Before heading out, she treated herself to a long, hot shower, allowing the soothing waters to wash away remnants of the previous day's hurt. Each droplet felt like a renewal, cleansing her spi

shrink into the shadows of her own life. Arriving home, she hesitated at the door, memories flooding her mind. She recalled the laughter, the plans they had made-the sweet moments that seemed a lifetime ago. But she couldn't afford to linger in nostalgia. The time had come to face the truth. She stepped inside, tension knotting in her stomach. The place felt empty, the silence echoing around her like an unwelcome guest. She knew Thomas was supposed to be at work, but she needed to be prepared in case he came home early. She sat down in the living room, her hands fidgeting with a small decorative pillow. A few minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity before the sound of the front door opening jolted her. Delia looked up to see Thomas entering. He seemed taken aback to find her there, a flash of surprise crossing his features. "Delia!" he exclaimed, closing the door and trying to read her expression. "What are you doing home?" "I needed to talk to you," she answered, her voice firm despite the tumult of emotions roiling inside her. "Is everything alright?" Concern flickered in his eyes, but Delia could see it was a façade. He seemed on edge, perhaps worried about her demeanor. "Everything is not alright, Thomas," she said, rising to her feet. "I know about Samantha. I don't need to unpack the details because you've made your choice abundantly clear. And frankly, I'm done being the woman who's waiting for scraps of your affection." His face paled, and in that moment, Delia felt a surge of strength. She finally had a voice, and she intended to use it. "I deserve better than to be your option while you pursue whatever it is you think you have with her. I'm going to file for divorce." The words hung heavy in the air, and she watched as the color drained from his face. "Delia...," he