The Trip Back To New York

Chapter 4

Emily

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I had a hard time falling asleep last night. I think part of it was because I was heartbroken and the other because my nostrils had clogged from crying so much.

I had fallen asleep around 3am and I barely slept for three hours before my alarm clock went off.

The sound of my alarm clock drove me right off my bed. I looked around and realized Nathan wasn’t by my side. I walked to the living room and didn’t see him there either.

“He must be in the shower,” I muttered under my breath.

I sat at the edge of the hotel bed, staring at the black envelope in my lap. The divorce papers inside felt heavier than they should have as if they carried the weight of the last ten years.

I had told him I would sign the papers before we left for the airport but as I held the paper in my hands my heart sank deeper and deeper.

I took a deep breath and reached for a pen. In as much as it would kill me to start over, he already made up his mind and I was done letting him hurt me.

Just as I finished signing the papers, Nathan stepped out of the bathroom with a white towel over his waist. I tried not to look at him as I tossed the papers on the bed.

“There you go, you’re free from me and you can now do whatever you want,” I said as I wiped a teardrop from my face with the back of my hand.

I could tell he was staring at me but it was best if we kept it civil to avoid any further arguments. I took off my pajama set and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Our flight was in one hour and we were already late.

I could hear the shower run in the bathroom as I stepped in. I wasn’t a big fan of staying in the shower for so long but today was different.

I let the warm water from the shower wash away all the years of sacrifices, disappointment, and love as tears continued to fall from my eyes.

In a few hours, I’d be back in New York, starting a new life.

I grabbed the towel from the bathroom and dried myself before stepping back into the room. Nathan was already dressed with a stern look on his face. I quickly dressed up and packed my remaining clothes into my suitcase.

“Thanks for signing the papers, I was thinking you’d beg me and make it hard for me.” He scoffed at me.

“I already gave up my life to cater to your needs, I don’t feel bad that I’m getting my life back. It’s none of my business if you appreciated that or not.” I said wryly and walked out of the room with my suitcase.

I could hear him follow me to the elevator but I didn’t look at him. Our entire walk from the hotel was quiet.

As we stepped outside, there was a black SUV on the hotel floor. I quickly put my suitcase in the trunk of the car and went inside. I was greeted by the driver, a nice young man in his early twenties. I equally exchanged pleasantries with him as Nathan stepped into the car.

The entire ride to the airport was fast as we were late for our flight. I clutched my hands together as I kept my eyes on the road and away from Nathan. We arrived at the airport in a few minutes just in time for our flight.

I kept fussing about the plane leaving till I remembered Nathan was a billionaire and we got here by his private jet. How silly of me.

We got into a private jet, and I took a seat away from Nathan beside a window. As the jet took off, the cabin was quiet except for the low hum of engines and the occasional clink of ice in glass. I stared out at the window. The clouds stared back at me.

Hours ago in Mauritius, I had signed the divorce papers with hands that barely trembled. I had walked away from the villa without looking back even though my heart shattered the moment the ink dried.

Nathan had delivered the news in the worst way possible. I was sad, angry, and embarrassed by what had happened. He had made up his mind before we arrived. Our “romantic getaway” had been nothing but a plan to humiliate me in front of his colleagues and business associates.

I could feel his eyes watching me. Waiting for an outburst, a reaction from me. I had given him everything except my dignity and I intend to keep it that way.

“Do you regret it?” He asked, finally breaking the silence

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Alright then, we can keep playing the pretend game.”

I gave him a confused look before staring back at the window. A single tear drop fell from my face. I secretly wiped it with my fingers before he could notice.

New York was hours away, but I knew the worst part of the journey was not the miles ahead but that for the first time, I was going back alone.

The wheels touched down at the Airport with a smoothness that barely registered, but I felt it like a jolt through my chest. This was it. The end.

I stayed still as the jet taxied down the runway, staring straight ahead, my hands folded in my lap.

Nathan hadn’t spoken to me since that single exchange mid-flight. I hadn’t looked at him since. The silence between us had settled into something permanent, a quiet acknowledgment that whatever we once were, had been left somewhere over the Atlantic.

A flight attendant approached. “Ms. Luke” She caught herself, hesitated. “Ms. Sinclair, the car is waiting.”

My throat tightened. Ms. Sinclair. My maiden name. The name I had signed on those papers hours ago.

I rose, smoothing my silk dress. Without hesitation, I grabbed my purse and walked towards the exit. Nathan was still seated. I could feel his gaze on my back. I refused to turn around to see the look on his face. If I did, I might see something on his face that would make this hit harder. Regret? Indifference? I don’t know which would hit harder.

The door opened. The cool breeze of New York hit me. It felt like a fresh start.

At the bottom of the stairs was a black car waiting for me. With a man in a suit reaching for my bags. I stepped into the car without looking back.

I pressed my fingers on my temple and exhaled. I realized I had forgotten my luggage at the airport after 30 minutes. I urged the driver to make a quick turn. I was anxious about facing Nathan again but nothing prepared me for what I was about to see.

As the car got closer to the jet, I stepped out but I was quickly taken aback when I saw Nathan kissing a woman.

Not just any woman but my sister.

This wasn’t just any kiss, it was a kiss of familiarity. Like it had been going on for a while. I stood in agony while they kissed, my entire world crumbled into pieces.