Dying to Divorce Him

Chapter 4

After filming wrapped, Felix finally came home and offered a half-hearted apology.

"Just give me a little over a year, Emma," he said. "I promise I'll go public with our relationship."

I shook my head. "Do whatever you want."

Later that night, he got a message, someone inviting him out. He looked at me like he was waiting for permission.

"Go ahead," I told him.

What he didn't say was that the invite included plus-ones. He just went.

I hadn't deleted Zia's number, and the next morning, I woke up to a message from her. It was a video.

"Truth or Dare."

Felix picked "Truth." Someone asked what his relationship was with me.

"She's just the girl next door," he shrugged.

Laughter erupted around him. They called him a liar, told him to drink.

He pouted, clearly annoyed, then added, "If I wasn't using her as a stepping stone, who would even bother with someone so dull and boring?"

"Damn, cold," someone said. "But she treats you really well. Isn't she just a little older than you?"

"Older, boring, and not my problem anymore," he said, smirking. "If anyone wants her, take her. I'm done."

I stared at the screen, heart pounding. A few minutes later, Zia sent me another message: lunch?

I went. Just the two of us, sitting across a table. She had on oversized sunglasses like she was hiding from something, or someone.

"You saw the video," she said casually. "By now, you should understand. He doesn't care about you. Let him go. End things peacefully."

She leaned in, voice dripping with confidence. "He loves me. He's with me now, not you."

Then she pulled down the collar of her turtleneck to show the hickeys dotting her neck.

"See these? All from him."

I didn't flinch. "You really don't have an ounce of shame, do you? Do you even understand what you've just brought on yourself by provoking me?"

She smiled like she thought I was bluffing. Maybe last time made her forget who I am.

Right there, I picked up my phone and called her boss. Then I made a few more calls, to every major agency in the business.

Didn't take long.

News came through fast: Zia's contract had been terminated.

She stared at her phone in horror, hands trembling, face pale.

"You're done," I said flatly.

The server came by with tea. I picked it up and, without hesitation, poured it over her head.

Then I walked out of the restaurant.

My chest tightened almost immediately. My heart was pounding out of control. I barely made it into my car before I blacked out.

My private doctor rushed me to the hospital. I was unconscious for two days.

When I woke up, the first thing I did was grab my phone and start going through company updates and checking in on the successor evaluations.

That's when I saw a message from Felix.

"Where are you? What did you do to Zia? Do you even know she tried to kill herself?"

Before I could even respond, he called.

"You blacklisted her? Who do you think you are, just because you've got a little power, you think you can destroy someone's life?"

"She tried to kill herself, Emma! You're a murderer. I hate you. Don't ever come near me again."

I waited until he finished his tantrum before asking, "Where are you?"

He hung up.

I tried texting him. That's when I realized he had blocked me, everywhere.

I didn't have much time left. All I'd wanted was a little time with him. Just a little. But apparently, that was too much to ask.

I stared at my phone, feeling completely numb, then quietly deleted every last trace of him.

I moved back into my family home that same week and put our old place up for sale.

The days that followed were a blur of meetings and reports.

Eventually, I called Shirley and told her my plans.

She was furious. "He's trash, Emma. That's all he's ever been."

"No," I said quietly. "This one's on me. I was too young… too naive. I didn't see him for who he really was."

I exhaled slowly. "Once we launch the company's new product… I'm leaving."