So-Called Happiness

I smiled bitterly.

Ironically, the married life with Gideon was not happy at all.

Before surgery, I saw them coming up, hand in hand.

"How are you doing?" he asked with a frown. "Can't you even drive right? Good thing Vesper is fine."

She pouted. "I shouldn't have asked her to drive in the first place."

Gideon hugged her, cooing, "It's not your fault. You got hurt too. Let's grab some food."

The doctor came up, saying the operating room was ready.

Gideon glanced at me, surprised, but Vesper's whimper stole his focus.

Luckily, the surgery went fine.

A nurse asked if I had called my family. I paused, replying, "I've got none."

...

I hired a nursing worker to look after me in the hospital.

Gideon had fun with Vesper every day, never visiting me. She sent me pictures of them going to beaches, snorkeling, stargazing, and kissing.

I felt nothing, busy planning a biotech startup with my friend, Maren Holt.

For years, I'd done product research on the side.

At first, when Maren approached me with the proposal, I declined.

She said I'd wasted eight years on a contract. It wasn't worth it, but I didn't regret it. My mother was everything to me back then.

Now the contract was over, and I was free.

"When are you back? The house is a mess," Gideon complained over the phone.

"The maids aren't doing their job?" I sneered.

"You know I hate people touching my stuff. And I need you for company files," he sulked.

I checked the time, about to respond when a nurse came up with the medical bills. Gideon heard it, urging me to go home as soon as possible.

Ignoring him, I paid the bills and left with Maren.

When she asked if I felt free, I smiled, "It's over. Once he signs the divorce agreement, I'm out."

Maren was thrilled. "Let's get it done and hit a chorizo slider truck."

As we discussed the details of the startup, Gideon called again. I glanced at his name on the screen and flipped my phone over.

Maren lifted her chin. "Really done with him?"

She knew how much I had cared for him, but his constant hurt killed that.

I shrugged. "Some people just don't belong in the same world."

Maren nodded, totally agreeing with it.

After finalizing the business plan, we went to our favorite slider spot.

The first bite of spicy chorizo brought tears. Maren teased me if it was that good. I smiled without replying.

Since meeting Gideon, I had avoided bold flavors like this.