Chapter 3: A New Beginning

The city skyline stretched endlessly before Natalie as she gazed out the window of the black SUV. The towering buildings, the flashing neon lights, and the hum of life pulsing through the streets below—it was a world she had long been detached from. For years, she had lived in a golden cage, her world reduced to the polished halls of the Sinclair mansion, her life dictated by the cold man she had once loved. But tonight, she was free.

She leaned her head against the cool glass, letting the city’s energy seep into her. It was strange, how a single signature could change everything. The finality of it all was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. The air smelled different tonight, fresher, less suffocating. She had spent too long waiting for Adrian to see her, to acknowledge her, to love her in the way she had once loved him. But those days were over.

“You alright, Miss Evans?” came the voice of the driver, an older gentleman named Joseph, who had worked for the Sinclair family for years. He had seen her come and go, had witnessed the countless nights she had returned home alone, her eyes empty, her shoulders slumped with silent resignation. 

Natalie glanced at him in the rearview mirror and offered a small, reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Joseph.”

He nodded but didn’t look entirely convinced. “You know, I’ve driven you to countless events, dinners, and fundraisers over the years. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you leave that house looking so… at peace.”

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her purse. Peace. It was a foreign word, yet she felt its presence creeping in. “That’s because, for the first time in a long while, I actually am.”

Joseph smiled, his kind eyes crinkling at the edges. “Good for you, Miss Evans.”

Natalie turned her attention back to the city, watching the people on the sidewalks rush past. She had spent years as Mrs. Sinclair, molded into a role that had never truly belonged to her. Now, she had to figure out who she was beyond that title. The thought both thrilled and terrified her. Would she find herself? Would she remember what it was like to be truly happy? Or had the years of emotional neglect eroded the person she used to be?

The car slowed in front of a tall residential building, one of the more luxurious yet private complexes in the heart of the city. Natalie had purchased an apartment there under her maiden name, months ago, when she first began preparing for this day. A backup plan, just in case she ever found the courage to leave Adrian. 

As she stepped out of the car, the doorman immediately opened the glass doors for her, giving her a polite nod. “Good evening, Miss Evans.”

Hearing her maiden name again sent a strange sense of relief through her. “Good evening.”

She walked through the marble-floored lobby, past the concierge, and stepped into the private elevator. The moment the doors slid shut, she allowed herself a deep breath. The weight of the past years pressed on her shoulders, but with each passing second, it felt a little lighter.

When the elevator opened to her penthouse, she stepped inside, dropping her bag onto the plush sofa. The apartment was modern, sleek, and most importantly—hers. No cold memories, no echoes of betrayal. Just a space where she could finally rebuild herself.

Just as she was about to sink into the couch, her phone buzzed. A familiar name flashed on the screen—Ava.

Natalie hesitated for a second before answering. “Hey.”

“You actually did it.” Ava’s voice came through the line, filled with disbelief and something close to pride.

Natalie let out a breathy laugh. “I did.”

Ava, her best friend since college, had been the only person she had confided in about her plans to leave Adrian. “I still can’t believe it,” Ava said. “I half expected you to back out last minute.”

“So did I.”

“Well, I’m proud of you. And I’m on my way over with a bottle of wine and a ridiculous amount of takeout, so don’t even think about sleeping yet.”

Natalie felt warmth spread through her chest. For years, she had been isolated, trapped in a world where she had no true allies. But Ava had always been there, reminding her of the life she had given up, the happiness she had deserved all along.

“I’ll be waiting,” Natalie said, smiling.

After hanging up, she let out a sigh and moved toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city lights twinkled below, vibrant and full of life. It was a reminder that the world was vast, full of possibilities. She had been so consumed by Adrian that she had forgotten there was a life beyond him. But now, she was ready to rediscover it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by another buzz from her phone. Expecting another message from Ava, she picked it up—only to feel her stomach tighten at the name on the screen.

Adrian.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she pressed ‘decline.’

She owed him nothing.

The old Natalie would have hesitated, would have picked up, would have let him pull her back into his world of cold affection and half-hearted apologies. But that Natalie was gone.

Tonight, she wasn’t Adrian Sinclair’s wife. She was just Natalie Evans.

And she was never looking back.

As she placed the phone down, a strange sense of finality settled over her. She had spent so long trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect woman in his world, only to realize that she had been living a life meant for someone else. The road ahead was uncertain, and she knew there would be challenges, but for the first time in years, she felt a spark of something she had long forgotten.

Hope.

Natalie took a deep breath and walked toward the kitchen, pulling out two wine glasses in anticipation of Ava’s arrival. Tonight, she would celebrate—not just the end of a chapter but the beginning of something entirely new. And as she clinked her glass against Ava’s an hour later, she couldn’t help but smile.

For the first time in years, she was free.