process what had just happened. She had always known this day might come-Alejandro had never made any promises, never given her the fairy tale s

no, her soon-to-be ex-husband-had looked her in the eyes and said there was no love, no "us." And she h

night air brushing against her skin like an icy reminder of the reality she now fac

e realization that she h

she pulled it out, the screen lighting up

You okay? Call

ldn't bring herself to respond. She didn't have the strength to talk about it yet, didn't wa

he supposed to do now? How was she supposed to move on from this? The last three years of her life had been devoted to

t herself she had to

go, had stood in front of the bathroom mirror staring at the positive pregnancy test in shock and disbelief. She had wanted to tell Alejandro, h

ow she could

ld she burden him with this? How could she brin

uld keep this secret. She would protect her child from the pain of knowi

sabella wasn't-confident, worldly, the woman Alejandro had always been in love with. The wo

ella was being cast aside, just as easi

started to fall. She hated how much she still cared, how much she still loved hi

ng down. "Mrs. Santiago," the driver called, his voice hesitant,

Soon, she wouldn't be Mrs. Santiago anymore. Soon, she would be just Isabella again, alone and

etly, shaking her

if he should let her go on foot. "A

ant to be driven anywhere, didn't want to be coddled. She needed to feel the cold air

flecting off the wet pavement from an earlier rain. She barely noticed the people she passed, the couples laughing and holding hands, the groups of friends sp

n no warmth in his eyes, no affection. Just cold practicality. Their marriage was nothing more th

considered going inside, grabbing a coffee to warm her chilled hands, but the thought of sitting alone

ing but their small estate in the province. She had moved to Manila to start fresh, to build a life for herself, and had met Alejandro shortly after. He had swept her off her feet, not with gr

d been a fo

r phone buzzed again in her pocket. She pul

you okay? Pl

didn't respond, but she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. Not until she had a plan, someth

ba

ro, but she hadn't lost everything. She still had her child, her future. And she would do whatev

She didn't know where she was going, didn't have a destination in mind, but that didn't matter.

ext, she would face

d himself on his ability to focus, to stay sharp no matter what distractions surrounded him. But today, his mind

rangement, had never given her any reason to believe their marriage was anything more than a contract. And yet, seein

. His phone buzzed on the desk, and he glanced at the screen, exp

his l

ready. Let me know when

final, so absolute. He had always known this day would come, had always planned for it. But n

was the logical next step. Vicky was coming back, and they could finally

l like something was slip

oughts, and he looked up to see his as

ice brisk and professional, but Alejandro noticed the slight rais

his mind. This was what he had been waiting for. Vicky was

said, his voice