Chapter 3

"Good morning, ma'am."

I stopped typing on my computer to check which projects and supplies would be affected once I removed Madrid Constructions as a business partner of Ford Designs and Associates, the architecture firm I own.

I was too competent as an architect, which is why even though my company hasn’t even been around for a decade yet, it is already more successful than other architecture firms that were established long before mine.

I’m not sure if I can take back Madrid Constructions since it’s under Lester’s name. I’m certain that once our divorce is processed, Lester will claim the company as his.

I had put the company under his name, and I was only a shareholder and business partner. I should have just put it under my name from the beginning.

It’s really hard to trust anyone in this world anymore.

But thank God I insisted on complete separation of property when we got married. That was the reason Lester asked me to set up a company for him too, so he would have something to occupy himself with, and I agreed.

I may be stupid when it comes to love, but I’m smart in business. At least he won’t be able to take everything I worked hard for. The only thing he could get from me is Madrid Constructions, but I won’t let that happen. I will take it back by any means possible.

"It’s for you, ma’am."

The girl who knocked and entered was Alice, my secretary for almost four years. I have nothing but praise for her diligence and dedication to her job.

One of the reasons I hired her as my secretary was because after I transferred Francine to Madrid Constructions, I looked for someone like her, hardworking and trustworthy.

When I hired Alice, she also had no experience, just like Francine. She was a fresh graduate, and like Francine, no one else wanted to hire her because of her lack of experience. So I gave her a chance.

I started her as a regular employee, and when I saw how hardworking and dedicated she was, I immediately made her my personal secretary... a decision I never regretted. In almost four years, I’ve never had any problems with her.

She’s competent, smart, and eager to learn. She reminds me of myself when I was still studying.

But the problem is, when I hired her, I was thinking of Francine... the same Francine who betrayed me.

This is exactly why I feel something whenever I look at Alice. It’s a mix of pain and anger. I know she’s not Francine, but ever since that incident, I’ve started to become afraid of everyone.

I feel like I shouldn’t trust anyone anymore because every time I give my trust, I just end up getting hurt. I get crushed, and people crush me even more because of my position and my situation.

"Ma’am?" she called, snapping me out of my thoughts when she noticed I was just staring at her with an unreadable expression.

"Ah, sorry. I was just… I was just tired," I explained, though I doubt she cared. 

No matter how long I spaced out, I was still her boss and she had to understand me. 

"Give it here," I ordered, and she immediately obeyed.

As soon as she handed me the brown envelope she was holding, I opened it. I froze and just stared blankly after reading the documents inside.

Divorce papers.

Our fucking divorce papers.

Who would have thought we would reach this point? Three years ago, we were signing our marriage papers. Now, we’re signing our divorce papers. After this, we’ll be ending the relationship I fought so hard to protect for almost three years.

I did everything he wanted, but it still wasn’t enough for him.

When we got married, he didn’t want me to meet or bond with my parents, so I didn’t. The price I paid was that I wasn’t even able to see them before they died in a car accident.

I lost all my college friends. I lost my social life. I lost my ability to communicate with other people. Hell, I almost lost my sanity because I had no one to talk to whenever Lester and I fought. But I endured all of it for one reason.

Because I loved him and I couldn’t bear to lose him.

I focused only on my company and even set up one for him just because I didn’t want to lose him.

But I still lost him. After losing myself, I lost him in the most painful way possible.

Can this pain I’m feeling get any worse? In just two months, it feels like fate has poured every possible kind of suffering onto me. If it gives me any more pain, I don’t think I can handle it.

"He’s in such a hurry," I said to myself with a bitter laugh as I read the divorce papers Lester sent me. "Jerk."

Is he that eager to divorce me so he can marry that Francine?

I won’t let that happen. Yes, I will sign these divorce papers because I don’t want to be tied for life to a worthless man like him either, but I won’t let them be happy.

They can be happy now, but I will find a way to end that happiness. I will make sure they both rot in prison. I don’t know how I’ll do it yet, but I will find a way.

I can’t be the only one suffering here. I will make them experience what they did to me—not just twice, but threefold. With that thought, I took my Parker ballpen from the drawer and signed the divorce papers he sent. 

Thanks to his influence, I’m sure our divorce will be processed quickly.

We’ll officially be divorced in a month or two, I bet.

"Thank you," I said to Alice after signing. 

I placed the papers back in the brown envelope and handed it to her. She took it right away. 

"Send this to Madrid Constructions. I don’t want to see his face again. Take note of that."

"Noted, ma’am.”

"My schedule for today?" I asked, almost absentmindedly.

"None, ma’am. You canceled all your appointments last time." She didn’t even need to check her notepad. "It’s January 7, ma’am, and you asked me to book a flight to Siargao for you today."

"Ah, right. I forgot." I massaged my temples after remembering that today was indeed my flight to Siargao. "I’ve been so forgetful these past few days."

I wanted to forget everything here in Manila. I also hated the rumors spreading around that Lester left me because I’m too old and because I can’t have children.

That fucking jerk. He’s willing to do anything just to destroy my company and boost his own. I won’t let him. I may be stupid in love for loving a worthless man like him, but I’m not stupid when it comes to running a business.

However, even though I’m a successful CEO and filthy rich, I have a messy marriage and I can’t even bear a child. I’m too old, and that’s why my husband cheated on me with his young secretary—the person I trusted the most.

No matter how many times I repeat to myself what happened and that I need to accept it quickly so it doesn’t affect my work in the coming months, I still struggle.

The pain still stings. It’s still here, and I don’t think it will ever go away.

I was too competent as an architect, but not as a wife. Not even as a mother, since I can’t bear a child. I’ve never felt this way before, but now I keep blaming myself for why I can’t do anything about my situation. 

Hell, I even wondered why I was even born if this was going to be my fate.

Should I be thankful that at least I’m beautiful and rich? It seems that’s the only thing I can be proud of now.

"No, ma’am," she replied. "You’ve been like this for a month now."

"Yeah… right," I answered as I massaged both my temples.

I need to move on and forget everything. God knows I need to move on so I can focus on my fucking life. But it’s been one fucking month, and the pain he caused still feels like everything happened yesterday. 

Yeah, I keep using the word "fuck" because it perfectly summarizes my life.

A fuck. A wreck. A mess.

After that incident where he had me thrown out of his company even though I was his real wife, he suddenly went home to our house, packed all his things, and left. I don’t know where he’s staying now. I’m not sure if he and Francine are already living together.

"You can go now and take the rest of the day off, Alice," I told her, which made her smile. "I should prepare for my flight, right? If I remember correctly, it’s in the evening?”

She nodded. "Ten o’clock in the evening, ma’am."

"Okay, thank you." 

That was the last thing I said before heading home to prepare my things.

Good thing my suitcase was already packed, otherwise I would have had to postpone my flight, which I couldn’t afford to do since my schedule for the next few days was already fully booked.

Me and my damn forgetful mind.

On top of that, me and my damn broken heart.

I just hope Siargao can ease the pain… even if only for a little while.