Chapter Three

I remained in the living room for several minutes after signing the divorce papers, staring at my name until the letters became blurry through my tears. I had expected signing them to hurt, but instead, I felt empty. Nathan had already destroyed our marriage long before tonight. My signature only made it official. I pushed the papers away and slowly climbed the stairs to our bedroom. The moment I entered, memories surrounded me. Four years of sleeping beside Nathan, waking up in his arms, arguing over little things and laughing together filled every corner of the room. I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled my suitcase from the wardrobe. I refused to spend another night beneath the same roof as the man who had betrayed me for two years.

I packed only what belonged to me. Clothes, shoes, toiletries and a few personal things disappeared into the suitcase while I deliberately ignored everything Nathan had bought for me. When I reached the jewelry box, my fingers stopped over my wedding ring. I stared at it before slowly pulling it from my finger. “Four years, and this is all I have left to show for it.” I placed the ring on Nathan’s bedside table as tears slipped down my cheeks.

I closed my suitcase and looked around the bedroom one last time. I had once imagined putting a crib beside our bed when we finally had a baby. I had imagined Nathan carrying our child through these rooms while I followed behind them. Now Vanessa was carrying the child he wanted, and I was leaving with one suitcase.

I dragged my luggage downstairs and walked out without looking back. Nathan had not returned, and I was grateful because I did not want another conversation with him. The evening air touched my face as I stood outside wondering where I was supposed to go. Then I remembered the small apartment I had bought before my marriage. I had kept it even after Nathan repeatedly suggested selling it because I liked knowing something belonged completely to me. For the first time, I was grateful I had refused him.

I called a taxi and placed my suitcase in the trunk when it arrived. During the drive, I rested my head against the window and watched the city pass. My phone vibrated several times inside my handbag, but I ignored it. I did not want to hear Nathan’s voice, and I definitely did not want to hear Vanessa’s.

The taxi stopped several streets away from my apartment building because traffic had completely blocked the road ahead. I paid the driver, pulled my suitcase from the trunk and decided to walk the remaining distance. My arms were already aching when I reached a busy intersection. I stopped at the roadside, waiting for the traffic light to change.

Then I heard a child laughing.

A small boy ran past me chasing a toy airplane that had fallen from his hands. The toy rolled directly into the street.

“Wait!” I shouted as my fingers immediately released my suitcase handle.

The boy did not stop, he ran into the road and bent down to grab the toy while a car came speeding around the corner.

“Move!” I screamed as I ran toward him, my feet pounding against the pavement.

The boy looked up and froze when he saw the approaching car. I reached him, grabbed him around the waist and threw myself toward the sidewalk. We hit the ground together as the car rushed past us, its horn blasting loudly.

Pain shot through my elbow, but I immediately pushed myself upright and grabbed the boy’s shoulders. “Are you hurt anywhere?” I asked as my hands quickly moved over his arms and face.

The boy shook his head while tears filled his frightened eyes. “My airplane.” He pointed toward the road as his bottom lip trembled.

I stared at him for a second before a breathless laugh escaped me. “Forget the airplane. You nearly got yourself killed because of it.” I pulled him against my chest as relief weakened my body.

Suddenly, several men dressed in black suits came running toward us. I instinctively tightened my arms around the child until one of them dropped to his knees beside us.

“Master Noah, are you hurt?” The man asked as panic covered his face and his hands hovered over the boy.

“I am okay. She saved me.” Noah pointed toward me as he wiped his wet cheeks with the back of his hand.

The men exchanged nervous looks before another one immediately started speaking into his phone. I slowly stood, wincing when pain moved through my elbow.

“Thank you, ma’am. We only lost sight of him for a few seconds.” One of the men lowered his head as guilt crossed his face.

“You should watch him carefully around a road like this.” I brushed the dirt from my dress as my heartbeat slowly returned to normal.

Before he could answer, a black car stopped beside the sidewalk. The back door opened, and a tall man stepped out. He was dressed in a dark suit, and the guards immediately moved aside when he approached.

“Noah.” The man’s deep voice carried enough fear to make the little boy immediately run toward him.

“Daddy!” Noah threw his arms around the man’s legs as tears returned to his eyes.

The man crouched and pulled Noah against his chest. He checked his son’s face and arms before closing his eyes briefly with relief. “Do not ever run away from your guards like that again. Do you understand me?” He held Noah’s face between his palms as his jaw tightened.

“I wanted my airplane.” Noah sniffed and wrapped his small arms around his father’s neck.

The man released a shaky breath before standing. His eyes finally moved toward me. He studied my dirty dress and scraped elbow before one of the guards quietly explained what happened.

“You saved my son’s life.” He walked toward me as gratitude softened his serious expression.

“He needed help. That is all.” I rubbed my sore elbow and glanced toward Noah.

“I do not consider saving my son a small thing. Tell me what you want, and I will make sure you get it.” He reached inside his suit jacket as though prepared to write me a cheque immediately.

After everything that had happened today, I almost laughed. “I do not want your money or anything else. Just keep your son safe.” I picked up my suitcase handle and gave Noah a small smile.

The man stared at me as though nobody had refused him before. “At least tell me your name.” He slipped his hand back into his pocket and narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Angela.” I tightened my grip around my suitcase and stepped backward.

I turned and continued toward my apartment, unaware that the stranger remained beside the road watching me leave.