8
I glared at him with contempt, meeting his gaze directly. “You honestly believe your words will change my mind?”
“Frankly, I’m appalled. This is entirely your doing. You had the chance to make amends with her, but instead, you chose to hurt
me.”
“Our bond is broken, and I’ll never absolve you of this.”
I retrieved the divorce papers from my purse, observing his shock as realization dawned. Merely three days after the media event, Michael Anderson’s family approached me, labeling me a heartless woman who’d stop at nothing for personal gain. They wielded their power to dissolve my marriage to him.
He slumped against the doorframe, visibly upset. “So, there’s no chance of reconciliation, is there?”
“None,” I stated resolutely.
I hadn’t informed anyone of my plans to leave, but as I prepared to embark, I noticed Sophia Rice hurrying towards me.
“You wretch!” she hollered, wielding a menacing blade.
She blamed me for taking Michael Anderson away and insisted I had clearly pushed him to end things with her. Yet, she couldn’t understand why he still wouldn’t take her back.
The ensuing mayhem left me both startled and strangely
emboldened.
I couldn’t evade her attack. Just then, I felt familiar arms
envelop me. The knife plunged into Michael Anderson’s lower
stomach, and blood quickly stained his white shirt
Security swiftly detained Sophia Rice, while someone in the crowd alerted the authorities. I watched in terror as Michael Anderson collapsed before me, yet oddly, a sense of calm washed over me. The flight announcement echoed, and I clutched my ticket tightly, but my other wrist was held in a firm
grasp.
His face was ashen as he begged, “Emma, I acknowledge my mistakes. Don’t abandon me.” His pressure on the wound accelerated the bleeding. Despite my faded feelings for him, I didn’t wish for his demise.
I hastily removed the scarf I’d knitted for him, pressing it against his injury to stem the flow, and calmly requested assistance. “Hang on, Michael Anderson. You’re really testing
my patience right now.” I methodically pried his fingers from my
wrist.
After entrusting him to the airport staff’s care, I departed
without a backward glance.
Even during my second year overseas, I continued to send funds to my parents monthly, striving to balance my new life with the remnants of my past.
My parents ceased criticizing me for being cold–hearted and stopped pressuring me to return for festivities. Instead, they now inquired hopefully if I’d come back for the New Year celebrations.
Meanwhile, the Anderson family faced ruin. Gossip suggested that Sophia Rice’s pregnancy had sparked the downfall. Following Michael Anderson’s violent outburst, she miscarried
and became infertile. Not only did she expose Anderson’s scandals online, but she also sold their vital secrets to competitors. In a tragic turn of events, both Sophia Rice and Michael Anderson leapt from the Anderson building in a moment of despair, ending their lives.
I found myself at the magnificent Iguazu Falls with my coworkers, listening to my current employer discuss past events and individuals. Yet, I felt emotionally detached.
As the New Year approached, I left my parents‘ inquiry unanswered. My colleagues encouraged me to pose for photos, and before the camera, I managed to display a cheerful smile I hadn’t genuinely felt in ages.
It was then that I realized my new chapter had truly begun, unburdened by the ghosts of my past.
