Found Hearts

Chapter Three

Everything weighs down on me now that he’s come home to confirm his words. Now I know I have no choice but to search for work. The reality of my situation presses down on me like a heavy blanket, suffocating and inescapable.

I hear about a vacancy at a new company, and I quickly take my CV there.

"Please, wait. Our boss is currently busy, but in the next thirty minutes, you will be allowed to enter," the receptionist says with a polite smile.

I nod and sit down at the reception. "Thank you." My heart pounds as I try to calm my nerves, hoping this will finally be the break I need.

"You can go in now," the receptionist says, pointing at the left side "Just pass the front desk, take the first left, and you'll see a set of glass doors. The CEO’s office is the last one at the end of the corridor."

I stand, holding my CV tightly, and I follow her directions.

As I reach the CEO’s door, I breathe in and out deeply, hoping that this interview will turn out well.

I knock softly, and a voice from inside says, “Come in.” The voice, smooth and authoritative, sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine. I slowly push the door and step inside.

As I step into the office, my heart skips a beat when I see the man seated behind the desk.

“N-Nolan? What are you doing here?” I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. The room suddenly feels smaller, the air thicker, as my eyes lock onto his.

Nolan stands up, his face showing shock. “M-Marie?” he stammers. “I looked for you.” He pulls me into a tight embrace.

I pull away gently. “It’s been a long time, Nolan. Are you the CEO? How did you get here?” I say, my voice trembling as tears start to fall.

“Don’t cry, Marie. I missed you so much. I looked for you everywhere, too.” As we speak, his eyes fall on the ring on my finger, a shadow of confusion crossing his face.

“Marie, what’s this? Don’t tell me… No, don’t tell me you’re married, are you?”

I nod slowly. “Nolan, there’s no way I could have waited this long. My family couldn’t wait any longer, and I was asked to marry.”

I look down, my heart heavy. “Yes, I am married. It was arranged by my family. I didn’t have much of a choice.”

Nolan’s face falls, his shock palpable. “Marie, I... I didn’t know. I had hoped... hoped we’d find a way back to each other.”

I meet his gaze, trying to steady my voice. “I hoped the same, Nolan. But life took us in different directions. I had to move on”

Nolan’s eyes well with unshed tears, but he quickly blinks them away. “It's fine, what are you doing? I could remember I built a company and developed it for you before leaving ....”

I look at him, trying to find the right words. “I’m here looking for work…”

Nolan’s eyes narrow with concern. “What about your business? The company? What’s going on?”

“Well…” I start, but the words are hard to say.

Nolan interrupts softly, “You know what? Sit down, let's talk”

He gestures to the chairs in front of his desk. I take a seat.

Nolan sits across from me, his gaze steady and attentive. “I need to know what happened. Start from the beginning.”

I sigh, “Nolan, I got married years ago. My husband wants me to be a stay-at-home mom, so we both agreed to sell off the company to support his business. I have a son…”

Nolan's eyes widen with curiosity. “You’ve had a child?”

I nod, a smile breaking through my sadness. “Yes, I’ve had a son. His name is Simeon. He’s my joy.”

Nolan's expression shifts to disappointment, “Continue,” he says quietly.

“He doesn’t come home often because of work. He used to send me a daily allowance, and I never questioned it. But two weeks ago, on his birthday, my son and I went to surprise him. When we arrived, we found out… I wasn’t the wife people knew. I was just his hidden wife.”

Nolan's brow furrows in disbelief, but he stays quiet, letting me finish.

“Since that day, he blocked my number, he stopped answering my calls, and never came home. He sent me a message saying he’d send his lawyer with divorce papers." My voice breaks, but I fight back the tears. "That’s why I’m here… I have no income, and I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s not going to be possible,” Nolan says, slamming his hand on the table, his voice filled with frustration. “You can’t just sit here and let someone walk all over you in the name of marriage. Not after everything I worked so hard for—so you could have a company of your own.”

I sit there, stunned by the sudden intensity in his tone.

“If he won't build you a company or atleast give you the money enough to build a company from scratch, then we will take revenge” Nolan declares, “I won't let him destroy everything you have built. We will take back what's yours, Marie. Together”.