Too Late Now, Ex Lover

Without asking, he pulled me into his arms and held me tight, misreading my tears entirely.

“It’s okay,” he whispered into my hair. “Next time, okay? We’ve waited a year… what’s a little longer?”

I couldn’t say a word. Because the test was negative.

Jordan thought I cried from disappointment. But the truth? I was relieved.

Relieved I wouldn’t have to tie myself further to a man who broke me.

After the melodrama of the night before, we spent the breakfast in silent.

Jordan finally started the conversation. “You must be sad about last night. But don’t worry… we can try again. We will.”

I didn’t respond.

He gently touched my fingers laid in the table. “How about this—let’s fly to Maldives tomorrow, okay? For our anniversary, we deserve a break.”

“But today, we still have to go to Adeline’s birthday party. Just one day, then it's just us two in paradise.”

Maldives was our honeymoon destination, where I once thought our forever began.

But that paradise meant nothing now.

Still, I forced a smile and murmured, “Sure.”

Breakfast went by with Jordan rambling about resorts and ocean villas, his voice animated as he scrolled through photos.

But somehow, Adeline kept slipping into the conversation.

"What kind of gift should we get her?” he mused aloud. “She’s into minimalism these days. Maybe that brand she likes from Paris?”

Then he chuckled. “Remember that pale pink dress she liked? That would look stunning on her.”

Of course, he knew her better than I ever did. But I couldn’t even feel angry anymore, since the exhaustion ran deeper than rage.

I stood up slowly, avoiding his gaze.

“I’m full,” I said quietly, and walked into the kitchen, leaving his voice—and his fantasies—behind.

Finally, he left for the office.

I stood alone in the bedroom, staring at the cold space we used to share.

There was no trace of me left anymore, and yet, Jordan never noticed. Or maybe, he simply didn’t care.

I then sat at my desk one last time, picked up a pen and a paper.

This wasn’t going to be a love letter. It was a farewell.

I folded the letter and put it in an envelope, ready to give it to my lawyer friend, Leah Cortez, to attach to the divorce papers.

Before leaving, I headed to a private lounge where my closest friends waited. They deserved my goodbye.

“You’re too kind, Casey,” one of them said, raising a glass. “After everything you’ve built, how can you just give up?”

Another added, “We saw how you transformed Marsell from nothing. You built that empire with your bare hands.”

I smiled faintly and took a sip of champagne, the burn on my throat nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

“Right, right—just drink today,” Leah said, pulling me into a tearful hug. “After tonight, everything will be different.”

I knew she meant it, since my ID would never appear again starting tomorrow.

“Don’t worry,” I said smoothly. “I’m fine.”

On my way out, I passed another private box.

Laughter spilled from behind the half-open door and Adeline’s voice, unmistakable, floated out along with her friends.

“Even your sister’s husband is smitten with you,” someone teased.

“But Adeline, do you really want him?”

Her voice was light, mocking. “Of course not. I’m going to marry Young Master Walton soon.”

A giggle followed. “Then what about Jordan?”

Still holding her champagne, Adeline laughed airily. “He’s handsome. I wouldn’t mind keeping him as a little plaything. That’s not taboo anymore, right?”

More laughter erupted.

I didn’t flinch. I simply watched, through the crack in the door, as the man who shattered me was nothing more than a pretty toy in her eyes.

“I wonder how you’ll react when you hear this, Jordan,” I murmured, lips curling in a quiet sneer and I walked away.

That evening, I finished my makeup and slipped into the gown I’d prepared a year ago—meant to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.

Outside, Jordan was waiting.

When he saw me, he grinned and held out his hand like some fairytale prince. “Beautiful lady, ready to dazzle the party tonight?”

I smiled, but only with my lips. My eyes stayed cold.

“Stop the sweet talk, Jordan.”

He chuckled, mistaking my icy tone for shyness, the way I used to blush at his flattery.

He rushed ahead to open the car door, expecting me to take his arm like always. But I brushed past him without a word and slid into the car.

He stood frozen for a moment, confused by the chill. Then forced a smile, pretending not to notice anything at all.

As we arrived at the banquet hall near the Grand Canal, Jordan kept glancing toward the entrance.

He wasn’t there for me. He was waiting for her.

I swirled the wine in my glass, letting out a quiet sigh.

Then they came stepping in like Venice’s royal family.

Adeline, my father, and her mother walked in perfect unity, a portrait of happiness. And I, the first daughter, was once again left out of the frame.

The sight brought back the memory that had haunted me for years, a nightmare on loop.

Fifteen years ago, my mother had begged my father to abandon his mistress. Instead of protecting her, he beat her.

Broken and hopeless, my mother finally jumped from a cliff. They called it suicide, but I called it murder by cruelty.

From that day on, Adeline and her mother slowly stole everything from me. I became a ghost in my own house.

But they never knew, someone they tried to destroy was still alive and helped me in private.

Jordan’s voice snapped me back to the present. “Adeline looks so beautiful tonight.”

Then, noticing the glare in my eyes, he added quickly, “But of course, you’re the most beautiful woman here.”

I rolled my eyes.

Around the room, guests gathered around Adeline like bees to honey.

“Happy birthday, Ms. Adeline!”

“Congratulations on becoming the new Vice President of Marsell Jewelry!”

“You truly deserve it.”

And then, the stares began.

“Such an Ice Queen, she’s clearly unfit to run the company.”

“Yes, it’s better for her not to come today.”

Adeline waltzed toward me with fake warmth and a saccharine smile, patting the back of my hand like we were loving sisters.

“Oh, sister,” she whispered, “please don’t listen to them. I’m happy you are here today”

Then, as if by accident, she bumped my other hand and the wine splashed across her pastel pink gown, making the glass shattered at our feet.

“Argh!”