a broken heart

Isabelle sat in the lawyers conference room as she waited for Lucas to arrive.

"Was I here earlier than I was meant to be?" She anxiously asked Lucas's lawyer as she looked at her phone to check what time it was.

"No, my client will be here anytime now." His lawyer responded confidently.

Isabelle scorfed. She had been sitting in that conference room for over forty-five minutes, and Lucas wasn't there yet.

Her stomach had turned and twisted more times than she thought possible.

'Where could he be?' she thought to herself.

She reached into her purse again, trying to grab her phone when she saw him, Her eyes found Lucas through the glass wall that separated the conference room and the hallway. 'How could anybody think a transparent boardroom would be a good idea?' She asked herself so many times since she had arrived. 'Aren't these types of these meant to be private?'

Lucas walked majestically as he came in. He walked as if he were a model on a runway and there were people waiting to take a picture.

'How typical of him,' Isabelle tried to look away but something about how confident he carried himself around drew her even more to him.

Isabelle was star-struck at his sight. She remembered why she had fallen for him in the first place. He knew how to put himself together good enough to turn heads. And he did turn heads. Every female in the entire building stared as he walked.

'Is he wearing a new suit?' Isabelle thought to herself as she stared at him with every step he took. Isabelle knew Lucas only wore new suits to very important business meetings to impress his clients or potential clients and to very important celebrations or occasions. 'Does he consider this a very important meeting, or does he think this is a very important occasion?' Her heart rate increased, and she started sweating. She was relieved that he cardigan would at least hide that fact and was grateful for the working air-conditioning in the room. 'I mean, what else would I expect from Lucas's lawyer?'.

Lucas was accompanied by two women, his mother and someone else Isabelle did not recognise.

The trio walked into the conference roo. and took their seats. Lucas's lawyer greated them and started the meeting by introducing himself.

But before he could finish, Lucas interrupted him, "Where's your lawyer, Isabelle?" Lucas said as he adjusted his tie.

Isabelle almost spoke when she noticed the cufflinks he had on, and her heart sunk at the realization. Lucas wasn't here to play games or teach her a lesson or any other reasons and scenarios she had created in her head. He really wanted out.

Lucas had on the cufflinks his grandfather had passed down to his father, who had also passed them down to him. He loved those cufflinks so much that he reserved them for important events only. He considered them his good luck charms.

'He needs luck to get divorced?' Isabelle thought.

Lucy snapped her fingers, bringing back Isabelle to reality. "Did you not hear my son speak? or have you suddenly become utterly useless?" Lucy barked.

The unknown lady let out a laugh.

Isabelle knew Lucy wasn't one to reason, and so she knew that not even talking back at her would help her know her place. So she decided to be the bigger person and took the higher road.

"I don't need counsel present." Isabelle said as she crossed her hands in front of her. "I have had enough time to read through the divorce papers and because I am not illiterate," placing emphasis on the word illiterate while staring at Lucy, she continued, "I understand every sentence perfectly."

"Good." the lawyer said, "that means we can all agree and go on..."

"I wasn't done talking," Isabelle chimmed in. "After 16 years of my life that I have given to you and this marriage? after everything you have put me through?" She brought one hand to her chest beating it softly, "this is all you think I deserve, Lucas?"

Lucy tried to speak, but Isabelle threw her other hand in the air towards her, indicating she didn't want to hear whatever Lucy was about to say.

Lucy scorfed and mouthed "rude" under her breath.

"A car that was originally your gift to me and a few hundred thousand worth in settlement?" Tears formed in Isabelle's eyes, she didn't want to let Lucy think she was winning so she took in deep breaths as she trued to calm herself down in order to get through the meeting without crying.

"Ungrateful!" Lucy stood from her seat and hit the table. She pointed at Isabelle, and on top of her voice, "I always knew you were just looking for an easy way out when you married my son!" she said. " You should be kissing his feet for not leaving you out on the street. You get to walk away with way more than you came into this family with, and you have the nerve to complain?".

She let out a fake laugh as she continued, "Did you somehow forget about the prenuptial agreement you signed?"

Lucy turned towards Lucas and said, "I told it was necessary, If you hadn't listened to me, she would be extorting everything your father worked so hard to build! I always wonder what you saw in this nobody!" Lucy ended as she sat back down.

Isabelle sat there for a moment, hoping Lucas would say something, anything in her honour, if not for anything, then for the love and care she had shown him the last sixteen years.

But he didn't. He sat there quietly and unapologetically.

"Sign the damn papers, Isabelle." Was all he said.

Isabelle had always known Lucas was his mommy's boy, but she always hoped that one day he would grow up and stand up for himself. Now, it was evident to her that that day was never coming.

She signed the divorce papers, and part of her was relieved she wouldn't have to live through the torture and pain she had lived through the last 3 years of her marriage.

Yet another part of her shattered in tiny pieces that could never be fixed again.