Chapter 31: Heart Broken

David remained silent. His lips parted several times, but no words came out. The silence was worse than any answer he could have given me.I searched his face desperately, hoping to find reassurance. Instead, all I found was hesitation. Fear. Guilt. My heart clenched painfully.“So ” I whispered. “Is that it?”He frowned. “What do you mean?”I laughed bitterly, wiping away the tears that refused to stop. “Should I expect another woman to show up at my front door tomorrow?”“Mira…”“No, answer me.” My voice rose. “Is there anyone else?” His eyes widened. “Someone else I’ll have to understand?”“No.”“Someone else who’s important enough for you to defend while I stand there looking like a fool?”“Mira, there isn’t another woman.”“Really?” I stared into his eyes.“Because every time I think I’ve met every woman who has a place in your life another one appears.” He swallowed hard. I didn’t wait for him to speak.“You know what hurts the most?” My voice trembled. “I wasn’t always like t

Chapter 32:Endless Tears

David’s lips trembled.“I…”He took a slow breath before forcing the words out. “I’ll go, Mira.”For a second, I couldn’t breathe. It felt as though the floor beneath my feet had disappeared. “No…” The word slipped from my lips as a whisper.“No, David.” Fresh tears blurred my vision. “You can’t.”“I have to.”“You don’t.”“I do.”His voice was calm, but mine shattered. “No!” I cried. “You don’t have to leave me when our marriage is already falling apart!” He stepped closer, but I backed away.“This isn’t just another business meeting,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest projects our company has ever handled. Every executive partner is required to attend. If I don’t go, I’ll be putting years of work at risk.”“And what about us?” I shouted. “What about our marriage?” “What about the moments we’ve spent trying to build this family?” My chest rose and fell violently. “And what about us?” I shouted. “What about our marriage?“What about the promises we made standing in front of everyone w

Chapter 33: The Morning He Left Me Behind

David’s lips parted.“Mira…”For one foolish second, hope rushed through me. Maybe he was about to say yes. Maybe he had finally seen how terrified I was of losing him. Maybe he would tell me that nothing, not work, not Kamara, not this trip was more important than his wife. Instead, he took a slow breath. “I can’t take you with me.”The words landed like a slap across my face. Everything inside me went numb. I stared at him, unable to blink.“I… can’t.” He spoke gently, but the softness in his voice only made the rejection hurt more. I lowered my eyes. A burning wave of shame spread through my entire body.What was I doing? I had just begged my own husband to take me with him. Was this what my life had become? A wife pleading not to be left behind.A wife fighting for a place beside the man she loved. I swallowed hard. “Is it.” My voice trembled. “Is it rejection?” David frowned.“Mira…’“Or is it hatred?”He looked stunned.“Do you hate me that much?”“No.”“Then why does it feel

Chapter 34:The Unbearable Pain

David’s voice came through the phone, calm and distant. “Mira. I’ve arrived in Zimbabwe. For the business trip. Please have a nice day.”For a second, I couldn’t speak. That was it? No explanation. No apology. No “I’m sorry I left while you were asleep.” Nothing.I tightened my grip on the phone until my fingers hurt. “David.” My voice shook. “You couldn’t even explain why you left this morning while I was still asleep?”Silence.“You ignored me, left without saying goodbye, and now when I finally call you all you can say is that you’ve arrived and that I should have a nice day?”I waited. I prayed he would say something that would make this hurt less. Instead the line went dead. He had ended the call. I stared at my phone in disbelief.“No. My lips trembled. “He hung up on me.” A second later, my phone vibrated. Hope rushed through me. Maybe he had realized how cruel that was. Maybe he was calling back. Instead, it was a text. I don’t need any arguments. Take care of yourself.Th

Chapter 35:His lies,My pain

Mira’s POV}“David…”I whispered his name, my heart pounding as I waited for the words I had been longing to hear. Instead, he said, “Mira, I forgot an important document I need you to find it, take clear pictures, and send them to me immediately.”I blinked. For a moment, I couldn’t understand what he had just said what?“The blue file on my desk,” he continued in the same calm, businesslike tone. “There’s a contract inside. I need every page. Please hurry.”That was why he called. Not to apologize. Not to ask how I was doing. Not because he missed me.Just. A document. My throat tightened painfully.All this time I had been praying for his call, imagining countless ways our conversation would go. I had convinced myself that perhaps he had finally realized how cruel he had been. Instead, I was nothing more than someone he could ask for a favor.A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “So.” I said quietly, struggling to keep my voice steady. “You called because you forgot some documents?”

Chapter 36: A Truth Hidden In Paper

{Mira’s POV}“Hello…” My voice barely sounded like my own. For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. I sat frozen on the floor of David’s study, Leo’s birth certificate trembling violently in my hands while my phone was pressed against my ear. My heart pounded so hard it hurt.“Mira?” David finally said. “Did you find the blue file?” I stared at the certificate again. Father’s Name: David Cole. His signature sat beneath it like a cruel confession. My lips parted.“David…”“Hm?”“What is Leo’s birth certificate doing in your private documents?”Silence. Complete silence. The kind that made my stomach twist into painful knots. “David?” I whispered. “Answer me.” His breathing became uneven.“Mira…”“No.” My voice cracked. “Don’t say my name. Just answer me.” Another long silence. “I asked you a question.” When he finally spoke, his voice was noticeably lower.“Where did you find that?”A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “So you’re not denying it’s there.”“Mira…”“You told me…” Tears blurred