Chapter 4

EMILY’S POV

The clock on the wall ticks louder than usual this night. Each second feels like an eternity as I sit on the couch, staring at my phone. It’s late, much later than usual and Carlos hasn’t come home. My mind keeps circling back to the same thought. Lina.

She’s back. She’s the reason he wants a divorce. They just be together. I’m sure of it.

I can’t help but imagine two of them together, laughing and catching up on old times. I imagine how the spark must have ignited again when they first saw each other after years of being apart. Truly, men never forget their first love.

I close my eyes, trying to forget about it. Still, all I can picture is two of them together – kissing, touching each other, whispering how much they love each other.

The thought alone is like a knife twisting in my chest. I rub my arms, trying to shake the chill that has nothing to do with the temperature. He’s probably with her. Maybe they’re having dinner. Maybe he’s holding her the way he used to hold me.

I hate that it still hurts so much.

Suddenly, the phone vibrates in my hand. It’s Carlos. I hesitate, staring at his name flashing on the screen. My thumb hovers over the “decline” button, but some part of me, the part that hasn’t yet learned how to let go, presses “answer.”

“Hello?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend.

“Why haven’t you replied to my messages?” Carlos’s voice is calm, but there’s a hint of impatience.

Messages? I hadn’t even checked. I’ve been too busy trying to keep my emotions in check, trying to convince myself that I don’t care where he is.

“I’ve been busy,” I reply dryly “We’re divorced now, Carlos. There’s no reason for us to keep in constant contact.”

There’s silence on the other end for a moment, but I can hear his breathing. When he speaks again, his tone is tight. “We’re still family, Emily. I don’t care about the divorce. I’m still going to take care of you.”

I close my eyes. His words stir something inside me. It shows me that he still cares. A part of me is happy while a part of me wishes he didn’t. Maybe it’ll be easier to deal with the pain if I know he doesn’t care about me.

I want to put some distance between us. Maybe that will make it hurt less.

I compose myself and reply as non-chalantly as possible “You don’t have to do that. I don’t need your charity.”

“This isn’t about charity.” His voice rises slightly and I can feel his frustration. “Why do you always push me away? Do you think this is what I wanted?”

“Isn’t it?” I snap. “You’re the one who wanted the divorce, Carlos. Not me.”

“I never said I wanted it because of you!” he retorts. He sounds more annoyed now “But you—you seem perfectly happy with it. Did you want it all along? Is that why Sarah told me you thought the money I gave you wasn’t enough?”

His accusation stuns me into silence. Sarah? His assistant? How could she even say such a thing? I don’t give a damn about the money. How can Carlos think that? He knows me better than anyone.

I feel a hot wave of anger rise within me, mixing with the hurt. He’s accusing me of being greedy now? After everything?

“That’s not true,” I say. “But you’ve already made up your mind about me, haven’t you?”

“Then explain it!” he demands.

I can’t. My throat feels tight. My emotions are all over the place. My frustration spreads through me and I blurt out words I instantly regret. 

“You know what, Carlos? I don’t need to explain anything to you. We’re divorced after all, aren’t we? In fact, this is the perfect time for me to move on to someone else’

The line goes silent. I can hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

“Don’t be ridiculous” Carlos says finally. 

“I’m not being -“

“Calm down. Listen to me. I will care about you always. You’ll always be family to me. You know this. I’ll give you more money for security. I’ll do anything to protect you even after we’re divorced. You can always count on me.”

I let out a bitter laugh. Carlos is stupid if he thinks I want to be his family. I want to be his wife. That’s all I’ve ever fucking wanted.

“Family,” I repeat softly.

That word feels like a dagger to my chest. I want to scream that I didn’t want his money, that all I ever wanted was him—but what’s the point?

As I try to compose myself, I hear him speak to someone in the background.

“Sarah,” he says. “Add two more zeros to the ten million”

What? My head spins. Two more zeros? A hundred million? And that’s on top of the jewelry, the properties, the company shares. My breath catches. I can’t process it.

I feel a mix of emotions. A part of me is happy that he still cares and another part is….still hurt.

I take a deep breath “Carlos, I don’t want your money. I never did”

“I know that. I know you, Emily. But you’re my responsibility, married or not. I care about you”

I close my eyes, trying to calm myself. There’s no point in being angry at him.

I feel a bit happy that he still cares about me. An idea forms in my mind. Maybe I should tell Carlos about the child. He’s always wanted a family.

Maybe if I tell him that I’m pregnant, he might change his mind about the divorce. 

“Where are you now?” I ask hesitantly.

Before he can answer, I hear a soft feminine voice in the background. “Carlos, come take a shower.”

My stomach drops. My fingers tremble, and before I can stop myself, I hang up the phone.

That must be Lina. Come take a shower? Are they in her house?

The tears come fast before I can stop them. I bury my face in my hands, my chest heaving with sobs. I feel humiliated, heartbroken, and completely hollow. The image of Carlos with Lina, so happy and carefree, burns in my mind. It hurts me, more than I think is possible.

He’s moved on. He’s with her now. And me? I’m just the leftover piece of his past. I’m just a burden he feels obligated to take care of. I’m just the woman he married out of pity.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I sink to the floor.

The thought of everything leaves a painful ache in my chest and I feel like I’ll never be able to breathe again.