No Longer Mrs. Vincenzo

Lorenzo came home just as I was dumping the carefully prepared dinner into the trash.

He frowned slightly. "Ayana, what are you doing? I was only an hour late."

I looked up at him. "You don't have to come back anymore."

Something in my expression made him reach out and pull me into his arms.

"Alright, stop being mad. Sorry, I'm exhausted today."

I stared at his face and remembered four years ago, right after we got married. He held me the same way.

That year, I had won a national photography award. I had offers from top studios in Paris. My future was wide open.

And Lorenzo? He made chief surgeon at St. Vincent's in just two years.

"Ayana, I have to become the best surgeon. That's the only way the family will stop looking down on me."

"Can you skip Paris? Do it for us, for this family. I'll take care of your people. I promise."

So I let Paris go. I stayed in New York. I became an ordinary office worker.

I really thought we would be happy.

But the day my father had the accident, Lorenzo wasn't there. He was with Elara's family.

I shoved him hard. He stumbled back two steps, confusion all over his face.

Before he could even speak, Elara's special ringtone cut through the air.

He answered without a second's hesitation, voice soft.

"Don't worry. I'm on my way."

He hung up. The same man who just said he was too tired to move grabbed his coat and headed for the door.

I couldn't help it. "Aren't you off duty?"

He paused. "Patient's running a fever. The fracture site shifted again. Elara doesn't have the strength to handle it alone. I'm just helping out. Don't overthink it."

A month ago, he said he had a surprise for our anniversary.

That familiar ache crept up my chest again. I called after him.

"Lorenzo. Do you remember what today is?"

He turned and looked me in the eye. A long pause. Then it hit him. "I know. Our anniversary. Come on, let's push it to tomorrow, okay? I'll make it up to you. All day."

Clearly, he only remembered because I had to remind him.

I let out a small laugh. "Work hard, then."

Something flickered across his face. He studied me for a moment, then spoke softly.

"I'll bring you something to eat when I get back. Wait for me."

I shook my head. "Don't bother."

He kissed my forehead, then rushed out the door.

No more waiting, Lorenzo. We're done.

The second he walked out, my phone rang. Greer.

"Sis, I sent the divorce papers. You two have loved each other for so long... can you really let go?"

I opened the email. The agreement was only two pages long.

Lorenzo had never touched family business. All he owned were two houses and two cars.

Just like what we had. Seven days would be more than enough to split it clean.

I asked her back. "Have you ever seen Lorenzo go out of his way for someone? Even when he was dead tired, dropping everything to help?"

"No," she said honestly.

"I have." I stared at the closed door and smiled bitterly. "But it was never for me."