Divorce

Vivian’s heart raced as she approached the building for the first time. 

She had always imagined visiting him here, and today would bring her imagination to reality.

She brushed her hands down her dress, straightening it, trying to calm the nervousness she was feeling. But the moment she stepped through the doors, her excitement turned sour. 

Faces turned toward her, eyebrows furrowed, searching her whole being like she was some alien.

Vivian approached the front desk with her head held high. “I’m here to see Mr. Norman. I’m his wife,” she said.

The receptionist looked her up and down and replied without a second thought. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you don’t have an appointment.”

“But I’m his wife,” Vivian repeated, her voice hinting desperation. “I don’t need an appointment to see my husband.”

The receptionist’s eyes were on her. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Norman is very busy. You will have to come back another time.”

Vivian clenched her fists, feeling her cheeks burn as several nearby employees smirked, whispering to each other. 

She wanted to scream, to make them see her worth, and recognize her as the woman who supported him through his success ladder. 

She turned around to see eyes on her, and she could already guess what they were gossiping about.

But instead, she stood there, swallowing her pride. “Could you at least tell him I’m here?”

The receptionist paused, then made a call, murmuring something Vivian could not make out. After what felt like an eternity, she gestured to Vivian to the elevator. “Mr. Norman will see you now.”

Vivian wasted no time, storming into the elevator, her heart pounding harder as she went up. 

She felt humiliated, and she could not help but wonder if her husband knew what his employees thought of her.

Finally, she reached his floor and walked hurriedly to his office, not bothering to knock. 

She pushed open the door, her mouth opening to voice her annoyance—only to freeze at the sight in front of her.

Her husband sat at his desk, his arm wrapped casually around a young, beautiful woman. They were laughing, their heads close together, as though they were the only people existing.

Vivian’s vision blurred with a mixture of rage and pain. “What is going on here?” she demanded, her voice cracking.

The laughter stopped, and her husband looked up, his face unreadable. “Vivian,” he said coldly, pulling away as he stood up. “Why are you here?”

Her voice trembled as she spoke. “I came here to see my husband, to see if you were even going to spend time with your wife anymore! But I see I’m not the only woman keeping you company these days.”

The woman beside him shifted uncomfortably, glancing toward the door. “I’ll give you two some privacy. Call me when you are done, baby,” she murmured, standing up and brushing past Vivian with a mocking smirk.

She watched the woman shut the door, and then she turned her attention to Charles

When they were alone, she faced her husband, her anger boiling over. “Do you have any idea what it felt like walking in here and having to beg your employees to let me see you? They looked at me as if I didn’t belong here, as if I was a stranger in your life!”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Vivian, I’m tired. Tired of this nonsense, and pretending like we are happy together. It’s not working anymore, and it’s time we face the truth. I want a divorce.”

Vivian gasped loudly. She had come here to fight for her marriage, not watch it crumble at her feet. “No,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “We can work this out. We’ve come so far…”

But he was already reaching into his drawer, pulling out some papers. He tossed them onto the desk in front of her, his gaze landing on her. “I’ve already had the papers drawn up. Just sign, Vivian. Let’s end this.”

She looked down at the divorce papers. Her hand shook as she picked up the papers, staring at him one last time, pleading. “Are you sure this is what you want? Because once I sign these, there’s no going back.”

He did not flinch or show even a hint of regret. “I’m sure. It’s better this way. I am a successful CEO now, and I need a woman I can proudly show to the world, who can support me.”

"And me? You are not proud enough to show me to the public, are you? That's why your employees treated me like a piece of trash, and that's why you have the guts to cheat on me without feeling any remorse. How could you, Charles? After everything I did for you!" She yelled.

"Vivian, stop being a drama queen. Sign the damn papers and leave. I was in the middle of something," he said, looking away.

"You’ll regret this,” she said, her voice sounding low. “One day, you will look back and realize you threw away the one person who truly loved you.”

He scoffed, his lips twisting into a smirk. “I doubt it.”

"This is what you've always wanted, right? To divorce me. That is why you never make any effort to make this marriage work out." 

She took the pen from the table, and after sparing him one last glance, shaking her head, shutting her eyes to hide the tears.

She had grown to love him, and never thought he would use her and dump her like she never mattered.

Her fingers trembled as she signed the final page of the divorce papers. She threw the signed documents across his desk. 

“Well, I hope you’re prepared,” she said, her voice firm. “Because I’m claiming my fair share of this marriage. I sacrificed everything for you. You’re not getting away with this as easily as you think.”