Chapter 20
The days flew by so fast. It felt like only yesterday when I turned my back on the mansion. Now, three months have already passed, and luckily, Darius still hasn’t found me.
I’ve been terrified of that possibility. I want to stay far away from him for the rest of my life. if I can. But then one night, Erik talked to me.
He asked about the divorce and what I was willing to do to make it happen. If I kept running and hiding, then I’d stay tied to Darius forever. I would never be free of him. Yes, I’m living freely here, but what would happen once I had to face legal matters?
“I think you need to face it,” Erik said gently. “I’m not pushing you, but maybe try opening up. to new things, meeting with new people, let someone find you before your husband does.” I admitted, even just imagining facing Darius again already feels unbearable. But Erik is right. I need to confront what I left behind. That’s the only way I can truly leave it all in the past.
My first step was to meet people at my first book signing and reader meet and greet.
The hall was already half full as I peeked through the curtain, quietly watching them chat and introduce themselves. Some held banners with my pen name, some brought flowers and gifts, probably for me.
Thirty minutes later, I sat before them, answering questions they eagerly asked.
“So that means this story is your real story, author?” asked a chubby woman, smiling at me hopefully.
I nodded and smiled. “Yes. You see, I was once scared to leave a marriage. I planned to stay with a cheating husband and convinced myself that maybe I was the one lacking. That I was the problem. And to make up for it, I had to endure all the pain.”
“But you found the courage to end it and face life alone,” she added dreamily, her eyes starting to water. “Many of us here are married too. Some are struggling, some never really succeeded, and we only stay for our children or because we fear making a bigger mistake by getting divorced.”
I
bit my lower lip. I know. It’s always so easy for men to give up on us, to walk away, to grow tired of us. But when it’s us who want out, suddenly we’re expected to give them another chance, even after we’ve given them thousands of chances they never even asked
for.
“Do you think if he suffered enough and realized he couldn’t live without you, it would be right to give him one more chance?” another woman asked. “Will Rose give Dean another chance if he finds her since she’s still hiding?”
I
I breathed deeply. I had thought about that for so long. I imagined him on my doorstep every day, holding flowers, making promises, stripped bare as a man who is weak without me. And would I take him back?
No.
“Maybe if Rose still loves him,” I replied.
“But do you still love him?” another voice asked.
My eyes found Erik on the second floor, watching us. He raised a brow. He already knew the answer because he had asked me once before.
“No.” I whispered, letting out a nervous breath before smiling gently at the crowd. “I no longer love my husband”
Then that means Rose won’t give him another chance. Usually, we wives only give second chances because we still love them, even when we’ve already gaslighted ourselves over and over, the emcee said.
I nodded. “Yes. I don’t believe in second chances when the marriage is already beyond repair. Some things can be healed, but not cheating. Never cheating
“We look up to you for standing up for yourself, author. I hope someday, I find the same courage you had the day you walked away from your marriage,” said another.
“The right time will come, or you take it,” I said softly, licking my lower lip. “Courage is already within you. It won’t suddenly appear at your doorstep
“Author, do you have someone else in your heart now? Will Rose find another love? Will there be a book two?” someone interrupted excitedly. I didn’t even get to finish what I was saying. But it didn’t matter. Readers are hopeless romantics after all.
I sighed. I didn’t have anyone. This isn’t the time for me to fall in love again. But Rose, she’s my character.
“Maybe,” I chuckled. “Someday, Rose might find someone who will make her believe in love again. Then a book two will definitely happen.”
The applause was deafening when the meet and greet ended. I received so many gifts and ideas for book two, even a few requests for another meet and greet.
I was still smiling when I headed backstage. Erik and I crossed paths. “I’ll have my team get your gifts,” he said. “Congratulations, Rose.*
“Thank you, Erik. I’ll go wait in the car,” I told him.
He gave me a nod. I was still humming happily on my way to the car, but my heart dropped the moment I saw someone standing beside Erik’s car. I slowed down as I recognized the back of the man.
“Darius,” I whispered.
I wasn’t mistaken. It was him. And as if to confirm it, he turned around and faced me. My husband was now standing right in front of me.
Chapter 20
