Life is unpredictable

Evelyn pushed open the door to Vinni’s house, her steps heavy and her heart burdened with the weight of her grandfather’s revelations. She found Vinni lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone, but the moment she saw Evelyn’s face, she sat up straight.

“You look like you’ve been through a war,” Vinni said, concern lacing her voice.

Evelyn dropped her bag on the floor and sat beside her. “I think I have.”

“What happened?” Vinni asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Evelyn recounted everything—her unexpected meeting with her grandfather, the truth about her father’s downfall, the shocking revelation about Chase Walker, and the 50% shares of Starlink Company now in her name. Vinni listened intently, her brows furrowing deeper with each detail.

When Evelyn finished, silence hung in the room for a moment before Vinni finally spoke. “That’s… a lot. No wonder you look like a ghost.”

Evelyn nodded. “I feel like my entire life has been a lie. My father… he didn’t die of a heart attack. He was framed. And my mom and Sophia just left him to suffer alone.” Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her eyes.

Vinni hugged her tightly. “I can’t believe they kept this from you. But you know what? Screw Hunter. Screw Chase Walker. You have something now—those shares. You have a reason to fight.”

Evelyn smiled weakly. “It’s hard to let go of everything. We’re losing Galaxy Gemstone, Vinni. The company my father and me built together. That’s hard to swallow.”

Vinni sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I know. But maybe it’s time we focus on something new. That 50% of Starlink Company is our new beginning. We’ll work hard, Evie. We’ll make it count.”

Before Evelyn could reply, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and felt her stomach sink. It was a call from Hunter’s lawyer. With a deep breath, she answered.

“Ms. Bennett?” the lawyer said, his tone curt.

“Yes, this is Evelyn,” she replied, her voice tight.

“This is Harold Banks, Mr. Caldwell’s lawyer. I’m calling to inform you that your final divorce hearing is scheduled for tomorrow at City Hall, 10 a.m. Please ensure your attendance to finalize the proceedings.”

Evelyn’s throat tightened. “I’ll be there,” she said before ending the call.

She let the phone fall onto the couch and exhaled deeply. “That was Hunter’s lawyer. The divorce gets finalized tomorrow.”

Vinni frowned. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” Evelyn admitted. “I thought I was ready for this, but… it still hurts.”

Vinni stood and walked to the kitchen. “You know what we need? Wine. Lots of it.”

They drank late into the night, toasting to their heartbreaks, their struggles, and the uncertain futures ahead. By the time the clock struck three, Vinni had passed out on the couch, her wine glass precariously balanced on her chest. Evelyn chuckled softly, setting the glass aside before retreating to the guest room.

Once inside, she shut the door and leaned against it, the quietness of the room amplifying the ache in her heart. She pulled her suitcase out from under the bed, intending to unpack the few belongings she’d brought. As she opened it, her eyes landed on something she hadn’t seen in years—a photograph tucked into the corner of the bag.

She pulled it out, her breath hitching. It was a picture of her and Hunter from their early days. They were smiling, carefree, arms wrapped around each other. She traced her finger over his face, tears welling in her eyes.

How had it all gone so wrong? She had loved him so deeply, believed in their life together. But now, it felt like those memories belonged to someone else entirely, a different version of herself she no longer recognized.

The tears spilled over as she clutched the photo to her chest. “Life is so unpredictable,” she whispered to the empty room. “How did it change so fast?”

She sat on the edge of the bed, crying softly until exhaustion overtook her. With the photo still in her hands, she lay back against the pillows, her heart heavy but her resolve slowly hardening. Tomorrow, she would close one chapter of her life and prepare to fight for the truth in the next.