Chapter 7: Too Late to Hold Him

The next morning, Jessica picked at her breakfast, completely distracted.

Michael hadn't come home all night. His phone was off. Her texts wouldn't go through.

She felt a strange sense of unease, like something was slipping away from her.

She called one of Michael's friends.

"Have you seen Michael?"

Whenever they fought in the past, Michael always went straight to his friends. Jessica assumed this time was no different.

Then the voice on the other end said, "Didn't you two already sign the divorce papers?"

Jessica's fingers froze around her phone.

"What?"

"Michael called us last night. He said the marriage was over. He didn't want anyone contacting him about it."

Her face turned pale.

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know. He didn't tell us."

"Please. If you know anything, just tell me."

There was a long silence.

Finally, her friend's voice softened.

"Jessica, you should let him go."

The call ended.

Jessica stared at the screen in disbelief.

Let him go.

Those words sounded ridiculous.

She had spent five years believing Michael would never truly leave her.

She had been wrong.

Jessica immediately drove to the office.

She thought she would find him there, sitting behind his desk as usual.

But when she walked into the building, his assistant stood up awkwardly.

"Mrs. Blake..."

"Where is Michael?"

"He won't be coming in anymore."

Jessica's heart sank.

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Blake transferred his responsibilities yesterday. He also instructed us to forward all personal matters to his lawyer."

She stared at the assistant.

"He planned this?"

"I believe so."

Jessica turned around and left without another word.

She drove to the lawyer's office next.

The receptionist confirmed Michael had already submitted the divorce documents.

Jessica's breathing became unsteady.

"Can I see him?"

"I'm sorry. Mr. Blake specifically asked that all communication go through his attorney."

Jessica walked back to her car in a daze.

She sat behind the steering wheel for several minutes without starting the engine.

Then she remembered the first time Michael had tried to leave her.

Five years ago, she had cried.

She had begged.

She had threatened to jump from the window.

And Michael had stayed.

She had convinced herself that meant he could never leave.

But she had misunderstood him.

He had stayed because he was afraid she would hurt herself.

He had stayed because he loved her.

He had stayed because he believed people deserved a second chance.

She had mistaken his forgiveness for weakness.

Her phone rang.

It was Ryan.

"Jessica, where are you? Noah has been asking for you all morning."

She closed her eyes.

"I'm coming."

When she arrived at Ryan's place, Noah ran toward her.

"Mom!"

Jessica knelt down and hugged him.

For a moment, she felt the familiar comfort of having someone who needed her.

Then Noah looked past her toward the driveway.

"Where's Dad?"

Jessica froze.

"He's not your dad, Noah."

The boy's smile disappeared.

"But you said he would be my godfather."

Jessica couldn't answer.

Ryan stepped forward.

"Don't worry about Michael. He'll eventually calm down."

Jessica looked at him.

For the first time, his confidence irritated her.

"You don't know that."

Ryan's expression changed.

"Jessica..."

"Don't."

She stood up.

"I lost my husband because of this situation. I don't want to hear that he'll eventually come back."

Ryan stared at her.

"But you chose Noah."

Jessica looked down at the little boy.

Her expression was complicated.

"Noah isn't the problem."

"Then what is?"

Jessica whispered, "Me."

That evening, she returned to the house alone.

She walked through every room, remembering Michael's presence everywhere.

His coffee mug.

His books.

His jacket hanging behind the door.

The empty space beside her on the bed.

She finally understood why the silence hurt so much.

Michael wasn't trying to punish her.

He was moving on.

And she had no idea how to stop him.

Jessica sat on the edge of the bed and opened their wedding album.

A photograph slipped onto the floor.

It was from their first anniversary.

Michael was smiling at her like she was the only person in the world.

Jessica pressed the photograph against her chest.

"I'm sorry, Michael."

But there was no one left to hear her apology.