Ten Years of Old Love, March of New Love

Peter walked out just as I finished eating. He glanced at the untouched fish soup and my bare, flavorless gnocchi, his face darkening.

"Are you trying to give me an attitude?" he snapped.

When I remained silent, he snatched the bank card from the table and said, "If you want to act like this, don't bother coming to the banquet tonight." With that, he turned toward the door.

Just before leaving, he inexplicably glanced back, sensing something had changed in the room, though he couldn't pinpoint what.

Seeing my composed expression only made him more irritable. He slammed the door and left hurriedly, shutting me inside a shadowed, suffocating space.

I couldn't help feeling bitterly mocked by it all. Six years of marriage, ten years of love and within three months, he could forget about my seafood allergy and forget about me for another woman.

He was willing to leave me behind for another woman, while I still saw him as that shy, passionate boy in a white shirt.

Tears welled up in my eyes. It must have been the damn chili peppers.

My phone buzzed on the table and through the haze of tears, I saw it was my lawyer calling, "Miss Lockster, the divorce papers are ready. Are you sure you want to transfer your fifty-one percent stake in Einstein Corporation to the competitor? Doing so might invite trouble from Mr. Einstein."

"It's fine," I replied hoarsely. Einstein Corporation had been my creation from the start.

Though the public face of the company had changed, I was always the actual majority shareholder. Satisfied with my confirmation, the lawyer promised to send someone over with the documents.

After cleaning up, I wiped away all traces of myself from the house. If no one mentioned it, nobody would know a married couple once lived here.

Dragging my suitcase, I booked the next available flight. The doorbell rang and it was the tailor delivering my repaired gown.

Time had passed, but the dress I wore for our wedding looked just as beautiful as it once did. Sadly, everything else had changed.

The relationship between Peter and I was no longer what it used to be.

I took a moment to compose myself and placed the gown back in its bag.

My phone vibrated again and this time, it was my older sister's messages on WhatsApp. Several voice messages popped up.

"Madeline, Mr. Reagan Whitely from Alabama is hosting his golden wedding banquet tonight. If you can, try to make an appearance."

"If it works out, we'll partner with him and Lockster Corporation can open our first orchard branch in Alabama."

"If you seal the deal, you won't have to shuttle back and forth and can stay near Peter."

Reading the address she provided, I realized it was the same as the one Peter's secretary had given me. I laughed bitterly at the absurdity.

Was Peter so blinded by his infatuation, or had he completely lost his sense? It was one thing for him to have Regina wear my own gown, but to bring her to an old family friend's golden wedding banquet?

Was he trying to embarrass the respected businessman, or was he just eager to elevate Regina? Either way, it no longer mattered.

Once we divorced, she could do whatever she wanted.

I glanced at the gown on the coffee table, lost in memories of our wedding day's joy. But it was time to let go.

When the divorce agreement arrived, I signed my name with a flourish.

Taking the gown, I headed to the banquet hall, ready to face whatever came next.