Return Of The First Love

When Thalina arrived at the office, work was already in full swing. Forcing a smile at her passing coworkers, she made her way to her cubicle outside Evander’s office and unlocked her laptop. 

Navigating to her email, she found the copy of the divorce documents Ronan had sent. She stared at it for a second, her chest tightening, before pressing print.

The printer beside her immediately whirred to life, spitting out the papers one after another. Thalina watched quietly as the pages slid out, a faint light dimming in her eyes.

Her focus shifted when her phone buzzed.

A message from Ronan.

[Let’s go out tonight and celebrate your freedom. Celebrations on me.]

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and without hesitation, she replied.

[Sure.]

As she watched the message send and Ronan respond with a dancing GIF, she couldn’t help but realize just how much she had bent herself for Evander. 

In the past, she would have turned down an invitation like this without a second thought, choosing instead to sit on the couch and count the hours until Evander came home.

Painfully, that era was over.

The printer beeped, signaling it was done, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the neatly stacked documents, picked them up, and slid them into a folder. Then her eyes shifted toward Evander’s office door.

He had left the house before her, as usual, so she knew he was already inside.

Drawing in a steady breath, Thalina stood and walked toward the door. She knocked once before pushing it open and stepping in.

“Mr. Hale, you have an important document that needs your—”

The rest of her words died in her throat and she froze at the sight before her.

A woman in a pristine white dress sat perched on Evander’s desk, her back facing the door. Her long, flawless black hair swayed as she giggled softly, like someone without a single care in the world.

The sound grated against Thalina’s ears with a painful familiarity, and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

That voice…

Even though it had been years since she last heard it, she recognized it instantly. It was the voice that had lingered like a shadow over her marriage, the presence that had haunted every moment she spent with Evander.

Elowin Ashcroft.

As if only just noticing her, the petite woman sitting on Evander’s desk turned, her gaze landing directly on Thalina. Those blue eyes felt like a bucket of ice water being poured over her as they lit up with a bright, almost shameless smile.

“Lina!” Elowin exclaimed as she hopped off the desk.

As she moved around it, Thalina’s gaze shifted to Evander.

He sat behind his desk, his tie loosened, his usually pristine attire slightly rumpled—as though he hadn’t bothered with the perfection he was known for. And at the edge of his collar was a faint stain, the exact same shade as Elowin’s lipstick.

Despite everything, the sight made it feel as though something inside Thalina was being clawed out by an invisible hand.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Evander’s eyes—still holding a trace of warmth as he watched Elowin approach—shifted to her and in the next second, they turned cold.

The back of Thalina’s eyes stung.

Damn it… she wanted to cry.

But she blinked the feeling away, swallowing the bile rising in her throat as she forced her attention back to Elowin.

She looked exactly the same as the last time Thalina had seen her.

Beautiful.

Her glossy black hair flowed with every step, her fair olive skin glowed with life, and her bright blue eyes carried the same youthful charm.

She didn’t look like someone who had suffered at all during the years she had disappeared.

But Thalina? She didn’t need a mirror to know she looked nothing like that anymore.

Years of playing the diligent housewife had worn her down, dimmed whatever glow she once had. A sudden wave of self-consciousness washed over her, and she swallowed painfully as her grip tightened around the divorce documents in her hand, doing her best not to appear defeated.

“It’s been so long, Lina!” Elowin said as she finally reached her.

Without hesitation, she took Thalina’s free hand, holding it between her palms. “I missed you.”

Her words were coated in a sweetness so artificial that only someone like Thalina—someone who truly knew her—could recognize it for what it was.

You see, in front of others, Elowin, much like her name and appearance, carried an innocent, almost untouchable aura. But behind closed doors, Thalina, who had once been her closest friend, knew better.

She knew exactly what kind of person Elowin really was.

“You missed me too, didn’t you?” Elowin asked, her grip tightening slightly, nails digging into Thalina’s skin. 

Pain shot through Thalina’s hand, and before she forcefully yanked it back.

Elowin gasped softly and took a step back, her expression shifting instantly. “Lina…” she called, her eyes widening, already glistening with unshed tears as she cradled her hand to her chest.

Evander was on his feet in seconds.

He closed the distance between them and stepped in front of Elowin, shielding her like it was instinct.

“Ellie, are you okay?” he asked, gently taking her hand to inspect it.

Thalina watched the scene unfold, and it felt as though something had been driven straight through her chest.

Once, he had called her by a name too.

Lin.

But now… he only called her “you” or Thalina Vale—never Hale. Never his.

And not once in all their years of marriage had he ever looked at her the way he was looking at Elowin now.

For Elowin, everything was different.

She truly was the love of his life.

The realization pressed down on Thalina’s chest, suffocating.

Tightening her hold on the file, she forced her expression to remain neutral.

“I’m fine, Evan,” Elowin said softly, her voice laced with gentle innocence. “Lina must have been startled. I mean… no woman would react lightly to walking into her husband’s office and seeing something like that.”

Ah.

So she knew.

Thalina held back a scoff, bitterness settling in her chest.

“But,” Elowin continued, “please don’t misunderstand, Lina. There’s nothing going on between Evan and me. I would never try to steal your husband… despite my old feelings.”

She added the last part shyly, lowering her head as if she were the one being wronged.

Nothing going on?

Unfortunately for her, Thalina had seen the messages the night before. This kind of performance wouldn’t work on her anymore.

“Don’t worry,” Thalina said calmly, steadying her expression. “I didn’t misunderstand anything.”

Elowin looked up, and for a brief moment, confusion flickered across her face.

From everything she had heard over the past five years, Thalina was nothing more than a woman hopelessly devoted to Evander—someone who loved him so much she had practically reduced herself to a servant in her own marriage.

But what she was seeing now looked… different.

“Are you sure, Lina?” Elowin pressed, unwilling to let it go.

When Thalina didn’t respond, she turned to Evander instead, her eyes glossing over with tears. “I think my actions have upset Lina. I really shouldn’t have come back.”

“Stop saying nonsense,” Evander cut in.

His gaze shifted to Thalina, the warmth gone instantly, replaced with cold displeasure.

“Why are you throwing a tantrum, Thalina?” he asked. “Elowin already explained that it was nothing. Are you still going to act like the victim after treating her so coldly when this is your first time meeting again in years?”

Thalina met his gaze, her expression calm.

“I said I didn’t misunderstand anything,” she replied evenly. “But if Elowin wants to keep playing the victim, she’s free to do so.”

Evander’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Something about her response irritated him, whether it was her tone or the way she spoke about Elowin, he wasn’t sure.

“Are you seriously going to act like this?” he asked. “You’re not even going to apologize to Elowin?”

Thalina glanced briefly at Elowin.

She would apologize if she was wrong.

But she wasn’t.

Without another word, she lifted the document in her hand. “This document urgently needs your signature… Sir.”

The word landed heavier than expected.

Just two days ago, she had been hovering around him, calling him Evan in that soft, eager tone of hers. Now, she was addressing him like a stranger.

Something about it stirred an unfamiliar irritation in his chest.

“Lina,” Elowin spoke again, trying to intervene. “Please don’t act like this, I—”

Before she could finish, Thalina looked at her.

There was no anger in her gaze. Just quiet indifference, almost bordering on boredom.

“Ms. Ashcroft,” she said calmly, “this isn’t the entertainment industry, so please keep your acting skills to yourself.”

Elowin froze, stunned.

In all the years they had known each other, Thalina had never once called her out like this.

She had endured it for years, playing the role of the devoted best friend when in reality, she had been nothing more than a shadow, a convenient lackey. But now… now Thalina dared to speak to her like that?

A flicker of anger rose beneath Elowin’s skin, her gaze tightening ever so slightly. She wanted to lash out, to wipe that calm expression off Thalina’s face, but she knew better than to do so in front of Evander. For now, she would let it slide.

“Mr. Hale,” Thalina called again, lifting the file slightly. “Your signature.”

Evander didn’t respond immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on her, sharp and assessing, as though he was trying to peel back whatever mask she was wearing. The weight of his gaze made her heartbeat grow uneven, but outwardly, she remained composed.

After a moment, he finally spoke.

“Get out.”

The authority in his tone left no room for argument.

Thalina’s fingers tightened slightly around the document.

“Mr. Hale—” she tried again, but he cut her off.

“Don’t make me repeat myself, Thalina Vale.”

His voice was colder this time, each word landing like a blade against her chest.

She swallowed the sting that rose within her and slowly lowered the document. Then, without another word, she turned and walked out of the office.

As she stepped outside, she paused for a brief second and glanced back.

Evander was still watching her, that same cold resentment etched into his expression. Beside him, Elowin stood quietly.

But just as the door began to close, the corners of Elowin’s lips lifted ever so slightly in a faint smirk.

Thalina’s fingers tightened around the document, the edges digging into her palm as she held on to it like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. The moment the door clicked shut, whatever composure she had been holding onto shattered.

She turned abruptly and hurried towards the ladies’ room. Pushing the door open, she barely made it inside before rushing into one of the stalls.

The second she dropped to her knees, her body gave in. A violent wave of nausea hit her, and she leaned over the toilet, vomiting harshly. 

The sound echoed in the small space, raw and uncontrollable. 

However when she glanced at the once clear water, the only thing that stared back at her was the sickening red color that reminded her she had less than a year left to leave.

Clenching her hand, her eyes hardened with determination. 

No matter what, Evander was going to sign those divorce papers, today!