CHAPTER SIX

“Welcome ma'am. Does the boss know you're here?” The gateman asked as I stepped inside the compound I had imagined my kids running around in.

“No.” I said with a smile. “I just want to grab my stuff and I called him earlier.”

“Okay, ma'am. Are you okay, now?” He asked with a hint of empathy.

“Yes, I am. Thank you, can I go in?” He nodded in response.

I walked into the massive compound. I had personally curated the look of the garden and the fountain which stood gallantly in the middle.

But all those efforts were wasted now, to be enjoyed by another woman.

I entered the mansion and my belongings and luggage were waiting for me in the living room.

I straightened myself as I saw the structure looming over the bags.

Vanessa. She sat on the couch behind the bags with a glass of wine in her palm, looking like the proper villain.

“You're late. I was about to throw these things into the incinerator.” She said, placing the glass on the side stool.

I ignored her and avoided looking around. Opening my bag, I brought out the signed divorce papers, walked a little closer to her and threw them in her face.

She gasped loudly. Without waiting for her reaction, I bent down and began loading my bags.

As I lifted the first set, my eyes hit the framed picture of Vanessa and Adrian on the wall where our picture was hung.

My legs almost failed and I stopped. My face fell and I remained bent over with the bags in my hands.

‘You promised not to cry. Hold yourself.’ I reminded myself.

“Doesn't it look much better than the garbage that hung there before?” Vanessa's voice sounded closer to me now.

My fingers tightened around the suitcase handle until my knuckles turned white.

“Yes, it does.” I replied as I stood, carried the suitcases and walked out of the house. I wasn't going to engage her.

The worst part was going back in to carry the other suitcases. I wish this was the only load I had to carry.

After placing it outside, I walked back in to carry the remaining bags. Vanessa sat on one of my suitcases.

She really wanted a reaction out of me. And I won't give her that.

“Don't you wonder when I started pleasing your sweet ex-husband?” She asked, watching me reach to carry another suitcase.

“Hmm,” I scoffed, “That’s my vomit. I'm glad you finally have someone to call yours.”

I walked to the last suitcase, the one she sat on.

“If you could take him, then he was never mine to begin with. And I won't waste my time, fighting or getting annoyed over a man without a stand.” With that, I knocked her off the suitcase. She fell hard on the floor with her ass.

“Fuck! Aurora, how dare you?! Come back here!” I ignored her and kept on walking with my suitcases.

“I will make you suffer. Taking your husband is just the beginning. You are not the only one who deserves good things.” She barked like a mad dog until I got into the compound where I couldn't hear her.

The gateman helped me carry the bags and suitcases out the gate, into the car that parked outside.

“Is Adrian in?” I asked the gateman.

“No, he left an hour ago.” The man responded, as we walked to the gate with the last set of bags.

I stopped for a moment. I looked back at the house.

Somewhere in my heart I still believed I was dreaming. How could I be leaving the very house that I built hopes and dreams in?

But that was my reality. And now this house is my past. I had to move on.

Thinking that stung deeper than I thought it would. I turned to the gate and continued walking.

The gateman had loaded the trunk when I got there.

“Safe journey ma. We will miss you.” He said, with a little salute and he walked back in, closing the gate behind him.

I fought back the tears. Flashes of being welcomed into this house flooded my brain without permission as I opened the car door.

“This is all ours? Are you serious, baby?” I asked, as Adrian carried me in his arms into the house.

“Yes, forever my love.” His voice echoed.

I slammed the door shut at that memory. This was forever? Five years later. It wasn't even ten. Five years later, you let another woman swoon you.

I was tired of crying for him. He had made his decision and I had to be strong.

Thirty minutes later, I arrived at Rachel's apartment. I asked the driver to help me remove the bags and suitcases from the trunk, which he did.

I dragged the luggage all the way from the parking lot to my room, one by one. When I was done, I groaned in pain, my face was filled with sweat and I collapsed on the bed.

I really should have waited for Rachel to join me. Getting up from the bed, I hurriedly opened all the bags and suitcases.

Vanessa must have made sure that all memories of me were erased, so all my things should be here.

I opened the first suitcase. Not there.The second, still nothing. By the third, I finally let out a breath of relief.

My gadgets. My computer, laptop and other accessories were all here.

Whether Adrian packed these himself or simply forgot they were there, I didn't care.

I looked at the empty desk close to the window and a smile spread across my face.

I walked to the desk as I dropped my laptop and opened the window. The cool air hit my face, as I shut my eyes and inhaled.

I was going to start afresh. I had abandoned my passion but now I would work twice as hard to gain back those years.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I brought it out and saw a notification from Rachel about dinner.

I texted her back to order take out. What would have happened to me without her that night?

I owed her, and I needed to get back on track. Finally, I opened my laptop. The quiet hum of the laptop sounded strangely comforting.

I typed in the password to my work account, which I had abandoned, and let the system load.

Turning back to grab the monitor, a series of notifications buzzed on the laptop.

I quickly carried the monitor and gently placed it while I checked on the laptop.

They were all emails and messages. I clicked on one of them and my eyes got blurry with tears, but I held it back.

Series of offers I had received. And now it was too late to apply again. But one email stood out, an application from a company with complicated bug issues.

This was my chance.