed. Amy kept her hands tight on the wheel, stealing nervous glances at me every now and then.

Before Amy could even park properly in the driveway, I jumped out of the car and sprinted to the front door. My heart was pounding in my chest, my fingers trembling as I banged on the door with all my might.

"Ethan!" I yelled, banging again. "Open the door!"

Silence.

I banged harder this time, my voice cracking with urgency. "Ethan! Open up!"

Finally, the door swung open, revealing a frustrated-looking Ethan. His face was a mix of anger and confusion. "Are you insane?" he shouted, stepping forward. "I’m working!"

I stare at him, my chest heaving with the force of my emotions. "Jack’s gone," I said breathlessly. "He left me, Ethan. I need to know where he is. Did he talk to you? Did he say anything?"

Ethan’s face softened for a split second, his eyes flicking over to Amy, who was standing behind me with a worried expression. He sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "Come inside. Let’s talk."

"I need you to breathe," Ethan said, his voice low but firm. "Amy, get her a glass of water."

Amy rushed into the kitchen, and I tried to slow my breathing, but my heart was still pounding, my thoughts racing. A moment later, she returned with the glass, pressing it into my hands.

"Thanks," I muttered, taking a small sip before setting it down. "But I think I might need something stronger." I shot a look toward Amy. "Pour me a shot of whiskey."

Amy and Ethan exchanged worried glances. "Are you sure you want to drink?" Ethan asks, his concern clear in his tone.

"Yes," I answered firmly, not in the mood for coddling.

With a sigh, Amy turned and walked back to the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge. A few moments later, she came back with a shot glass filled with whiskey and handed it to me. The amber liquid sloshed in the glass as I raised it to my lips and downed it in one go. The burn was immediate, but it barely registered compared to the fire burning in my chest.

I slumped down into a chair, the weight of everything hitting me all at once. "Ethan, have you seen or spoken to Jack today?" I finally asked, my voice shaking. "I came home after my birthday lunch with Amy, and I found all his things gone. Can you tell me what’s going on?"

I watched Ethan closely as I asked the question, and his face faltered—just for a moment. His reaction wasn’t surprise. It was something else. A flicker of guilt? Or maybe it was knowledge he was trying to hide.

"Ethan," I said slowly, my voice hardening. "You know something. Spill. Right now."

Ethan hesitated, looking between me and Amy before running a hand through his hair. "Okay," he finally said, letting out a long breath. "Well... yesterday, we were having drinks, and Jack mentioned that he was unhappy. He said he was thinking about leaving."

My breath caught in my throat. "Leaving?" My voice was barely a whisper, the word too big to fully grasp. "He said he was thinking about leaving me?"

Ethan nodded, his expression filled with regret.

"That’s all he said. I thought he was joking or just drunk. I didn’t think he was serious."

I stared at him, my mind reeling. Unhappy? Jack was unhappy. How had I missed this? I thought we were fine. No, more than fine—we were happy, weren’t we? We had our routine, our life together, our plans for the future. There hadn’t been any signs... at least none that I saw.

I felt the weight of Ethan’s words sink in, slowly, like a dagger twisting into my chest. Jack had been unhappy. I hadn’t known. And now... he was gone. The full reality of the situation crashed over me, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

I slumped deeper into the chair, staring at the floor as the pain finally hit me. This wasn’t some cruel joke. Jack wasn’t coming back. He had really left.

CHAPTER FOUR

"I don’t think you should be alone tonight," Amy said softly, her voice filled with concern. "Please, stay here. Spend the night, and tomorrow we’ll figure out what to do next. It’s already late."

I shook my head, trying to force a smile, but it felt hollow.

"Thanks, Amy, but I don’t want to be a burden. Let me just go home."

Amy placed a hand on my arm, squeezing gently. "You could never be a burden, Rachael. Don’t be stubborn. I’ll prepare the guest room for you."

I hesitated, glancing at Ethan, who nodded in agreement.

"Amy’s right, Rachael," he said, his voice steady. "You shouldn’t be alone right now. Let’s get you something to eat, okay?"

"I’m not hungry," I murmured, slumping back into the couch. "Just give me the rest of the whiskey. I need to drown my sorrows. I can’t sleep, even if I tried. Let me just knock myself out and forget everything, even if it’s just for tonight."

Ethan exchanged a worried glance with Amy, but after a moment of hesitation, he handed me the bottle.

"Tomorrow, I’ll help you find Jack. We can go to his parents’ house. Maybe they know where he is."

I shook my head, the weight of exhaustion settling in. "Thanks, Ethan, but I’ll take it from here. You’ve already done enough. In the morning, I’ll drive over there myself."

He didn’t argue, just watched as I poured myself another shot of whiskey. The burn was immediate, but this time, it felt numb compared to the ache in my chest. I poured another, then another, the world around me blurring with each swallow.

By the time I reached the fifth shot, I couldn’t feel anything anymore. The pain, the confusion, the heartbreak it all started to fade, swallowed by the warm numbness of alcohol. The edges of the room softened, and the voices around me became distant, like they were coming from another room.

Everything was slipping away. My thoughts blurred together, and before I knew it, the darkness swallowed me whole.

I wake up in a strange bed, my head pounding like a drum. It took a moment for my foggy brain to catch up. Where am I? I stare at the unfamiliar ceiling before the memories came rushing back. I was at Amy and Ethan’s house. I had drunk way too much last night, trying to drown out the chaos of my life. But the hangover, God, the hangover, was a brutal reminder that I was no longer twenty. Thirty really hits differently.

With a groan, I reach for my phone and squinted at the screen. It was early, but if I wanted to catch Jack’s parents before they left for work, I needed to get moving. My head throbbed with every movement as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, trying to gather the strength to face the day.

I stumble out of the guest room and made my way down the hall. The smell of coffee hit me as I entered the kitchen, finding Amy and Ethan already seated, having breakfast.

"Well, you two are up early," I muttered, rubbing my temples.

"I have a proposal due," Ethan replied, barely looking up from his laptop.

I raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted. "I thought you worked for yourself."

Ethan looked up, grinning. "I do. But deadlines are deadlines, even when you're the boss."

It was still strange sometimes, thinking about how much Ethan had accomplished. He’d started his own software company a few years back, and now he was one of the most successful people I knew. He didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to work, but there he was, doing exactly that. His dedication always impressed me.

"Are you okay?" Amy’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Want some coffee?"

"No, I am definitely not okay," I grumbled, clutching my head. "My head is killing me. But yes, I’d love some coffee. Strong, please."

Amy poured me a mug, and I gratefully accepted it. I took a big gulp without thinking and immediately regretted it. "fuck!" I yelped, pulling the mug away from my lips. "It’s hot! You could’ve warned me."

Amy smirked. "I didn’t think you’d take a giant sip like that without checking first."

Despite everything, I laughed, and surprisingly, so did Amy and Ethan. It was the first time I’d laughed since yesterday, well, since you know, the jack situation. The sound of it felt foreign, but good.

"I need to get ready," I said after a moment, setting the mug down carefully. "Jack’s parents live outside the city, and I want to catch them before they leave for work."

"Will you be okay to drive?" Amy asked, her brow furrowed in concern. "I can go with you if you want."

I shook my head, forcing a weak smile. "I’ll be fine. Don’t worry."

Amy didn’t seem convinced but didn’t press further. Instead, she stood and motioned for me to follow her to the master bedroom. "Let’s get you some clothes."

I trailed behind her as she rummaged through her closet, eventually handing me a soft chiffon top and a pair of jeans. "These should fit," she said, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Thanks," I murmured, taking the clothes and heading to the guest bathroom. I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the lingering remnants of the night before. By the time I was dressed, the coffee had kicked in, and I felt slightly more human. still fragile, but functional.

Back in the kitchen, Amy handed me the rest of the coffee. "Keep us updated on how it goes, okay?"

"I will," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. I grab my bag and keys, pausing at the door. "Thanks, Amy and you too Ethan. For everything."

They both nodded, their faces filled with concern as I step out into the crisp morning air. My mind was already racing with the unknowns ahead. Jack’s parents. Would they know where he was? Would they even tell me if they did? I had no idea what I was walking into, but I couldn’t sit around doing nothing. I had to find answers.

I had to find Jack. My jack.

CHAPTER FIVE

I hated going to Jack’s parents' house. They lived in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city, an exclusive estate filled with sprawling mansions, manicured lawns, and gates that seemed more like barriers to the outside world. Every time I crossed those gates, I was reminded just how much of an outsider I was.

Jack’s father, William Crawford, had built a fortune in the oil business, a legacy passed down from generation to generation. The Crawfords weren’t just wealthy; they were part of the one percent, dripping in old money and family prestige. And Karen, Jack’s mother, made it clear from the very beginning that I didn’t belong in their world.

To her, I was a gold digger, someone who had latched onto her son for his wealth. It didn’t matter that Jack and I had met when we were both broke college students or that I had loved him long before I knew the extent of his family’s wealth. In Karen’s eyes, I was an opportunist, someone who had no business being part of their perfect, privileged family. And when Jack told her that I couldn’t have children, her disdain for me only grew stronger. She blamed me for everything, her son’s unhappiness, her inability to become a grandmother. She practically pushed Jack to disown his family at one point, but I had stopped him. I couldn’t bear the thought of him losing his family, even if they were toxic.

As I drove through the estate’s gates, my heart pounded in my chest. It wasn’t just the mansion that loomed ahead that filled me with dread. It was the knowledge that Karen was probably celebrating the fact that Jack had left me. She must’ve seen this coming from miles away, and no doubt she’d take great pleasure in reminding me of that.

I pulled up in front of the massive mansion and parked my car, staring at the grand stone steps leading up to the entrance. Every fiber of my being wanted to turn around and leave, but I couldn’t. Not until I knew what was going on. I had an intense feeling that Jack was here, and I wasn’t going anywhere until I spoke to him. Bracing myself for the inevitable confrontation, I climbed the stairs and approached the door. Before I could even knock, the door swung open.

“Well, this is an unpleasant surprise,” Karen sneered, her sharp blue eyes glinting with barely concealed satisfaction. “To what do we owe this visit? Have you come for money?”

I clenched my fists at my sides, taking a deep breath to steady my voice.

“Good morning to you too, Karen,” I reply, forcing politeness into my tone. “And when have I ever come for money?”

“There’s always a first time for everything, especially now that Jack’s left you.” Her voice was dripping with venom, each word like a dagger aimed straight at my heart.

I swallow the rising anger. Of course, she already knew. “I can see the news have reached you,” I said, my voice tight. “Is Jack here? Can I talk to him?”

Karen crossed her arms, a cruel smile playing on her lips. “He’s here, but he doesn’t want to talk to you. You can leave now.”

I took a step forward, refusing to let her block my way. “Karen, this isn’t about you. Let me in. I need to know what’s going on.”

Without waiting for her permission, I stormed past her into the grand foyer, my voice echoing through the massive house.

“Jack! Jack!” I shouted, desperation rising in my chest. “I need to talk to you! I’m not leaving until you come down and face me!”

I hear footsteps descending the stairs, and I rushed toward them, hoping, praying, it was Jack. But instead, I was met with William Crawford’s cold, stern face. He stopped halfway down the staircase, his arms crossed as he glared down at me.

“Why are you in our house, screaming like a madwoman?” he asks, his voice icy.

“I’m looking for my husband,” I said, my voice trembling with frustration. “Karen told me he’s here.”

William raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Ex-husband, you mean.”

I blink, stunned by the casual cruelty in his words. “He’s still my husband,” I snapped. “And he needs to speak to me. I need an explanation.”

William sighed, clearly bored with the entire conversation. “Rachael, Jack is not coming down to talk to you. Leave now, or we’ll call security.”

I open my mouth to protest, but Karen was already moving toward the door. She pulled open a drawer from the antique console table and retrieved a brown envelope, handing it to me with a satisfied smirk.

“Sign these as soon as you can and send them back,” she said.

Confused, I ripped open the envelope, my hands shaking as I pulled out the papers inside. My vision blurred as I stared at the words on the page. Divorce papers. Jack’s name already signed at the bottom.

I felt the blood drain from my face.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Jack is divorcing me, and you’re delivering the news? He doesn’t even have the guts to face me himself?”

Karen folded her arms, tilting her head in mock sympathy. “We didn’t want to make this any harder on you than it already is, dear.”

My legs felt weak beneath me. I gripped the envelope tighter, my vision swimming as my head pounded with disbelief. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be real. Jack had sent his parents to hand me divorce papers without even the decency of telling me to my face.

“Jack!” I screamed one last time, my voice breaking. The house remained eerily silent. He wasn’t coming.

Karen’s voice cut through the silence. “Don’t worry, Rachael. We’re not monsters. You can keep the penthouse we bought for you. We wouldn’t want you to be homeless, after all.”

I stare at her in disbelief, my body trembling with rage and humiliation. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t breathe. The walls of the grand foyer seemed to close in on me. My legs buckled, and I stumbled backward, tripping over the stairs as I blindly made my way out the door.

The world outside was spinning as I fell to my knees on the steps. For a moment, I couldn’t see anything just a blur of tears, pain, and shock. I forced myself to stand, my body trembling with exhaustion and disbelief. I got into my car, my hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel.

I didn’t know where I was going, but I had to get away from that house from the Crawfords, from the life I thought I knew. As I drove off, the weight of what had just happened settled in.

And now I realized I was completely alone.