Chapter 1

Sara Michaels

*"I can't do this anymore. I've tried. God knows I tried. But my heart isn't with you anymore.

Emily came back into my life, and I realized what I've been missing. She's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. She's loyal and everything I need in a woman.

I'm sorry for the pain. You deserve better. I'll bring the divorce papers. By the time I arrive tomorrow morning, I should not find you in my house. Don't make this difficult."*

Tom

The words blurred as tears filled her eyes. Sara's knees buckled.

****

Sara Michaels stared at the plain white envelope on the kitchen counter like it was a bomb about to explode. Her hands shook as she picked it up. The handwriting on the front was Tom's… the same neat way he signed their marriage contract three years ago, the very same way he signed million-dollar deals without blinking.

She had come home early from her design classes, something small she started recently since Tom was always away from home. She wanted to contribute to his company, the McCarthy Tech Group, hoping to surprise him with dinner.

As a stay-at-home wife, there wasn't much she could do often. Not that he ever treated her badly....she knew how hard he was working to make his company even more successful.

She knew he was coming home from his business trip on their third anniversary. Three years of marriage, and she still felt butterflies when he walked through the door in his sharp suit, tie loosened, smiling only for her.

Every time she thought about him, she giggled like a kid on Christmas. She would get turned on just thinking of his hard toned abs, his sexy stormy eyes, and especially his freakishly white smile that every magazine paid millions for.

She would find herself twirling a strand of her hair each time she remembered how he smiled at her or how he laughed whenever she told a lame joke. To her, she believed he actually loved her.

But Tom wasn't home that evening. The house was too quiet as usual. There was no clink of keys, no deep voice calling her name asking her to hug him. Just this letter.

She grabbed the counter to steady herself. Sara tore it open, her heart pounding. She read the letter word by word over ten times, hoping she was reading it wrong. In fact, she even grabbed a pair of reading glasses, thinking her vision was impaired. But no, what she was reading was nothing but the new statement predicting what comes next and what she should feel now.

But it wasn't enough. She slid to the floor, blinking tears away, telling herself it was a lie. Maybe he was pranking her… the letter crumpling in her fist.

As reality sank in…

How could he? After everything?

She remembered the nights he worked late, promising it was temporary. "Just until the company stabilizes, baby. Then we'll have time. Vacations, kids, everything." She believed him. She always believed him.

She willingly took Plan B to avoid getting pregnant because that's what he wanted. He would make sure he kept the pills nearby each time he made love to her. He promised their dream family would come soon.

She cooked his favorite meals even when she was exhausted. She supported his dreams while putting hers on hold. She loved him so much it hurt.

And now… Emily Madrigo. His childhood friend. The one he said was "like his sister" was in the picture.

Sara recalled when video calls popped up each time Tom opened his phone.

Emily texted Tom a lot, and Sara never questioned her husband. She trusted him with her heart.

He never failed to take care of the house, the bills, or anything Sara wanted, plus he gave her good sex. She had no reason to start checking his phone. And now, she wished she had checked.

Sara felt foolish. She used to think Emily was a sweet and innocent young lady who would never snatch another woman's man, but she was so wrong.

Sara pressed a hand to her chest, trying to breathe through the sharp pain. It felt like her heart was cracking open.

She thought of the promises he'd made. The ring on her finger now felt like it was cutting off her oxygen supply. The future they planned was gone in one cold letter.

Anger mixed with hurt. She stood up slowly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. No. She wouldn't lose him. She would save her marriage. Who dumps a woman through a letter in the twenty-first century? She chuckled in disbelief.

“If you have to divorce me, then you have to come in person and tell me that… yourself… Mr Tom McCarthy,” Sara said to herself, staring at the letter.

She went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of red wine, Tom's favorite. She always kept it for special occasions. With the tight knot in her chest and the cruel letter in her hands, she decided this was a special occasion.

Before she could pour the wine, her phone rang.

She checked the screen....it was her best friend, Lucy Summers. Lucy was a technical genius, but she never liked the spotlight. In fact, few people even knew Lucy was a multi-millionaire who owned the Knight Tech Group.

Sara exhaled sharply, then pulled her phone to her ear. She practiced the best cheerful voice.

“Hey girl!” Sara spoke, keeping her voice as optimistic as she could. Her eyes were glued on the letter.

“Don’t hey me. What’s going on with you and your husband? Why am I seeing that slutty famous model… what’s her name… Emily Madrigo? She has posted a picture of her...” Lucy said, her British accent filling my ears.

“There is nothing with her posting pictures…” I interrupted.

Lucy had a tendency of gossiping about people she didn't like. I never took it seriously; she never really did anything about it other than endless chatter and complaining.

“No, it’s not that. She just posted a picture of her with Tom in a not-so-friend-zone way… there are even emojis and stuff. Check it out right now,” Lucy said, then hung up.

Lucy’s words stung like a bee. I looked around me—the dim lights, the scented candles, and all the decorations… the letter…

Sara opened her phone and saw notifications flashing on her screen. She had not even noticed all the messages and missed calls from her friends and family. She was busy decorating… and preparing for Tom's arrival that same day.

All of it was real. The smile in the pic was wider than he ever gave Sara. The way Tom wrapped his arm around Emily’s waist was a little too close.

He looked as if he was whispering secrets to her.

The caption read: “When it’s meant to be… it will be.”

I felt my vision blur. My head spun instantly.

I staggered backward as I was about to collapse, but I landed on a high chair. The wine bottle fell to the floor and broke instantly, spilling the red liquid everywhere.

“How could you?!” Sara screamed. Hot tears started streaming down her face.

Her house help, Mariah Sanchez, came rushing when she heard Sara.

“Madam, what is wrong?” Mariah asked in her Latino accent. Mariah had worked for Tom for over seven years. She accepted Sara the moment she moved in. The two were not close, but they would often eat together while Mariah told Sara stories about her kids back home.

Sara looked up and met Mariah’s eyes. She didn't want anyone knowing she was going to be divorced, and especially that Tom was being a coward by slamming the news via a letter.

She quickly pulled a big fake smile and hid the letter behind her seat.

“It’s nothing, Mariah. I just saw a cockroach,” Sara lied. But she knew her eyes were red, and she probably had mascara running down her face.

“A cockroach? In this house? Madam… are you sure? Should I call the exterminator?” she said worriedly, clenching her dusting broom like a lifeline.

“No, it’s probably gone by now. You can leave,” Sara dismissed Mariah.

Mariah looked at Sara with a questioning eye, then as she turned to leave, a picture fell from Mariah’s pocket and landed on Sara’s red heels.

Sara looked down and her breath hitched.

“Oh my God!”